new kitties appear to have cold

[weniki30]

I need help.
Mark and I are now fostering two kittens.
They are 3 months old.
Shortly after we brought them home yesterday they began sneezing and coughing. Now, they seem to be congested. I can hear wheezing even when they are purring.

I have never had a sick cat before. Baby (our 14 year hold Himalayan) has been healthy ever since I have known her.
She does get a slight sneeze or runny nose occassionally. But it never sounds like this.

Also, the kittens were full of energy yesterday.
Today they have slept almost all day.
I am concerned and don't know what to do.

Can anyone advise?

I have tried to include a pic of the little darlings below. Their names are Ninji and China.

Thanks!

[slick]

Welcome to Pet Talk.

I know that several people here been in your situation. Could it be Upper Resp?? Maybe a visit to the white coats is necessary because if that's the case then antibiotics is in order.

[weniki30]

I suppose upper respiratory is possible. They just got their first set of shots a week ago, so I did not consider that it could be something so serious.

[smokey the elder]

Upper respiratory infections can be serious in kittens. The good news is that a course of Amoxicillin can knock it out in 10 days. Unlike in people, many cat "colds" are bacterial so respond to antibiotics.

Also, terramycin is good to prevent eye infections, which often accompany URI's.

Good luck and the kittens are gorgeous!

[jenluckenbach]

I would go to the vet and get the appropriate medicines because kittens can become sicker rather quickly. It is COMMON to get an URI, so do not think it is anything you did wrong. Just the stress of their move could have set it off......it happens quite often.

p.s. it is contagious and your elderly cat will be at risk. Please make sure they are separate and you wash between contact.

[jazzcat]

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
p.s. it is contagious and your elderly cat will be at risk. Please make sure they are separate and you wash between contact.

Jen is so right. I learned the hard way about just how contagious a URI is for cats. I brought Jazz home from the shelter on Saturday and couldn't take her in to the vet until Monday and found out then she had a URI plus several other things. I had to put her in quarantine in a bedroom for about three weeks to get her healthy but unfortunately my older cat Ripley had already been exposed to her cold and he got extremely sick. He spent 8 days at the vets trying to recover and he almost died from another infection that the URI made worse.

Please be careful to keep them separate for Baby's sake.

[kimlovescats]

I am the Nurse of the URI in cats... lol! Not by choice, but because I have had sooooo many foster babies with it, and it has spread like a wildfire through all of my cats. First of all, let me tell you that I have treated over 30 cats with URI, and NONE of them has died from it!!!! Even though the kittens were vaccinated, they probably had been exposed prior to their shots. A trip to the vet for an antibiotic and possible eye ointment would be best. Also, just be sure they keep eating and drinking!!! If any quit doing so, you will need to get to the vets asap for fluids! (Especially if they are running a fever and not drinking!!!)
Special foods like jar baby chicken or even can tuna (water packed) are "OK" to help them eat better. Just like us, when kitties noses are stuffed, they can't smell their food, so they don't want to eat it!
Other than that, just try not to worry .... it will runs its course and they'll be fine. As far as your other kitty.... if he is current on his shots, he should be fine! He may get a "touch" of it, but it shouldn't be nearly as bad as what the kittens will have!

Good luck and welcome to PT!