Question:
I have a 3month old female kitten..and i just adopted a 2month old boy ...almost a week ago.. he began to sneeze hours after he was brought home..although b4 bringing him home his temperature was taken.. and we were told he was normal... he's still sneezing and his nose at times seems a little congested... my 3 month old started sneezing today, she had never done this before.. and she just threw up. My question is, is her throwing up have anything to do with the sneezing? ((she has been eating more wet food then usuall and not as much kitten chow)) Do they both have the flu? I'm taking my 3 month old to the vet in a couple of days to get her 2nd set of shots.. should i just take them both and have them examined for the flu? thanks!!

Answer:
It sounds like the kitten you brought home has rhinotracheitis, and has given it to your other kitten. Cats don't get flu or colds, but upper respiratory infection.

If they are healthy otherwise, and if the discharge from nose or eyes is clear, then this should pass in a week or two. If the discharge is green,that indicates a secondary infection and they will need medication in the form of antibiotics.

You must watch them closely, because rhino is sometimes dangerous for small kittens.

You cannot vaccinate them while the rhino is active. Make sure they are eating and drinking normally, as they can get dehydrated. Give them wet food while they are sick. If their noses are stuffed, they may not eat and wet food smells much stronger and should encourage them to eat it.

Rhino could be compared to a cold in a human being. It results from stress, poor nutrition, unsanitary living conditions, (lowered immunity) and is contagious.

I don't know if the vomiting was coincidental, but it's wise to have both kittens checked at the vet in case there is something else (illness) going on.

My 3 cats all had a little bout with rhino recently, and are just fine now. They never got any secondary infection.

Answer:
LR is absalutely right.

When I adopted my first kitten at 8 weeks,he ended up with URI.It was a very mild case.Just sneezing and watery eyes.It lasted a little over a week.Casper is a healthy,happy 9 month old now....

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