AboutJessica Expertise I have bred Siamese cats and have years of experience caring for homeless, feral, orphaned, and terminally ill cats. I am knowledgeable in cat behavior, health, history, troubleshooting, breeds, coat patterns and colors, and trivia.
Experience I have extensive experience with cats ranging from breeding to at-home medical care to rescuing homeless cats and placing them in homes. I have assisted cats giving birth and hand-nursed kittens who were neglected by their mother from 2 days old through weaning. I have given supportive care to cats suffering from terminal cancer, feline leukemia, feline infectious peritonits, and kidney, liver, and heart failure. I have been through chemotherapy with one of my cats who had lymphoma and have also been through many cutting edge surgeries with my special needs cats. I'm an avid cat show attendee and can give you info on the ins and outs of showing.
Question I have an eight week old kitten named Layla. We haven't had her for very long so she's still exploring and smelling everything. Sometimes when she's roaming around I can hear her sniffing and it sounds like she has a stuffy nose. Can cats get that? Also, she has been sneezing a lot and has green stuff in her eyes. Humans have sleep in their eyes too but it seems like when I wipe it away, I have to do it again a few minutes later. What should I do?
Answer Hi Meggie. It sounds like Layla has an upper respiratory infection. This produces symptoms similar to the human cold but is not caused by the same germ. While humans get rid of most colds on their own, cats tend to get bacterial infections when they come down with an upper respiratory virus, and those take antibiotics to cure. Any green or yellow discharage from the eyes or nose are a sure indication that there is a bacterial infection. So Layla should see a vet to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. Usually, this will consist of a medication to take by mouth to clear up rhinitis and sinusitis (nasal and sinus infection) and an ointment to apply to the eyes to get rid of her eye infections.
Most upper respiratory illnesses clear up with the proper treatment. There are a couple of very severe viruses, though, that can stay in the body and flare up during times of stress or unrelated illness. And they are so severe that they are in some cases considered life-threatening in babies. They are the feline herpes virus and calici virus.
Herpes can cause ulcers on the cornea of the eye or cause the eyelids to adhere together, which can lead to sight problems, and may even cause deformities of the nose and such great upper sinus pressure that the brain might be affected. I had one such case earlier this year, and the kitten had to be on a nebulizer with steroids to bring down inflammation. Her skull was actually bulging in the front because her sinuses were so inflamed! I know this sounds crazy, and I wouldn't have believed it myself until I brought this kitten to a cats-only vet who really knows her stuff.
Then the other virus, calici, causes sores in the mouth, throat, nasal passages and the lungs. Pneumonia is one of the most common serious illnesses that can stem from calici.
While these viruses don't respond to antibiotics, the secondary infections like those of the sinuses and pneumonia, do. And you will also want to be aware if your vet suspects these diseases because most cats will benefit from a supplement called l-lysine, which boosts the immune system and prevents viruses from multiplying. This supplement comes in a gel for cats, called Viralys, available online and through vets.
Finally, if she has not been tested, it would be wise to have the vet run feline leukemia and feline AIDS tests. Although much less common than a kitty cold, these diseases can cause persistent upper respiratory infections. It’s important to know her status with these diseases because she may need special care to support her immune system, and the viruses are contagious to other cats. They also are considered terminal illnesses, with feline leukemia being the worse of the two. If she is negative for these diseases, be sure to keep her an indoor-only cat to keep her that way! There are vaccines for these diseases, but they aren’t always effective and have some very serious side effects, including cancer.
