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Cats/Sneezing & Watery eye

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Expert: - 1/14/2009


Question
My 14 year old tabby, KITTY, has been sneezing once in a while the past 2 days and his right eye is watery (not a lot, just a little).
Today, KITTY's eyes have cleared and sneezed only once..he seem better.  HOWEVER now my 5 year old cat, PRINCESS, sneezed a couple of times (but her eyes are clear).

Other than that, both are eating and purring.
How long should I wait to observe before I take them to the vet?  For now, I ordered KC-Defense which will hopefully help.

Thank you for your help.

Answer
Solita,

Do your cats have contact with other cats, for example by being indoor/outdoor cats? If so it may be wise to take them to the vet for a course of antibiotics to prevent any secondary infections that can be caused by upper respiratory infections as that may be what's going on with your cats. Since your older cat is elderly his defenses may not be what they used to be so even though it appears that he is getting better it would still be wise to have him examined by your vet in case something else is happening with his health that may not be apparent. Your five year old cat most likely has the defenses to fight this bug provided that she was properly vaccinated as a kitten. Since both cats seem to have a good appetite you may wish to take a wait and see approach with both cats, just be sure to pay extra close attention to what's happening with your elderly cat, he is roughly equivalent to a human in their mid 70s so he needs a bit of extra care, especially when he's been feeling a bit under the weather for a couple of days.

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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