White Siamese

Question
Hi Jessica my cat just started a sneeze and is breathing with his mouth open some of the time,and feels pretty warm more than usual what is this kitty cold or respitory please Help he is my Buddy.Thanks

Answer
Hi Lin.  Upper respiratory infections, sometimes called kitty colds or cat flu, are common in cats, and Oriental breeds are especially prone to be seriously affected.  Some infections are strictly viral, and these are best treated with an amino acid called lysine.  You can use that made for humans found at any pharmacy, or you can use products formulated specifically for cats, such as Enisyl-F or Viralys treats, paste, powder or gel.  If you use the tablets from the pharmacy, cut the tablets in quarters and grind them up, mixing a ground up quarter tablet into canned food twice daily.

However, you should get your kitty to a vet right away to determine whether this appears to be only viral or if a bacterial component is also present.  Most cats end up with bacterial infections alongside viral ones.  The immune system becomes compromised against bacteria while fighting off the virus.  A certain upper respiratory infection called calici virus can be especially dangerous because pneumonia is a possible complication.  Open mouth breathing can be caused by a very stuffy nose, but it might also indicate a certain urgency in case his lungs have become involved.  An antibiotic will be needed if any bacterial infection is present.

Also, cats rely heavily on their sense of smell when it comes to eating, so if his nose is so stuffy that it is causing him to breathe through his mouth, he will probably go off his food soon, worsening the situation.  To help break up congestion, try to run humidifiers or vaporizers, or run a hot shower with him in the bathroom.  Also, you can instill a couple drops of saline-only nose drops in each nostril a couple times a day.  Hold his head back and drop two drops in one nostril, then in the other.  This will help him to sneeze out any mucus that is stuffing his nose.

I hope he's feeling much better soon!

Jessica