Having problems with new kitten...

Question
Ok, I adopted a kitten from a rescue shelter yesterday. He looks and seems pretty healthy, has a good appetite and is very playful, so I am not too panicked,but there are a few things concerning me.

He had quite bad Diarrhea yesterday, and his tummy is still running a bit today (although his stools have hardened a bit). i know kittens sometimes get the runs, so I think it will be fine, but I thought I would mention it.

My two big worries are his sneezing and eyes. At the shelter he sneezed a little, but when I brought him home he started to sneeze quite a lot. There is no congestion though? And today his eyes have become a bit red and a tiny bit swollen. I called the shelter and they said they were treating him for  an eye infection, and forgot to give me the meds. I collected it and applied a little, and it seems to be worse!

I am a bit worried about him. I was thinking it may be his litter? It is quite dusty, and I thought maybe it is irritating his nose and eyes? I will buy something different in the morning, but do you have any suggestions about what could be wrong?

Answer
Hi Pascalle,

Thank you for going to a rescue to get your kitten.  Unfortunately, these cats and kittens come in off the streets in the worst condition, they've been eating whatever they can get a hold of and have been exposed to all kinds of germs and diseases.
The diarrhea could be just getting used to a new house and new food or it could be some intestinal parasites.  Ask the rescue if he had a fecal test to check for worms.  The fact that its hardening up already tells me that its just adjusting to his new conditions but keep an eye on it.
Upper respiratory infection is probably the most common ailment we see in cats and kittens and a kitten who had cleared up at the rescue may flare up again with the stress of going to a new home.  The "eye infections" are probably part of a larger upper respiratory problem since he's also sneezing.  Give him a couple of days with the eye medicine, you can put it in his eyes up to 3 times a day, and if he doesn't get better  then you should take him to the vet for some oral antibiotics.  Ask the rescue if your adoption cost included one free trip to the vet.  Many shelters and rescues offer that, though you'll probably have to go to their vet.  I don't worry too much about sneezing unless, like you mentioned, they also seem to be congested.  If there's any crud covering his nostrils you'll definitely want some antibiotics to clear it up.  I don't think his sneezing has anything to do with his litter, although the dust might be irritating whatever condition he already has.