What to Do if Your Kitten Has an Upper Respiratory Infection

Any illness in your kitten is unsettling, and upper respiratory infections (URIs) are one of the most common health concerns you may encounter as a pet parent to a new kitty. If left untreated, some URIs can become very serious, so they should never be ignored. Knowing what to watch for will empower you to get your kitten the veterinary help they need as soon as possible — so they can bounce back to being a happy, healthy kitten.

While URIs can be caused by fungi, protozoa, or bacteria, they are most commonly caused by viruses. These pathogens affect the nose, mouth, throat, voicebox, and sinuses of kittens and can cause a variety of symptoms. Below is a crash course on everything you need to know about spotting and treating a URI.

What is a kitten upper respiratory infection? 

Like other young animals, new kittens are susceptible to developing a variety of illnesses, including upper respiratory infections, due to their undeveloped immune systems. URIs occur when a disease-causing, microscopic pathogen — such as bacteria, a virus, fungus, or protozoan — infects the nose, sinuses, mouth, throat, or voice box. They differ from lower respiratory infections, which affect the windpipe, lungs, and the bronchi (or part of the respiratory system that carries air from the windpipe to the lungs).

Kittens can get a URI from household items that a sick cat has touched, such as food and water dishes, or through droplets in the air from a sneezing, infected cat. It’s not difficult for a kitten to get infected, and if they do, it’s usually one of two specific viruses that cause the URI. These specific viruses are feline viral rhinotracheitis (i.e. feline herpesvirus type 1) and feline calicivirus, but other pathogens can be at fault, too. Because of how contagious a kitten URI can be, it is important to keep your new kitten away from any other cats outside your household until they are fully vaccinated. 

Kitten upper respiratory infections: symptoms

After a kitten is infected, they will begin to show symptoms, which can vary from mild to severe, and can affect your kitten in a variety of ways.

Fever

Anytime a kitten’s tiny body is attempting to fight off an infection, this can result in a fever — and this symptom can be seen in kittens with a URI or other types of infections. The normal rectal body temperature of a cat runs up to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit, so if your kitten’s temperature is higher than this, they have a fever. 

Coughing

URIs can irritate the throat and voice box, and result in coughing. Regular coughing is not normal in a healthy kitten so if your kitten is coughing regularly, it is likely a sign of a URI or another problem that needs veterinary attention. 

Sneezing

This sign is usually obvious. Your kitten may occasionally sneeze if they are sniffing something dusty, but a kitten who is sneezing because of an upper respiratory infection will sneeze more often and for no apparent reason. 

Runny nose

In addition to sneezing, you may notice that your cat with a URI has a runny nose. This nasal discharge may be clear to white to yellow.

Nasal congestion

The opposite of a runny nose, nasal congestion can also occur in kittens with a URI. You may see some nasal discharge or even crustiness around the nostrils, as well as some open-mouth breathing.

Loss of appetite

A runny or congested nose can make it difficult for your kitten to smell their food. This, combined with simply not feeling well, may cause your kitten to lose their appetite. Weight loss can occur if your kitten doesn’t eat for a long enough period of time.

Low energy

It’s not uncommon for your kitten to be less active if they aren’t feeling well. (In contrast, here are some signs they’re settling in well.) A URI may cause your kitten to not be interested in playing, and sleep more.

Conjunctivitis

The conjunctiva is the pink, fleshy area around your kitten’s eyes. When this gets inflamed and red, conjunctivitis occurs. This issue is sometimes seen in kittens with URIs.

Eye discharge

In addition to conjunctivitis, your kitten may have discharge from their eyes if they have an upper respiratory infection. This discharge can be clear to white to yellow, and if it gets bad enough, it can cause crusting around your kitten’s eyes or even cause them to seal shut.

Kitten upper respiratory infections: treatment options 

If you notice your kitten has symptoms of an upper respiratory infection, you’ll want to seek veterinary attention. They will examine your kitten and obtain a full medical history to determine whether or not your kitty has a URI or another issue. If symptoms are severe, or your kitten has already been receiving treatment but isn’t getting better, X-rays and a bacterial culture may be recommended. If the symptoms are mild, your veterinarian may begin a treatment plan that is based on the most likely causes of a URI.

Antibiotics 

Antibiotics like amoxicillin may be needed if the upper respiratory infection is due to bacteria or if a secondary bacterial infection occurs. However, since most URIs are caused by viruses, antibiotics are not always needed. Antibiotics do not kill viruses and overusing antibiotics when a kitten does not need them can result in unwanted side effects and antibiotic resistance.

Supportive care

Assisted feeding, subcutaneous or IV fluids, or in severe cases, a stomach tube, may be needed until a kitten starts feeling better and eating on their own. Additionally, medications to treat specific symptoms, like nasal congestion, coughing, and conjunctivitis, may also be warranted. These supportive care measures won’t treat the underlying viral infection, but they are still necessary parts of treating the symptoms. Oftentimes, the virus simply has to run its course, so these treatments help to keep your kitten comfortable and prevent the infection from worsening.

Home remedies

What can you do to help your kitten with an upper respiratory infection? There are, indeed, some things you can do at home to help them feel more comfortable. If your kitten is congested, placing them in a steamy bathroom can help them breathe more easily. If your kitten has discharge built up on their eyes or nose, you can also use a warm, wet cloth to gently loosen and wipe it away. Finally, warming up smelly, canned cat food and adding a cat drinking fountain to their water options can encourage them to eat and drink.

Kitten upper respiratory infections: recovery and prognosis

With proper care, kittens will recover from an upper respiratory infection and go on to lead a normal life. 

How long does a kitten’s upper respiratory infection last?

A URI can last for as few as five days in mild cases, or as long as six weeks in severe cases. You should keep your kitten separated from other cats until they are no longer exhibiting symptoms of a URI.

Can a kitten survive an upper respiratory infection? 

Yes, most kittens have no problem surviving a URI. Most cases are mild, so if your kitten gets the care they need, they will survive.

Long-term effects

Kittens who are exposed to feline viral rhinotracheitis or feline calicivirus may continue to shed the virus for months after being infected. They will also always be carriers of the virus they were infected with, so reinfection is possible, especially if they become stressed.

Kitten upper respiratory infections: risk factors

Even fully vaccinated, adult cats are at risk for developing an upper respiratory infection. But they are more likely to have mild cases due to their matured immune system. Young kittens are still developing and may not be fully vaccinated, so they are at a higher risk for developing a more severe case of a URI.

Age-related vulnerabilities

Young kittens and senior cats are high-risk populations, especially if they have other health issues, are not vaccinated, or are stressed. The immune systems of these cats may need additional support to fight off infections.

Vaccination

If your kitten is not already fully vaccinated, they are at a higher risk for developing a severe URI. (Vaccines won’t completely prevent infection, but they will help to decrease the severity of them.) However, if your kitten becomes infected before completing their vaccinations, you’ll want to wait until they are healthy again to get them vaccinated. 

Commonly asked questions

Can a human catch an upper respiratory infection from a cat?

No, humans will not typically catch upper respiratory infections from cats. Although there are bacterial infections that can infect both humans and cats, they are rarely seen and are usually only of concern to immunocompromised humans. The most common causes of upper respiratory infections in cats (feline viral rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus) are not zoonotic and therefore cannot infect people.

Can an upper respiratory infection kill a kitten?

If it is severe and left untreated, yes an upper respiratory infection can kill a kitten. A kitten who is otherwise healthy but develops an upper respiratory infection typically has a good prognosis — especially if it is a mild case, or if you seek veterinary attention when you first notice that the symptoms are not resolving on their own.

References

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy in Shelter Cats With Upper Respiratory Infection: a Prospective Study

Feline Respiratory Disease Complex (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus)

Feline Upper Respiratory Infection aka URI

Respiratory Infections 

Should We Isolate a Cat With URI?

Zoonotic Bacterial Respiratory Infections Associated With Cats and Dogs: A Case Series and Literature Review