Kitten Cold Symptoms

Kitten cold symptoms can be recognized easily. Symptoms might indicate a mild or moderate illness although some symptoms may require immediate emergency attention. Kitten colds are caused by bacterial infections in the nose; symptoms typically manifest two to 17 days after exposure to another infected cat. A kitten's cold could last for seven to 10 days. It is important to get the proper treatment for kittens if they have a cold. Recognizing the symptoms is the first step to getting that help.

  1. Appetite

    • Your kitten's nose is lined with a sensitive membrane that helps block bacteria that could cause an infection. If a kitten is dehydrated or exposed to cold weather, the membrane becomes dry, which allows bacteria to pass into the respiratory system. Your kitten uses its nose to smell food, so if its nose is blocked, the kitten cannot smell, which causes its appetite to diminish. Kittens are more prone to getting infections than cats are because their immune systems are not completely developed.

    Sneezing

    • If you notice your cat sneezing for a few hours, then stopping, and you notice no other symptoms, it might be because of something irritating its nose. If you see it grabbing its nose during hard sneezes, there might be an object inside the nose. If you see sneezing and sniffling for a whole day, your kitten most likely has a respiratory infection. Kitten sneezes sound a lot like human sneezes.

    Discharge

    • When you notice discharge coming from your kitten's nose for several hours, you might need to take the kitten to a vet. Watery discharge could be caused by an allergy or irritation. Mucus could be from a respiratory disease. If it is a thick yellow discharge, then your kitten has a bacterial infection. Runny eyes and discharge could be another symptom of a cold in your kitten. This is because the infection can spread from the front nasal cavity to their sinus.

    Breathing

    • Hacking and raspy sounds to their meows are also signs. You might also notice some wheezing while the kitten breathes. You may see your kitten breathing heavily through the nose and mouth. If you see blood, it is because of an irritation of the membrane that lines the nose.

    Treatments

    • Clean your kitten's nose with cotton balls or a clean soft cloth. Remove any discharge and mucus that has accumulated on the surface and has dried into crust. Use some Vaseline or baby oil to stop your kitten's nose from drying out and forming cracks. Placing a vaporizer in the same room with the kitten will loosen any mucus it has in its nose. Encourage eating. Buy smelly foods like fish, which can penetration any congestion and encourage eating. Lastly, take your kitten to the vet. Veterinarians will be able to provide professional treatment for you kitten. They can clean the mucus and prescribe the proper medicine to alleviate and get rid of any infections.