I WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO NURSE HER BACK TO HEALTH MYSELF, BUT WILL USE VET AS LAST RESORT
Answers:
I have worked in a shelter and many cats came in with a respitory infection, in a home most recover well with out antibiotics. Keep the cat warm and hydrated(warm chicken broth works great!), give him a heating pad and lots of love and affection. If he does get to the point where he can no longer breath through his nose or has a greenish nasel discarge get him to the vet asap!
go to the vet or to the pet store and try to ask them if you need a medicine or anything
How do you KNOW its a cold? it could be ANY number of respiratory ailments. Take sick animals to the VET.
your best bet is take her to the vet,she needs antibotics,
Have found some info ..Hope she gets well soon.
Cats can get upper respiratory infections or what we call the common cold or flu. However you can not pass a human cold on to your cat and vice versa. The cat 'cold' is a completely different cup of tea. If your cat has any of the below symptoms for more than a day or two he/she probably has an upper respiratory infection.
Upper respiratory infections are extremely contagious (infection can be passed through an airborne contagion or through casual contact) and it is very common for all cats within a household to become infected quickly. Although most of the agents that cause URI do not survive very long (from a few hours to a few weeks) in the environment, they can last a very long time in the cat's respiratory tract in a latent or potent form. Many cats actually will carry the agent in their body for the duration of life. In such a case your cat may suffer from occasional flare-ups when stressed or when the immune system is weak. Such a cat may also pass the agent on to other cats (even if that cat isn't actively sick). Cats can get URI's for a variety of reasons just as people do. These reasons can range from:
A bacteria or virus (Chlamydia, Feline Calicivirus, Feline Herpes virus also known as Feline Rhinotracheitis Virus) a majority of UTI's are caused by a virus
A parasitic worm infection
An allergic reaction
Symptoms to look for:
Sneezing
Runny nose
Coughing
Wheezing
Discharge from the nose or mouth
Respiratory problems
Oral ulcers
Conjunctivitis (discharge from the eye)
Treatment:
If you suspect any sort of "cold" take your cat to the vet immediately for an examination. Although URI's are not terribly serious, your cat can get secondary infections during this time period which could be more serious and can lead to chronic illnesses. Many cats with a cold will also have their appetites suppressed. Cats who do not eat for even just a day or two can be at risk for hepatic lipidosis, which can be a very serious illness. The bottom line is that although a cold in and of itself is not terribly serious, that left untreated, it can turn into a serious illness.
Most cases of URI are taken care of with a course of drug therapy (antibiotics, decongestants, antivirals), rest, lots of food and liquids. Humidification of the nasal passages may also help your cat, you can do this by purchasing a humidifier for the room or bringing your kitty in with you for a nice steaming in the bathroom. However, do not allow your cat to catch a 'chill' if you do get him/her wet.
If you do have a cat that has been on therapy for a few weeks and is still not feeling better, or if your pet has finished his/her course of medication and is still ill your vet may have him/her in for another visit to do some more tests. These may include X-rays of the skull which allow you to see the nasal cavity and frontal sinuses. This can help you determine what, if any damage the infection has done to the nasal passages. A nasal flush can also be performed to collect matter from the nasal cavity. This matter can then be analyzed to better determine what is causing your cat to be ill.
Precautionary measures:
Keep your cat indoors and away from other sick animals. Keep your pet in a clean environment which includes clean food and water bowls and a clean home. Keep your home above 70 degrees and if your cat gets wet either dry him off or make sure he stays warm while he dries off. You can also talk to your vet about yearly vaccinations to ward off such infections.
One of my cats just got over a nasty repiratory virus and the vet had to prescribe a medicine that was like a cat decongestant.
It's very important that the cat eat/drinks enough. Apparently, cats won't eat or drink if they can't really smell due to congestion. Give tuna juice and fresh water for hydration and confine her to one room and use a humidifier/vaporizer in that room.
What color is the drainage in her eyes and nose? If it's not clear, I'd take her to the vet asap. If she's not doing better even with clear drainage in one or two more days, or if she stops eating or drinking, I'd take her to the vet asap.
The whole trip to see our vet %26 get the medicine was only about $40. It was totally worth it. The cat felt much better after taking the medicine. We just hid the pill inside a moist cat treat %26 she'd take it. You might want to at least call your vet to see if he/she has ano other advice.
Otherwise, just spend a lot of time with her so you can be alert to changes and try to keep her as comfortable as possible.
Good luck!
give it pediatric cold medicine, but only about 1/4 the dose you would give a baby.
I think Vicky B and Girl Named Sue have the best answers for you so far.
NEVER give an animal medicine intended for human use unless directed to do so by the vet.
First, you will have to stop yelling. That should calm her down.
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