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Message |
    
hismom
Citizen
Username: Hismom
Post Number: 423
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 10:02 am: | 
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My 13 year old cat has been sneezing/wheezing, has a runny nose and coughing for the past 3-4 days. I know I'm suffering terribly with my allergies right now. Can cats have allergies?
I've tried Googling cats & allergies/colds but only get human responses (i.e. human allergies to cats). I called the vet and they don't have an appointment until Thursday and I'm honestly worried about my furry baby. We have 2 other cats, including a 6 month old kitten we've had for 2 weeks who has been sneezing.
Any ideas? |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7612
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 10:16 am: |
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Yes. We had one who used to break out during spring and fall allergy season. We'd get her cortisone shots; one shot per season used to do it. Our friends gave their cat (dose based on vet recommendation) an OTC human allergy med (Chlortrimetron?); ask yours about it.
If the kitten is sneezing and is new, it is also very possible that s/he came with a cold. We went thru that a few years ago, too. A new kitten with new germs gave the other two his cold & then all acclimated and it passed.
Did you have the kitten checked out before bringing it home? |
Joanne G
Citizen
Username: Joanne
Post Number: 104
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 5:33 pm: |
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Our elderly furry lady has chronic asthma and it gets much worse at seasons' change. She also regularly gets pharyngitis, laryngitis, cold-like symptoms, arthritis and severe headaches, poor girl. Our vet rigged up a way to give her own cat ventolin etc, but Minnie doesn't need that, thank Heaven.
It sounds as if this is a new development for you, since your kitty is 13 years old - so it could be a cold or flu. That's why vets vaccinate for cat flu. Hopefully it's nothing as bad as that in this case; I'd check for runny eyes as well becasue for me that's a tip-off that it's not the asthma or allergies.
Treatment is much the same as for humans: keep warm and comfortable, keep fluids up, and guard against secodnary infection. Recovery period is about the same too, from memory.
Hope your feline friend gets better quick! Minnie would share in the get-well wishes, but she's blissed out under the heater in the bedroom (it's been snowing overnight not too far fro, here) |
hismom
Citizen
Username: Hismom
Post Number: 424
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 5:46 pm: |
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Thanks for the suggestions. Since she was starting to "sound funny" I got the vet to see her today. She has a cold and possibly bronchitis and is on antibiotics and eyedrops (which supposedly go into the sinuses). At her "advanced age" the vet wanted to be cautious. Atleast getting the eyedrops in her is much easier than when I had to give them to my 3 yo daughter!
The kitten was checked out and was fine - they think she has allergies, but since they are mild and this season has been so rough no treatment suggested at this time. |
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 1215
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 7:55 pm: |
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How can you tell when a cat has a headache? |
Catastrophe
Citizen
Username: Cat
Post Number: 84
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 8:42 pm: |
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I get a headache when I'm online too long. Probably from eye strain. But that's nothing compared to the pain in my paws. When you don't have opposable thumbs, typing's a bitch. |
Joanne G
Citizen
Username: Joanne
Post Number: 106
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 5:46 pm: |
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Honestly, I know it sounds funny Lizziecat, but Minnie gets a pain-frown that just lets you know she has a b-a-d headache...that teeny helpless look of panic 'behind' her eyes, general misery, droopy posture but otherwise good general health. I checked with the vet - vet said that my instincts as a frequent migraine sufferer were about right for what Min was experiencing and it was probably because of vision issues as she ages (or was car-sick, which is a whole other thing). I only realised she was getting them about 3 or 4 years ago, so she would have been around 12 then. Her preferred treatment is to sleep the pain off, comfortably perched on someone's lap.
Her headache expression reminds me of cartoon cats' when they are drawn cross-eyed!! |
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 1222
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 12:22 am: |
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Thanks, Joanne. I've had cats, but I don't think any of them ever had headaches. |
Joanne G
Citizen
Username: Joanne
Post Number: 109
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 4:44 am: |
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Sometimes I think I'm slow and she must have been having them for a long time without me knowing. Other times I think she has me really well trained or really well fooled. Mostly I think she's just ageing (as we spell it!) and developing new tricks and symptoms just like we do.
When we went away for two weeks earlier in the year, we left her in a boarding kennel where she's been before. Did I tell you this before? They know her pretty well, let her roam the inside space for a couple of hours during the days if she wants and they're not too full, give her a nice sunny window etc. She managed to convince them that she could no longer scramble up to human knee-level to get on a sunny shelf! 'Sore hips', she communciated. 'Lift me', she commnicated. Came home and promptly climbed to the top of the caravan!!!
Our previous cat was a practical joker. Pretty sophisticated jokes too. Ever had one of those cats? |
catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 190
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 11:54 am: |
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I've had cats who had nightmares. They squirm during REM sleep and make noise, and suddenly wake, looking very confused. |
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