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tj2582 · Sep 5, 2012, 01:50 PM

My husband for a kitten out in our parking lot that is really skinny and having problems breathing. He sounds like he has chest congestion. He looks to be no more than a couple of months old. His nose sounds stuffy, his eyes are goop covered mostly at night now. We brought him home 4 days ago. When he breathes he lunges his head forward if he is trying to get air through the passage way but there's nothing blocking it. Someone suggested I try a couple drops :of children benadryl and since I gave it to him he is better during the day but sounds the same at night. I have two other indoor cats that are both healthy and I am starting to worry that they will end up getting sick too. Please help! I don't want to have to lose the kitten he is too cute!

JudyKayTee · Sep 5, 2012, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by tj2582

My husband for a kitten out in our parking lot that is really skinny and having problems breathing. He sounds like he has chest congestion. He looks to be no more than a couple of months old. His nose sounds stuffy, his eyes are goop covered mostly at night now. We brought him home 4 days ago. When he breathes he lunges his head forward if he is trying to get air through the passage way but there's nothing blocking it. Someone suggested I try a couple drops :of children benadryl and since I gave it to him he is better during the day but sounds the same at night. I have two other indoor cats that are both healthy and I am starting to worry that they will end up getting sick too. Please help! I don't want to have to lose the kitten he is too cute!

Who said to give him Benadryl? How did you figure the dosage? It can be used, but the dosage is tricky and it might simply make him sleepy.

The answer is to take him to a Vet. You have exposed your cats to whatever this kitten has, and you need a diagnosis both for the "new" cat and your existing pets.

If you cannot afford a Veterinarian, then you need to have your local animal rescue group pick him up and care for him.

LadySam · Sep 5, 2012, 05:58 PM

At the very least he probably has an upper respiratory infection, not something that you will be able to successfully treat without antibiotics.
To get those he will have to be seen by a vet.
I would strongly suggest testing for feline viruses first and going from there.
Feline viruses are very contagious and if infected he has already exposed your cats if they share space and food and water bowls.
Benadryl is not usually very effective in cats, and in most cases with cats being stuffy and having discharge from the eyes and obvious trouble breathing it is not allergy related, but rather infection.
Best to take him in and have him seen to and tested, even fully vaccinated cats can contract these viruses, vaccines are not a 100% guarantee. In the mean time I would keep him separate from the other cats.