My kitten has a URI. Can I use olive or coconut oil on her nose?

You can use a humidifier or have Ariel in the bathroom when you take a hot shower. That will help clear her up a little. Also using a warm wet cloth to wipe the discharge from her nose may improve the nasal air flow. I like to add some tuna juice to the food for increased odor if she isn't eating normally as cats often don't eat well when conjested. Be patient she will improve daily. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If Mimi is still fighting a respiratory infection, the blood coming from the nose could be due to what we call rhinitis (inflammation of the sinuses / mucous membranes of the nose). This is common in unresolved upper respiratory infections. If you are only seeing a small amount and the blood is not profuse, you should be ok to wait until this week to have Mimi seen. If she is showing more blood and the amount if profuse, she needs to be seen immediately by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Its ok to syringe feed her as long as she isn't fighting you on it. If she's very resistant to this, do not continue to do it, as it could put her at risk for aspiration pneumonia (if she sucks food down into her trachea instead of swallowing it down her esophagus). You can use some saline nasal drops (available at any pharmacy) as this may help clear and break up some of the nasal congestion, just be certain that it is completely drug free and xylitol free--SALINE ONLY! You can also use a cool mist humidifier to help ease her congestion. As for the food, you are doing everything right. Keep warming up a little fresh food each time, you can try tuna juice on it as well, or roast (unseasoned) chicken. Chicken baby food is also sometimes a good choice for cats. Good luck with her! Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I'm sorry to hear that Jane isn't feeling well. Upper respiratory infections are quite common in kittens. There is nothing over the counter that would be safe for you to give her. Most of these infections will resolve on their own similar to the common cold in people. I would ensure that she is eating and drinking normally and that her eyes and nose are kept clean. You can use strong-smelling foods and warm her food to entice her to eat. If she stops eating, becomes lethargic or symptoms are not improving within a week or two she should be seen by a veterinarian.

I am sorry to hear that your pet Bronze seems to have upper respiratory infection symptoms. Cat flu is usually quite serious and involves the lower airway causing wheezing and serious breathing problems, so it is more likely Bronze just has an upper airway infection secondary to a viral infection. Viral infections can be helped with over the counter lysine supplements. However if there is green or yellow discharge then you will have to get a vet to prescribe him oral or an injectable antibiotic to treat this successfully. Any vet, serious or not, should be able to diagnose a simple URI and prescribe a short course of antibiotics no problem.

She probably has an upper respiratory infection or cold. Please keep her warm and feed her often. As long as she’s eating she should recover in a week or two. If she stops eating you should take her in for an exam and treatment. They may need to treat her with antibiotics and fluids. This is common in kittens and they usually recover fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Nicole.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding the kittens. Are you bottle feeding or stomach tubing them? It is easier for the milk to come out of the nose with bottle feeding. The shelter could teach you how to stomach tube them as this might help. Good luck!