My kitten fought a cat, now he's wheezing and smells bad. What to do?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds as though he might be congested. An upper respiratory tract infection (URI) due to a viral or bacterial infection is the most common reason for congestion in kittens. Common signs of a URI are: congestion, raspy throat breathing, nasal or eye discharge, sneezing and coughing. Herpes virus is the most common cause and usually runs it's course but it can lead to a secondary bacterial infection. If the nasal discharge is yellow or green, he is lethargic and not eating well that indicates a need to be seen by your Vet. If he is eating and drinking then you can watch him since it has only been 2 days since you adopted him. If his symptoms persist for a week or more then he should be seen. Have a good day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about your kitty. The problem with dog and cat fights or altercations is that it is hard to know the extent of the internal injuries even if there is no external injuries. It is really important to have him checked by a veterinarian to determine for example if he has any evidence of internal injuries such as bleeding into the abdomen, a broken rib or something of that nature. He is probably avoiding contact because he is painful. I highly recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible for further assessment and evaluation. They may proceed with radiographs and blood work for example depending on his physical examination. At the very least they can start him on pain control medications. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would actually be more concerned about an upper respiratory infection. This is common in young cats and in most cases it responds to antibiotics. I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment. They would be able to check for this and start therapy accordingly. Good luck and have a good night!

Hello. If you have or can purchase a skin antiseptic, one with either 2% chlorhexidine or 1% povidine iodine, then you can gently clean this 2 times daily. Antibiotics would hasten healing, & if the wound is not looking better by early next week, I would consider a veterinary visit. But by keeping this clean, it will heal, & yes, this has the look of a typical cat bite abscess, so he did get into an argument with another cat. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is difficult to know the most appropriate course of action without knowing the extent of his injuries. However, the best thing you can do is to keep him as quiet as possible for now until you can have him evaluated by a veterinarian. He likely has trauma in multiple places which is why he is so responsive to the touch. Often times after fights they have injuries beyond what you can see from the outside. They would be able to check the extent of the injuries and recommend the best course of action but for now, I recommend that you rest him as much as possible and keep an eye on him to make sure he is ok. Good luck and have a great day!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Kirby. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian as he may have an upper respiratory tract infection based on the symptoms you have described. He will likely need antibiotics. Being a young kitten, he has a weakened immune system. In the meantime, you can turn the shower to hot and close the bathroom door. Allow the steam to build up in the room. Then place Kirby in there to breathe the warm humid air. This can lessen any congestion he may be experiencing. I hope this information helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible as it looks like a severe upper respiratory infection. Sometimes when untreated, they can result in pneumonia. They are likely going to start him on antibiotics right away. Good luck and have a good night!