Kitten advice - any vet techs around today? UPDATE Pg 2

[mom2jedi]

Hi all~

Before any gives me the answer "take her to the vet" please understand I already know that and am willing to do so I am just looking for a bit of advice before spending the money if it is something I could have solved at home.

Our female kitten is now around 8 months old and the last couple of days noticed she's been sneezing, and since yesterday has had watery eyes and been rubbing her nose like something is irritating it. When we first got her back in December she was treated for an upper respiratory infection but has been completely healthy since. Here is the reason I'm hesitating taking her in right away, I purchased new cat litter at Costco a couple weeks ago and did a complete change of both cat boxes Saturday night. Both my husband and I noticed the new litter was extremely dusty when we poured it into a different container. After filling both boxes (there was no sifting, just a straight pour) and putting the lids on both (one of which has a door even) we could smell the dust from the litter in our bedroom down the hall.

I am heading to the store to get our regular litter today and switching it with what's in the boxes now. Is it possible she is just reacting to the dust from the new litter and I can treat the irritation at home?

Again, please do not bash me for not running her to the vet right away. I care deeply for her and want the best for her but I know there are many home remedies that work well for other situations and have no aversion to trying "old school" methods and have had excellent results from following advice posted here before.

 

[FireTigeris]

The vet is going to ask that first, any changes in the environment, sprays, litter, carpet cleaner...

I was told by my vets that cats get 'colds' and if it suddenly gets worse or doesn't get better in 5 days to worry then (unless its a weekend, then wait till monday)...

I've had 6 cats, all of them lived over 15 years except the one with unknown untreated diabetes (PTS at 12)

 

[patandchickens]

Not a vet tech.

However, that said, as long as she seems happy (not dull or depressed) and does not have an elevated temperature (have you taken her temperature? be gentle, but it's worth doing, unless she is VERY hostile to the idea), I would for sure give it several days with the replacement less-dusty litter and see what happens.

Honestly, my cats very rarely get any kind of upper respiratory thing (they are indoor cats) but when they do, I don't see any point in taking them to the vet unless there is something more wrong with them, like extended not-eating or acting really ill. URI's are basically all viral, about which there is nothing you can really do; if there is enough secondary bacterial infection to require treatment then you can tell the cat is "really sick", not just sniffly and runny-eyed.

Good luck, have fun, hope she feels better soon,

Pat

 

[Appytaz]

I had a similar thing with my kitten - rushed him to the vet - left with $250 less than I went in with and found out her had allergies to the new kitty litter. That was a expensive free kitten from Craigslist! but, we still love him!

 

[mom2jedi]

Thank you both so much for your replies! It was just the reassurance I needed. She's been a little more sleepy the last two days but again, if she's got an irritated nose and eyes she probably isn't feeling great. She's still eating and does get up and play with our other kitten, she's just not as "into" getting tackled.

 

[mom2jedi]

Quote:
You were posting the same time I was! LOL This is exactly what I was hoping to avoid.

 

[FireTigeris]

Oh if she smells bad or has 'pus' eyes that's bad also- otherwise like in us if the mucus or discharge is clear and not smelly its the body removing something yucky- when it changes colors or smells then there is a secondary problem.

 

[mom2jedi]

Quote:
Yeah, I remember that too. No colored discharge, just watery and clear. Nothing coming out of her nose, just sneezing every so often and rubbing it afterwards. Will definitely keep an eye out for that.

 

[Orchid]

I would check her temperature (if possible). If she doesn't have an elevated temp, I would wait and see if the litter change resolves the problem. If she does have a temp, then off to the vet you go.

(P.S. if you can get it, Swheat Scoop is an awesome, non-dusty, non-scented, completely biodegradable cat litter. My cats LOVE it.)

 

[Lifesong Farm]

First question like someone mentioned would be has there been a change.

I would try going back to the original litter and if the discharge is clear see if it goes away. If you reacted to it the she most likely will since the box is a tight space.
Good luck