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My kitten is sneezing, stuffed up, and has a squinting eye. Help!

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 3 months old

My new kitten has been sneezing pretty often since we got him last week. He sounds stuffed up overall, but I noticed his one eye looks like it is squinting a bit, and it had a boogie which I wiped off. He doesn't have any discharge from his nose though, and seems to be playing fine and eating fine. Any suggestions?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on December 15th, 2016

Congrats on your new cat! Andromeda could be suffering from a respiratory infection, which are commonly caused by viruses in cats. He could also have an infection in his eye causing it to squint and have discharge. I would take him into the vet tomorrow morning for an exam. He may benefit from some medications, such as an antibiotic eye ointment, to help with his symptoms. In the meantime, you can try some home remedies to see if that helps him. First, you can try starting him on an L-lysine supplement - this is an amino acid that has been shown to help the immune system fight off respiratory infections more effectively. Enisyl and Viralys are both good brands, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription - just follow the dosing instructions on the label based on your cat's weight. If he's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing her into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 12th, 2017

    Good for you for taking Lucy in! Sneezing and conjunctivitis most commonly occur together as a result of an upper respiratory infection. While these infections are often viral in origin, many also develop secondary bacterial infections, which require antibiotics for resolution. I do recommend taking Lucy to a vet for an exam and antibiotics if needed. At home, you can use a gentle wash cloth to wipe any excess eye or nasal discharge, and take her into a steamy bathroom to help with congestion. I hope that she feels better soon!

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