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Why is my 9-week-old kitten sneezing with clear eye discharge?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Maine Coon | Male | neutered | 4 months and 10 days old | 9 lbs

My 9 Week old kitten is constantly sneezing and has clear eye discharge in his right eye.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Published on June 11th, 2018

This is probably an upper respiratory infection. it's very common in young cats and is very contagious to other cats as well. It is treated with antibiotic eye drops/ointment and oral antibiotics for about 2 weeks. if left untreated many cats will end up blind or even die from the disease. I advise going to your vet asap to start the treatment right away.

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2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

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    Answered By David Darvishian

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 18th, 2017

    Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Cookie. It's very unlikely that is condition is due to allergies. Most upper respiratory signs in kittens are due to viruses and then secondary bacterial invaders. The queen or mother sheds these viruses to the kittens after the kittens are born. Most if not all kittens grow up being chronic carriers of these viruses and can suffer from intermittent outbreaks as adults to having lots of difficulties as adults due to the damage to the nasal passageways/sinuses they suffer as kittens. These viruses can affect the upper respiratory tract and the eyes. They are typically herpes virus, calici virus, and a few others. Kittens and adult cats get vaccinated against these two viruses along with their distemper shots. The typical treatment can be antiviral medications, antibiotics if bacterial infection is present or viral infection is severe, eye drops/ointments, supplements, probiotics, nasal drops, and good preventive health care to boost the natural immunity of the kitten. I hope this helps. It's a very common problem in kittens which can linger into adulthood. Good luck with Cookie and I would advise discussing all of this with your vet at her preventive health care visits.

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    3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 25th, 2017

    This is probably an upper respiratory infection. it's very common in young cats and is very contagious to other cats as well. It is treated with antibiotic eye drops/ointment and oral antibiotics for about 2 weeks. if left untreated many cats will end up blind or even die from the disease. I advise going to your vet asap to start the treatment right away.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 4th, 2018

    This is probably an upper respiratory infection. it's very common in young cats and is very contagious to other cats as well. It is treated with antibiotic eye drops/ointment and oral antibiotics for about 2 weeks. if left untreated many cats will end up blind or even die from the disease. I advise going to your vet asap to start the treatment right away.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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