My baby kitten is sick, congested, won't eat. What can I do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | 30 days old | 0.4 lbs

we found a 4 week old kitten we think. It has nasal congestion and one eye is closed and running. It sounds like a human baby trying to breathe with a cold. We have tried to feed it kitten replacement milk with a dropper and the nipple end of a nursing bottle but it isn't taking much at all. Barely any at all. Is there anything we can do to help it breathe and get it eat. We tried a little Vicks Vapor rub under it nose.

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2 Answers

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Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM 107

Veterinarian

Published on March 31st, 2018

Saline nose drops can actually be helpful along with humidified air to clear the nose. This kitten probably has an upper respiratory infection and may need antibiotics for the eye and nasal discharge. The kitten might also be dehydrated and could have other problems like intestinal parasites. Since young kittens can become hypoglycemic very quickly when they are not eating I would recommend seeing a veterinarian as soon as possible to help get this kitten on track. They can give you an estimated age and discuss how to properly bottle feed and can also treat dehydration and upper respiratory infections. Good luck!

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My baby kitten is sick, congested, won't eat. What can I do?

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