My stray kitten is very sick: mucus eyes/nose, not eating, weak.
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | unspayed | 4 lbs
I have a stray kitten in my yard who looks very ill. She has mucus in her eyes and coming out of her nose. I got her to drink water but she isn’t eating any food. She looks very weak and out of it. Help! What can it be?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on August 11th, 2019
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely an upper respiratory infection. This is usually treated with antibiotics and eye drops. She needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for this possibility and start therapy accordingly. Best of luck!
4Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on July 29th, 2018
He could have smoke damage to his upper respiratory tract or an upper respiratory infection that will need veterinary attention. Keep him inside for now and make an appointment with your veterinarian for an exam. He may need antibiotic and/or antiviral treatment.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
~8 month old kitten has developed a slightly runny nose, watery eyes and started sneezing yesterday. His discharge is very clear and watery and he does not sound congested. He still has his appetite and is drinking water. What should we do to help hi
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is likely due to an upper respiratory infection though something else like bilateral corneal ulcers or even dry eye are possible. This is usually treated with antibiotic eye drops and oral antibiotics and cats usually respond well to therapy. I recommend that you have Deimos evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. If they agree that based on an examination, that seems to be the issue, they will likely prescribe medications to make him feel better. In the meantime, you may try to decrease his activity and rest him up which may help. Good luck and best wishes!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I think that my kitten is sick! Her mother left her or maybe died and I found her so shes orphan. She has a red nose and her eyes are teary and she's inactive, however she eats and her appetit didnt change. I want to know whats wrong and what shall I
She probably has an upper respiratory infection or cold. Please keep her warm and feed her often. As long as she’s eating she should recover in a week or two. If she stops eating you should take her in for an exam and treatment. They may need to treat her with antibiotics and fluids. This is common in kittens and they usually recover fine. Thanks for using Boop by Petco to help you care for Nicole.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello , my kitten is A 3 months old bengal and almost 3 days ago her eye started tearing a lot and sometimes I would find it half open, she's also sneezing. I've been using antibiotical eye drops for 2 days twice a day, her eye isn't getting so much
She has a viral upper respiratory infection. As long as she's eating this will run its course in a week or so. If she stops eating and gets a green nasal discharge she would need antibiotics for a secondary bacterial infection. Continue with the eye medication but the eye may not fully heal until she gets over this cold. This is a common cat problem and with time she should be fine. Thanks for using Boop by Petco to help you care for Quincy.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
New Pet
hello ! my kitten bubbles has a lot of mucus and his eyes are red , he does eat , but also sleeps a lot , what should i do ?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is likely due to an upper respiratory infection. This is usually treated with antibiotic eye drops and cats usually respond well to therapy. I recommend that you have Bubbles evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. If they agree that based on an examination, that seems to be the issue, they will likely prescribe medications to make him feel better. Good luck and best wishes!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
He was abandoned on the side of the road. His eyes are bad, the eye rise is helping but not sure. Nose is crusted and sounds stuffy. We struggle to get him to eat.
Hello. First, thank you for rescuing poor Demon as he certainly could not have survived long like this. He has a pretty severe upper respiratory infection. He needs to be treated by a veterinarian probably with an oral antibiotic as well as an antibiotic eye ointment. Respiratory infections are so common in kittens, but without treatment he could have lifelong problems as well as possibly develop permanent damage or scarring to the eyes. I do hope you can have him seen soon & thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
New Pet
My kitten has been experiencing some sickness she has a lot of boogers around her eyes and dry on her nose and her eyes both of her eyes are red or pink and she is sneezing A lot she is a couple months old I want to say two to four months and she is
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is likely due to an upper respiratory infection though something else like bilateral corneal ulcers or even dry eye are possible. This is usually treated with antibiotic eye drops and cats usually respond well to therapy. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. If they agree that based on an examination, that seems to be the issue, they will likely prescribe medications to make him feel better. For now, it would be best to keep the kittens separate as you investigate this further as in some cases, the causes of such infections can be contagious. Good luck and best wishes!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Our family just got 3 kitties. All 3 have been sneezing and have drainage coming out of their eyes. Their eyes are swollen and have this red film. They are still playing, eating, drinking water, but seem to be sleeping more than usual. What should we
They have a viral upper respiratory infection. I recommend gently wiping around their eyes and nose with a warm wet cloth to remove the eye and nose drainage If the discharge from the nose and eyes is yellow or green then they have a secondly bacterial infection and will recover more quickly if they get antibiotics from your veterinarian. Also should the cornea on the eyes turn white or not look clear please take them in right away for an exam as that could be a sign of a corneal ulcer which is a serious medical problem. They may take a week or more to get better and resting will help them heal. To encourage eating and drinking I like to feed wet food that has been warmed in the microwave for five to ten seconds. That will make if smell more. Cats tend not to eat as well when they can't smell the food. Thanks for using Boop by Petco to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My male cat is a stray that I feed and bring in my house on cold nights and he didn't come around for 3 days. He showed up today and he is very dirty. His eyes don't look normal and he has a small cough every now and again. I don't know what could be
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! He really looks sick. He most likely suffered some kind of trauma or could have developed an infection. Regardless, this warrants a veterinary evaluation for further assessment as soon as possible as he looks to be in pain or discomfort. They would be able to diagnose his issue to treat him accordingly. I am afraid this cannot be treated at home and he needs veterinary care. Best of luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have a 8 month old cat. He have cold flu,Snezzing,All time slepping,and getting Very weak.He doesn’t eat anything.Please give any remedy or medicine to recover his condition
Hi there and thank you for using Boop by Petco to address your concern. Based on your description and the pictures, I suspect that he has an upper respiratory infection. Many times upper respiratory infections can be contributed to the herpes virus in cats. I would recommend taking Catty in to be seen by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. An antibiotic will likely be prescribed / administered to help with any secondary bacterial infections. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction and that Catty feels better soon. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My kitten who is a little over 5 months is fairly sick and is thin, not energetic, and has goopy eyes. Taking her to the vet is not an option. She is an outdoor kitten. Would it be helpful to bring her into the house so she isn't cold, and do you
Hi there and thank you for using Boop by Petco to address your concern. It appears as though Wraith may have a respiratory infection and the thin body condition could be due to failure for her to thrive from the infection. She may also have intestinal parasites that could be causing the poor weight gain. I would definitely consider bringing her inside and keeping her in there out of the cold weather, especially considering she is so young and thin. If you are concerned about cost at a vet clinic, there are plenty of rescues you could reach out to to see if either they have any medications to donate or if they could take her from you so that she can get the most appropriate veterinary care. The only other option you have is to make sure she is eating enough and can even add kitten formula with the food and wait for her immune system to fight off the respiratory infection. However, there may be more going on. If you cannot afford to take her to a vet clinic, then my recommendation would
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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