Ragdoll Cat Forums

Can a cat have a URI with no other symptoms other than sneezing? Samantha has been sneezing for the past couple of days, but otherwise seems perfectly fine. No runny eye, no runny nose, runs and plays, doesn't feel as if she has a fever, eating well - good pees and poos. Just wondering whether to take her in or wait to see if something really does develop. Maybe she has allergies??

Can be a URI and can be allergic, particularly if there is something new in the air.

Most URIs are viral and meds generally are not called for. Therefore, I would wait and see if symptoms develop any further. Even if it is a URI, it may just be fought off naturally without worsening symptoms.

(This is for a generally healthy cat. For a high risk cat (older or with a medical condition), one might want to act on first symptoms to avoid any bacterial element from getting started.)

Thanks Jan - she's only 7 and healthy so hopefully it won't develop into anything -- you know me though a total worry wart!!

Taz had started sneezing a few weeks after we moved out of our apartment and into the house. I, being a worry wart also, called the vet and she had asked if he was displaying any other symptoms that would lead her to believe he had URI like runny nose and eyes and he didn't. I guess the new air in the house had aggravated his nose and it just took some getting used to. It went away eventually on its own. Taz sometimes gets into these sneezing fits right after I vaccuum or clean around the house....he has always had a more sensitive nose than Rico.

Hi Teresa,

My older boy has developed allergies all of a sudden. It was very bad skin reactions, and we pinpointed it to our carpet cleaning soap, and he went to the vet for a prednisone shot to relieve any discomfort, and he was doing great.......
Now a few months later, it is evident he has been affected by another allergy, scratching, poor coat, little loss in weight, but no sneezing, fever, or other symptoms.
Our vet now doesn't know where to begin to help right now, as we keep thinking of what has changed, and the only thing we can think of, is the recent change in Royal Canin's formula.
I am going to get something like Iams for now, our pet stores are not very good at keeping any food in stock consistantly, we are going to slowly switch his food over, and see if that may help. I am at a loss of what may be going on, and he is my baby boy, (almost 9), and his allergies begun around 7 and are just begun getting worse.
This is my first experience with any pet allergies, so if someone may know what I can do to help him quicker, I would appreciate any thoughts.
I don't like seeing any of our babies feel uncomfortable, and it is evident he is becoming frustrated with the constant itching. We also treat year around for fleas with Revolution. Our winters can be known to be mild and many times year around protection is needed.
His coat has also changed color, he used to be very dark. (poor coat/color contrast, but his entire body color has lightened. I thought he would have fever to see his change in point color become so different, but he doesn't have fever.
Thanks for listening.

Purrs,
Stormi

My Simon had allergies really bad and would scratch his nose until the skin would come off and it would get bloody. We could never define what caused it, but we'd do the cortisone shot and it would be ok for a while, then come back. Finally started giving him hydroxizine and that seemed to keep it under control. The pills are so tiny too that I was able to give it to him in his food with no problem. May want to talk with your vet about trying something like that.

Depending on the type of allergy, if possibly related to a food formula change, I know of many people who have successfully switched their cat's diet to California Natural to alleviate symptoms http://www.californianaturalpet.com/prod....asp?id=72 It has a -very- short ingredient list and supposedly helps cats that have food allergies/sensitivities. And it's a Natura product, so it's a fine food anyway.

Hello Stormi,

When Taz first came home with me, we lived in an apartment with carpets. After a few weeks, I had noticed some irratation on his skin because he would not stop scratching. I took him to the vet to see if she could pinpoint the cause. He was given a shot of prednisone and his flare up disappeared for a few months. I thought it could have been something in the carpets used to clean when the tenants prior to us had moved out but we were never really sure. In the process of moving into our house, his flare up had come back. His skin was irratated again, he was scratching, losing weight and uninterested in his food.

Our pet stores here also have trouble keeping the shelves stocked and the food Taz came home on was no where in site so I was forced to switch him. I tried him on Wellness with no success as well as Iams and Royal Canin with no luck. The poor guy was scratching so much at his skin it would bleed and at times he would bite to take the itch away. His coat was losing its color (the white was becoming more dull-like grey) and he wasn't gaining much weight. I brought him back to the vets, another shot of prednisone to ease his discomfort and she suggested continuing the search for the right food. She thought he may have an allergy to something in the foods I was trying him on. My mom had always fed Science Diet to our cats growing up, not the best food I have heard on this forum but it was the next best thing on the shelves. I have been feeding Taz Science Diet since his skin irratation with no more flare ups or problems.

The vet had prescribed Taz with a non-toxic cream to alleviate some of the itching while we were trying to figure out what was ailing him. She also suggested Penaten cream, the one you use for babies. I hope you figure out what is the matter with your baby boy. It is never fun watching them in pain and uncomfortable. I am no vet and can't say exactly what is wrong other than a possible food allergy but I thought I could share my story because there are some similarities.

Good luck
Carly, Taz, Rico and soon to be Bodhi

hi Teresa,
was just wondering how Samantha is? was it allergies? hope all is ok