The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
I have two cats; one female and one male. The male cat Ferguson is about 1.5 years old and he came down with a “kitty cold” about two weeks ago. He was sneezing a lot through the day and the sneezing continued to the next day. I noticed he wasn't up running around and playing like normal. I kept an eye on him and by the 3rd day he was getting watery eyes and runny nose. He looked pale in the gums and felt like he was running a fever. I read about the apple cider vinegar so on the first night of treatment, I used the half water half vinegar method. I rubbed it on his paws, neck, whiskers, and in front of his ears. But more importantly, I really wanted him to get him hydrated quickly. I gave him chicken bone broth. I was making some chicken gumbo that night anyway and I was boiling a chicken for about an hour. Bones and all. Then I strained out the broth and gave him some after it cooled. Luckily he still had an appetite and he drank a lot of it. That exact next day he looked a thousand times better. I continued both the vinegar and bone broth into the second day and also added water into his soft food. I tried to up his fluids any way I could. Every day he got better and better and by the end of the week all of his symptoms vanished. I'm very happy that my Fergie full of spunk is back in action! I think the Bone broth really helped more than anything because it's chalked full of vitamins and antioxidants. Upping his fluids and getting a boost of vitamins really helped a ton. I really hope this helps all of you.
Posted by Sharron (Mukilteo, Wa) on 03/07/2008 ★★★★★
My cat has a chronic repiratory condition. He got it as a kitten and never got over it. The main symptom is sneezing and lots of runny nose and eyes. His appetite his good and he is healthy other wise. I maintain it by adding Lysine to his food. If I don't it gets bad and he has to go in to the vet. Any recommendations for this Sharron.
Tonight out of desperation I started looking for a natural remedy for my sweet lil man, MoMo. Poor guy likes to play indoor outdoor where am I now and the first night it got really cold and dewyey here he oops-ed up and got stuck outside ll night. within 24 Hours he started sneeing and weezing. I checked his nose for any signs of "anything being wedge up his nose" all was well. Gums looked well colored. But I noticed his eyes were matty and weepy. He had a "I can't cough up a hairbone" cough.
Having just lost a beloved Service Dog of 13 1/2 years panic set in. I remembered as a akid we always treated out cats eyes with warm milk if they got yukky. So with my sweet husbnds help we managed to clen up his eyes with warm milk. AND, we also used a small infant nasl syringe and were able to suck out bit of mucous. MoMo was actually very well behaved through our series of actions. That eveniing he slept reasonably well on the foot of our bed("HIS DOMAIN NOT MY FEET!!! Lol) But the next morning same thing again......
Fast forward tonight... my husband and I have tried coaxing him to eat since yesterday nothing not even his favorite treats. Then he did something very strnge he walked to the water bowl and started swatting the water around and attempting to dunk in and drink only to immediately return to swatting it. He wasn't able to drink. so that brings me to now.
I once again clened his eyes with warm milk, but the matting was so gooey and yuk that a q tip or cotton ball would not work. So I used soft ABD pads(surgical pads) once his eyes were cleaned I soaked his front paws in Apple Cider Vinegar (not organic but ACV just the same all I had) I also rubbed very generous amount around his neck and shoulders. He was not as thrilled this time about all the "manhandling", but complied just the same. He is now sitting right behind my recliner and pouting refusing to come out. However, his sneezing has almost stopped and the coughing got very intense for about 10 minutes and now has stopped. I was scared so I crawled back there with him and poor baby looked at me like "seriously mom, this stinks".
His breathing doesn't seem anywhere as laboured so praying with a few more doses and dousings he will be back to his usual King TUT I AM mood. I will post more tomorrow.
(ADDED NOTE: had not thought about the litter box, as we are a multi-cat family thanks to the poster above who mentioned it. while we scoop daily had not "fully emptied and disinfected it for almost 2 weeks(we use scoopable to save money) Also treated our little "Princess NeeNah Gray, while she has/had no signs or symptoms call it an ounce of prevention to stave off the need for a pound of cure. She however was QUITE UPSET t the stench of the acv. She is still grooming......heeeheee aka preventive treating herself.
Again KUDO's to all who hve posted previously and thanks!
Acv is apple cider vinegar. Braggs makes Apple Cider Vinegar with the mother (you can tell as the vinegar is cloudy when shaken). Grocery stores in my area carry it but if none in your area you can buy online from Amazon or direct from their website.
Posted by Lilahkat (Duffield, Ab) on 08/08/2013 ★★★★★
Finding a stray kitten, I took him in and was raising him until I could find a new home for him. Recently he came down with an upper respiratory infection that had me worried for his life. He was having a hard time breathing, mucus was covering his nose and drying making it hard for him to breath or eat.
I knew steaming could be helpful, but I thought perhaps the 'cure-all' of apple cider vinegar would help as well. I added about a cup of pure Apple Cider Vinegar (with the mother) to a liter of boiling hot water and steamed him for approximately 20 mins in the cat carrier. Immediately afterwards, he went and drank a lot of water (which was an improvement as he was refusing to eat or drink previously). This morning when I went to look to see if I should steam him again - his nose was encrusted, so I cleaned it but after that, there is no more mucus and he's eating.
I've steamed kittens in the past with just plain water but have never had the fast turn around that I've had with little Frankie. He's resting now, more social with my other cats.
EC: Please, of course use special care in using steam treatment on pets and children. It's not always clear when they are in pain, and even adults burn themselves with steaming much too often!
I care for 5 feral cats. One has respiratory issues. I put Apple Cider Vinegar in their food daily. Only a cap full. Is that enough? Can I continue with this daily to keep healthy kitties I cannot touch?
Posted by Flavia (Western United States) on 08/10/2017
Sweetpea522, That's so encouraging, and am so glad for your kitties! I have used Raw Apple Cider Vinegar for my own health for years, would never be without it I n my kitchen, but never seriously thought to give to my cats. I have five cats, all spayed and neutered now, and indoor cats.
My two boy cats, 2 years old, have kitty cold or herpes, and one especially is quite miserable, but discharge is still clear. I will use on both boys cats. If you don't mind me asking: Why don't you spay and neuter your cats, to keep the population down? There is a lot of suffering with so many homeless kittens, and that is a huge responsibility, to care for dozens of cats.
Posted by Gatitos And Kittens (Barcelona, Spain) on 11/11/2014
I live in spain and I have a colony of 15 cats. With the cold weather they have almost all gotten sick with FRI or URI. I am unable to pay for a vet for these kitties and obviously things like keeping them in a warm room or seperating the sick from the healthy is impossible with a feral colony so I am going to use the ACV approach. Today is going to be day one of the approach and I would like to document it as I go to help others out there. I will be doing it here and on a social network where they have a page and praying the outcome is positive. I am currently with 9 full grown adults, females are spayed, two kittens 9 months old and four kittens about 4 months old. All the sick ones are with runny nose and eyes, laboured breathing and sneezing and coughing fits. I have started treating the kittens with a 50% water to ACV on back of necks, face wash and on their food. I will try update often. Wish me luck!!
Just wanted to add an update: I would guesstimate the strength I used was closer to a 1/4 dilution the first time and used probably a 1/2 dilution the 2nd time not realizing at the moment. It was effective and caused no distress on my pet's part. All better after second treatment.
Posted by Lisa (Canton, Maine) on 03/09/2009 ★★★★★
I read the comments about ACV, I have 4 very sick cats and 2 of the worst on amoxicillin (not helping at all). I gave an eyedropper full of the ACV to my worst one (Samantha) last night and it took a while, but this morning I don't see or hear her coughing and hacking, or sneezing hardly at all. She's actually sleeping right now (whew). I gave her .75- 1.0 ML in the eyedropper and had to forcefeed it. I lost my oldest cat to this sickness last Monday and all of the others caught it very quickly. Thank you for the ACV advice, I don't know yet if it's curing whatever this is, if not it's sure as hell helping alot. Thanks
Posted by Barbara (Ewing Tonwship, Nj) on 11/13/2016
A feral kitten arrived a week ago. I tried to get town animal shelter to help. I explained her situation and the disappearance of two others from across the road. Very bad neighbor terrified them but worried her eyes -- she did not look well and I could not touch her. I put out food and kept my cats in. Then Elmoe got out and it kitten disappeared. Finally got Elmoe in but he immediately looked sick. It has been two days and he is not eating. I used the recommended vinegar and he has huge amounts of flem in his mouth. He is not hiding any more and he has had fluid by eye dopper. More vinegar today (day 3) and on his fur, ears, etc. Vet I go to is expensive and no available. In fact, the entire vet services here are very very expensive. I am 72 and have put cats first always so today I will make a decision about property taxes. I will of course put Elmoe first. I need to now how long I should expect Elmoe to refuse to eat and how to administer hydrogene peroxide if I can find it at drug store??
Yes for anyone that has URI and not sure of the cats issue. I started my cat on citrisafe.. Pet bio-balancing drops. You can purchase it by looking up. Its for mold in the lungs. I also purchased the human stuff for me. I have bad asthma and lungs. Hope this helps. My lil guy is doing much better. Happy pet is a happy owner.:)
My cat was 10 months old when I tried this and I forgot to mention I was doing it 3 times a day. After 7 days my cat was cured. It's up to you if you want to try it. Now that I have found this method it's the only thing I'm using to help with URI.
Gatitos; I had once captured many cats and kittens with FIV with me it didn't work out very well because I didn't have any knowledge of FIV or any sick cats/dogs at all. I took them to vets. and it cost me a huge bundle they only lived to be approx. a year but with newer advice I think this issue can be helped out a lot more. You might like to try Wild Harvest/ Goldenseal it's especially for the support of mucous membranes including the sinus's it has helped one of my cats in a great way/ also you might try probiotics such as cats claw or grape seed extract. They are both safe to take but not at the same time/s try to space these out a bit.Stay calm. Good Luck.
Posted by Coko (West Sacramento, Ca) on 05/11/2013 ★★★★★
I have an adoptive mommy who has done wild animal recue on multiple species for over 30 yrs. The go-to cure she uses for animals & humans is Marigold. It's a natural antibiotic that animals and humans cannot build a resistance to. The seeds are best, but the leaves & stems will work also. Boil 1/4 cup water and make a tea from the seeds or stems/leaves. Let it steep for a few minutes (it won't get super dark, just a light golden yellow color). Strain out the seeds/stems/leaves. I've dropped in on both my cat and dog's eyes when they get colds. I've used it on myself as well. Eye's clear up within 24 hrs or sooner. I've had them (cat & dog) drink it, and I drink it as well if I'm not feeling well.
I feed & water about 10 stray cats in the neighborhood and put marigold tea in their common water dish once in awhile. I will be trying the ACV in the water tomorrow b/c 2 of the strays sound like they're having respiratory issues. I'm glad I stumbled onto this site. I wanted to share w/everyone about the marigold seed tea.
Hello Lisa It's been 6 years since you posted this about your cats, do you remember what was the outcome? Did they get cured? I don't like to take my Cats to the vets cause they never do anything that heals the cats and I don't like to stress my cats going to the vet for nothing. Thank you so much.
Posted by Rocky's Mum (Mullumbimby, Nsw) on 09/30/2013 ★★★★★
Thank you for your post!
My cornish rex has had a snuffle/sneeze/cough sort of thing for many months now but if I put ACV in their water bowls, all my animals go on a water fast and I've never been able to get it into them!
...until I read your post on simply putting it on their paws...evil...perhaps!
After I applied the ACV and she took her first distainful lick she must have sneezed about 8 times in a row... And then never again! and it's now the end of day three. Miraculous.
Posted by Tia (Eugene, Oregon) on 08/09/2008 ★★★★★
A long time ago, my parents stumbled across the medicinal properties of Goldenseal. Last year, during the rainy Oregon winter, a 1/2 feral litter of kittens started trying to find shelter on my porch. Not long after they started coming around, the mother left them (went into heat i assume) and came back with a hellish upper respiratory infection. She proceeded to spread it to the whole litter. I had no money to take them to a vet, and they were dying of it. I wasn't sure if the Goldenseal would be poisonous to them, but I figured they were so bad off, it was worth a try. I used the liquid extract, started small, maybe one dropperfull to two cans of wet food, and eventually raised it to 3 droppersfull (between 1 adult and 5 3-4 month old kittens). They improved from even the smaller amounts, and improved drastically from higher dosages. Although for those that couldn't smell the wet food, i had to mix a few drops in canned salmon or tuna juice to get them to eat it. It didn't harm them. I swear by the stuff now, and have used it on my own indoor cats (though I've never gotten them to take it without forcing them.) Everyone should be aware that goldenseal doesn't just work on humans.
Help your cat with nebulizer and coupage treatment as often as possible. It is going to help your cat to cough out some phlegms and clear up the airways. There is no side-effects of this treatment so include it in your daily routines. Pour some saline solution in the nebulizer cup and allow your cat to breath in the fine mist that can reach her lungs. This can last about 5-10 minutes until the the cup is empty.
Do follow by chest percussion (coupage) using your hands. Don't heat her chest too hard but strong enough to loosen up her phlegms. Try not to allow your vet to treat her antibiotics and steroids that will hinder your cat's self defence mechanism-immune system! We and our pets all should boost our body's immune system with holistic natural herbs and healthy diets!
After loosing my cat Eliza, I learned my painful lessons. Do not trust our vets! They don't always know what is best for our babies! Good luck!
Thanks so much for info on acvinegar. At wit's end for 4 mo old kitten with upper respiratory and snotty nose. Constantly on antibiotics after got him about mo old and antibiotic shots and cipro nasal drops. Assume old enough to try this.
Carmen and Carol, how did your cats turn out? My two 5-mo kittens have had very bad sneezing and snotty noses (yellow/green mucus) for the two weeks I've had them. They were on antibiotics for one week and have been on L-Lysine and Probiotics since then.
I am hoping this ACV remedy will at least improve their symptoms. Did either of you continue to have problems with the URI after trying this method?
Hello, I ended up having to bottle feed a litter of kittens after bout a month after they were born all 4 have an upper respiratory infection and can't breath at all out their little noses well 2 are refusing the bottle cause they keep choking on it cause they can't breath it's Sunday vets are closed will that vinegar help them breath? If so where can I purchase it they did eat a little bit last evening and less today so far can you please help I'm worried thank -you
Hi there, I found out today after going to the vet for almost 3 months- and intermittent doses of antibiotics- that my cat Kaloo- might have a fungal infection and I might have to see a specialist- my heart sank- so I started hunting the net for alternative and proven treatments- found this site - and would like to know from any or most of the people who treated their cats that ACV remedy is a proven success- and any side effects if any ... thanking you all- Maddie
I'm a foster, and one kitten is occasionally sneezing, and another has a weepy eye. Both are hardly tame, and there is no way I can get these antibiotics down them. I'm at my wit's end. I do have some ACV.
Hello can u pleaz tell me where to buy the organic apple cider vinegar as well as does it say on it on the label organic apple cider vinegar also what is acv as well as how much water with the avc? my 3 month to d kitten is really suffering she sleeps alot with her head up and titled back I feel so sorry for her can u pleazhelp me as soon as you can thank you very much hope your kittens are doing well 😊😊.
I have a beautiful boy, he's 19 years old, we've had him since he was only seven weeks old, ( his sister of the same litter recently passed away JUST before her 19th birthday RIP Tisa) and her brother Shika, and since she passed away nearly 3 months ago, he just went to totally depressed, and his health is declining and fast, the vet basically said that he's developed a respiratory issue and we need to either euthanize him or let him slowly go, but I want to help him, FAST to at least help him breath. I have a humidifyer and he and I both love and need it. yes, he sleeps with me on my bed. I am so worried about my furry boy, he's been through a lot and I want to make his last days as easy as possible.
I read a lot of your how to apply the ACV but is there a video or youtube that I can watch to understand how you are really applying this to the cat? I need help, ASAP! I'm so afraid that I'm going to lose him. If he dies, I don't know how I'm going to take it, especially losing his sister of 19 years just a couple months ago. PLEASE someone, help me adminster this asap. I'm so heartbroken, my Shika needs help.
My cat adopted 6 years ago with a horrible case of URI never really got over it 100%. I as well as the vet we were suspecting the allergies, I tried anything to minimize exposure to any allergen, nothing was helping. Cat was always sneezing, gagging. Finally another vet diagnosed her (the cat) with the feline herpes virus that symptoms in cats with constant rhinovirus. I am using Lysine to keep her immune system up and humidifier to keep her nose wet not mentioning constant wiping the buggers. I will try the ACV for sure.
I have 3 cats, one is over a year old the other two are not even a year old. The one is almost over the URI after using the ACV. His sister is now on the ACV, because naturally the URI is going around with them, but tonight I noticed when she has her sneezing fits that her nose is bleeding. Has anyone had this problem? or is it possible that all the dry crusted snot is breaking free and bleeding? My husband says its the dry stuff breaking free, but I have a very special bond with my Cuda and im afraid of her dying from this. She was doing fine until I put vinegar on her face a few minutes ago, thats when I noticed the bleeding. I have also been doing treatments with a nebulizer with the ACV water mixture, and that is honestly what has helped the most with both the cats. Havent done it on the other yet, he is just starting to weez. If anyone can help me with this please let me know. Thank you! This site has saved 3 cats lives with this information! I will recommend it to everyone
I just wanted to stress how important it is to help you pet get stronger as much as possible along with the treatment that you decide to use so that your pet can recuperate better, especially when it hasn't much of an appetite. I have nine cats. One of my cats has FeLV & FIV for about 3 years now. Because of this he is susceptible to a number of problems including URI. I try to keep his immune system as strong as possible using something a vet told me about a product called "VIYO Recuperation". This has helped me get through some very difficult times with all of my cats. I just wanted to share this because it has worked so well. I also heard ground up pumpkin seed has a lot of good qualities. I hope this helps.
Do not shop at CVS pharmacy. They are expensive and do not have anything good for animals. If you have somewhere there any kind of feed store they can better help.
Posted by Flavia (Western United States) on 08/10/2017
Judy West, I agree in part with your comment, that it is crucial to help get an animal's immune system strong again, with these good, natural supplements. All the more reason then to avoid the typical vet's recommendations of any harsh medications. The medication you mention: VIYO Recuperation has ingredients that are harmful to a cat with a delicate immune system. Did you read the ingredient label? It contains animal "by-products" - which is the cheapest, lowest quality meat, and milk and dairy, which is very hard for most cats to digest, because of the very large fat molecules in it. The old myth that milk is good for kitties is outdated, and simply untrue - milk is generally bad for felines. Some may tolerate it well, but it is generally a bad idea, and will result in diarrhea and then dehydration in cats. If you MUST give a dairy product to a cat (why?) then try GOAT MILK YOGURT. Not the milk, but the YOGURT with active cultures. Goats are much smaller animals, the fat in their milk is easier for cats to digest.
What do you mean when you speak of apple cider vinegar (with mother)? I don't understand what the mother part means. Thanks.
EC: Usually raw and organic apple cider vinegar has"the mother." It will have a cloudy look to it or appear to have cobwebs in it. It contains important nutrients.
Posted by Flavia (Western United States) on 08/10/2017
Jennifer Goldsboro, the "mother" in RAW apple cider vinegar means the culture that makes the vinegar fermented, nutritious, and of good medicinal use. If you just use any plain apple cider vinegar, and if it does NOT have the words "raw" and "mother" on the label, it is good only for salads - not for any medicinal value.
You can find this raw apple cider vinegar (with the "mother" culture) even in Walmart, and in lots of big chain supermarkets, but you can for sure find it at upscale grocery stores. I get mine for a good price at Walmart. One of the best brands is Bragg's. A large bottle can last months, and costs relatively little. It's GREAT to have on hand, for animals and people alike, for all sorts of ailments.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Its hard to know just what Rocky has - virus or bacteria - without a qualified veterinary opinion. And, since that is not an option right now, ADV certainly applies in this case.
And, the ACV capsules, tablets or pills vary widely in efficacy as the labeling appears to be very inconsistent; hands down, the real deal is ideal and the pills do not measure up. I am not aware of any lethal dose of ACV; side effects would be upset stomach from acidity - so if using a liquid a pinch of baking soda would help with that.
That said if this were my cat and the pills were all I had, I would try dosing 1 pill at each feeding, morning and night. I would also alkalize his water by adding baking soda to the water - start with 1/2 teaspoon into 1 liter of pure non-chlorinated water and see how he takes that. If he avoids it like the plague, change the water out and try 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to the water. Once he accepts the water you can gradually increase the dose to 1/2 teaspoon per liter. Do this for 7 days, and then cut back to the 1/4 teaspoon dose.
If the symptoms you are seeing are snotty nose and discharge, keep his nostrils clear. If he is coughing consider OTC children's homeopathic cough syrup. You might also consider putting him in the bathroom and shutting it up tight and steaming him with a few drops of Tea Tree Oil in the steam water - consider more ideas for steaming options here:
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
The less expensive brands of ACV simply use white vinegar and add apple flavoring to it; some report good health results but I really think you have to have the raw type with the mother for optimal health benefits - this if you take it internally. If you are using it for washing then by all means use the white stuff or the pasturized kind/not raw variety.
Have you tried Health Harvest, located in Ramez Street, branched from Shehab Street, Mohendessin? They are reputed to have the raw ACV that you seek. Wadi foods is also supposed to carry a good quality ACV - again check for raw/unfiltered/unpasturized.
Posted by Shannon Berry (Colden) on 04/26/2015 ★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
There is a warning on the ACV bottle that says we are not supposed to ingest it undiluted because it is too acidic and it will damage your internal organs...so giving it to your cats undiluted doesn't seem like a safe thing to do...their livers are not like ours and can not even handle things like garlic or chocolate so you might want to check with a vet before dosing them with undiluted ACV!
I found the best treatment of a cat severely ill with feline respiratory disease was true colloidal silver and L-Lysine mixed with water I broke open a capsule mixed with a bit of water and administered with an eye dropper or if cat is still eating on their own--mix it in canned cat food or tuna--turkey baby food works well
Posted by Flavia (Western United States) on 08/10/2017
Hi Barb, I wish someone had gotten back to you, it's sad no one replied to your question. I have no experience with hydrogen peroxide for cats. What ended up happening, how is Elmoe now?
As a general bit of advice, I would say don't let a cat go longer than a day or two - at most - without food, before starting to try to get some nutrition into them, even if it I just chicken broth. It's also very important to keep them hydrated when they are sick and not taking water on their own. You can saturate their paws with water, they can lick it off, or gently feed them water from a syringe, in the corner of their mouth (be gentle though, and go in the side of the mouth, not the front).
How much 10 ppm colloidal silver do we give our cat if he has that respiratory herpes. Vets don't help. They gave him an antibiotic shot - basically it resolved nothing. Sounds like his nasal won't allow clear breathing, he sneezes in the water & food all the time. He looks so sick & sad, like he may get taken down permanently eventually by this. He was born 2003, looked so strong & great vets couldn't believe his age, until this happened. I don't want to let him be sick like this. It's lingered for months. So, I want to give him "enough" of the 10 ppm colloidal silver, & I do have some so am ready to go.
Wow!! Thank you! What a story. I am in the process of trapping six abandoned, feral kittens. So far, they are passing their tests for leukemia, AIDS etc, for which I am very thankful, but they do have upper respiratory illness. Our vet gave each a seven day antibiotic shot, but that is not helping with the eyes of two of them. I'm assuming they are feeling better because we are knocking off a bacterial component of the illness, but the viral component is able to continue working on the eyes, that is, one eye each of two kittens. I think, after reading this, I will try giving them the chicken broth I make for them and adding the vinegar to the broth. I am already ripped up pretty good from one of them so trying to put vinegar directly on the kittens would be wild, to say the least. Putting antibiotic ointment into the affected eyes is enough, already! Did your kitties' eyes become inflamed, were they kind of squinting out of one of their eyes?
Is it ok to use apple cider vinegar for my 7 or 8 week old kittens? One of them sneezes a lot. No other symptoms. If anyone knows and can let me know I'd really appreciate it.
Posted by Laurie (Niagara Falls, Canada ) on 10/02/2017
My one yr old cat had URI about six, or so, weeks ago. Gave her Apple cider vinigar, colloidal silver, l-lysine, and steam from shower every day.( still on ACV & l- lysine daily. Recovered beautifully in a couple weeks. This morning started again with sneezing/coughing. Do I start over again or go to vet. Brought her in last time, told vet my plan, didn't seem to concerned, so started with home remedies. Could use some advice. I'm a health nut so I'd rather not put chemicals in her body if not going to help her anyway. Want to do the best for my furry babies, with limited money as I'm a widow. Can't wait to hear from anyone. Thank u.
I was reading earlier that a woman had a kitty with chronic asthma...and gave him 1/2 tsp a day of coconut oil and it cured him after 7 days. He threw up a bit...the toxins. Google Earth Clinic Cats Asthma...and the page will come up. It's the first one, under coconut oil.. Maybe it could clear him out?
Aww, I am so sorry for your loss and I do hope the cat you still have feels better soon. I am just learning that ACV works for upper respiratory disease. I have had one cat for two years and when I adopted her, she already had the condition. I have tried all different types of Lysine in every form and brand I can find, antibiotics to thin out the junk she sneezes, and humidifiers. None of them work at all or it is does lessen her symptoms, it is not for very long. A couple of weeks ago, I got two kittens, one for me and one for my daughter. We named them Simba and Nala, well my daughter named them that. Now, they are starting to sneeze! Seriously? Am I going to have 3 cats sneezing junk all over my house? That stuff comes out of her nose with some force sometimes!
Thank you all for your information and sharing. Two days ago, I had one kitten sneezing and now all my 4 fosters and one rescue now have it. Will keep you posted on how it works.
Posted by Flavia (Western United States) on 08/10/2017
Suseeq, what kind of vitamin C, and in what form is safe to give to cats? There is C citrate, C ester. It is confusing. Also, how much is too much vitamin C to give to an adult cat, about 10 lbs?
Currently battling deworming, a bot fly bite, and what seems to be a URI starting. If I'm not cleaning diarrhea, I'm changing bedding, washing my hands until they are now bleeding, and my clothes are washed and changed at least 3 times a day. The vet estimates Frank to be about 7 weeks old. When I took him they gave him dewormer, his first boosters, & antibiotics for the fly bite. I'm trying the ACV approach as he has just started sneezing and watery eyes this morning. I'm praying it works.
Posted by Linda (Cocoa Beach Florida) on 04/26/2015
My cat has been sneezing a lot for the last year! And about a month ago my cat starting having dripping blood from her nose. She is 13 and thin but does have a huge appetite which the vet says id due to a thyroid problem. I just read that the nose bleeding could be from having an upper respitory infection for a long time and being stressed because of it can cause nose bleeding. So I looked on the internet for naturally calming herbs for cats. Camomile and hops! So going to Lowes tomorrow and getting those plants and going to chop some up and put it in her food. Hopefully if she calms down this will help along with some natural antibiotics.
Posted by Flavia (Western United States) on 08/10/2017
Tabitha Gassaway, did your kitty end up doing okay? To anyone reading, I would suggest NOT putting vinegar solution directly on the face, not on the nose either, because just like when we have a cold, our noses become more sensitive, and it might burn. Instead put it where they will lick it off, like paws, back, neck, maybe a bit on their chest and chin. Apple three, maybe four times a day for bad cases with lots of mucous.
What do you mean when you speak of apple cider vinegar (with mother)? I don't understand what the mother part means. Thanks.
EC: Usually raw and organic apple cider vinegar has "the mother." It will have a cloudy or appear to have cobwebs in it. It contains important nutrients.
I REALLY NEED HELP!!!!!! I don't have apple cider vinegar in the bottle yet but I do have the pills and they are 500mg. My 1 and a 1/2 yr.old male Maine Coon cat Rocky, has a respiratory infection. What would be the safe dose to give him? He's about 10 lbs could be a little more but only by a pound or 2. I don't have the money for a vet and what I've been seeing and hearing, antibiotics don't cure this anyway. Does aanyone out there know the dose for the pill form and if that will work till I can get him the bottle AVC?
Posted by Lauralea (West Memphis, Ar) on 10/24/2013
I need to know how much ACV to put on my kitty's neck for a Upper Respiratory Infection (URI). I used a cotton ball but not sure if that got enough on his neck. Cotton ball, syringe? Thank you for any help!
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
You want to first make sure you get the most effective ACV - the raw, unfiltered type with an active culture [mother] in it.
I would take a small amount - 1/2 cup say, and dilute that with 1/2 cup distilled or filtered tap water; this will cut some of the harshness on the tongue.
I then just dip my cats paws in it, or pour it on their leg and really saturate it so they have to really lick it up to work it dry. Do this twice a day, am and pm.
You can also put a few drops of ACV into your cat's water bowl; my cats will NOT touch if its more than a few drops and you for sure want your kitty to want to drink especially with an infection.
I have an inquiry, Theresa, what if Organic raw apple vinegar isn't available and the only type available for me is the manufactured one like California Garden, I searched lots of hypermarkets and health stores but I didn't find it anywhere. Can I use California Garden instead?
My sons girlfriend came over with two bangel kitties ( one got calyces Virus and had a 104 fever and was very ill, ulcers all over her mouth and tounge I had carafate, so I gave it to her, then her sister contracted it too. Then I have four 5 to 6 week old kittens (who 'i mix formula and food now . One of the cats has diarrhea & congestion and seems to give a cough and had snot in her nose . I already have 1 cat and three small dogs and now, my 4 year old dog is sneezing whom I found in my bed not wanting to move. ( I made her get off and eat and gave her some antihistamine) . I notice the other day that sick kitten crying and it seemed to have a bellyache, not sure, it was bed time and the cry was different then I had heard before. Yesterday, she had a fever was shaking and her nose was congested, today she has congestion in her chest and although she ate this morning, I tried to give her straight formula and she wasn't having it. I want to give her the ACV... But I have no idea how much to give her and am scared to death, now my animals have it and it will spread.
The bangles had calyces virus. Is this what this is .? The vet said all the cats now have it, however none of them have those symptoms . I am very anxious ..
They are foster kitties that came here and I keep getting told the foster place will pay for the vet, the formula and everything else. This hasn't been the case, so either the girlfriend is out of and is putting off having the rescue pay for this or basically, there is no rescue . The bangles she found. I cannot afford to take another one to the vet ( one of them cost me $108.00) I have spent over $240.00 n the last two to three weeks, ( Im so exhausted from taking care of them all, and cant seem to find a place that will lower any cost to foster kitties. I am very afraid that all of them are going to contract her infection ( my animals one seem to already) and that they are going to die. Any suggestions?
Mindy, You are a saint hunny & w/o you all these babies would have died or will die. I know your exhausted & broke but don't give up & find somebody to help & give you time off & away from these guys. What is acv? Where do I get it & is it used for month 1/2 old kittens w/ upper res]story inf? I need help fast. Thank you
Posted by Kittyboogers (Carnelian Bay, Ca) on 01/20/2012 ★★★★★
I had a cat with a VERY serious URI; at one point he stopped eating and became emaciated. The lysine I gave him for the URI (which helped dramatically) wasn't working and too hard on an empty stomach. Finally I read to give tuna out of a can... esp. the juice. It worked! He couldn't resist the smell and started eating. He would eat a bit, turn away, then I would say "keep eating" and put him back in front of his plate. Then praise him for eating and stroke him. Pretty soon he got his appetite back and I didn't have to coax him anymore. Between the tuna, putting him back in front of the food, and rewarding with praise and affection (and after he started eating, lysine plus fresh air did amazing things for the URI) he gained all his weight back and was almost healthy. But the great outdoors that was getting him healthy also seemed to have dangers as he didn't come back one evening: could have been coyote, mean dog or ignorant tourist assuming he was a stray (no collar).
Now I'm using ACV for my new kitten who struggles with eye infectons. I swipe diluted and sometimes full strength across his CLOSED eye and by morning his eye is wide open again. I need to try it in his food and more often for a few days to kick the thing, I think.
Isn't borax used like as in ajax? also washing powder? I used the apple cider vinegar with a very sick kitten, she had upper respiratory problems, with diarrhea, vomiting leaky eyes, one eye was completely closed, I used a few drops of the cider for a week and every sign of illness is gone even the closed eye is completely open, my only worry now is her organs? plus she is no longer urinating or moving bowels?I am trying a mild herb which is my own daily fiber caps.
I just love this site it's awsome & very informative. Thank you.
I never would have believed that something I use in salad and on french fries would have a medicinal purpose. Our little boy has had a ruff few days and scared us a couple of times. If this works , I would need to know who to thank.
Goldenseal cannot be used for longterm use. It's fine for up to five days, no more than 7 days. If giving it again you have to wait a couple of weeks. Echinicea tincture might be a substitute during that time but, again, no more than 7 days for echinicea or it loses its effectiveness so you have to switch to something else. You can switch back after a couple of weeks. It might not be necessary to even give this more than seven days, echinicea or goldenseal because it works quickly. There's even an echinicea/goldenseal tincture out but with that too, no more than seven days so it might be an idea to start with goldenseal or echinicea and if you have to give it longer than 7 days you can switch from one to the other.
My cat has been sick with for about two months now and it was reoccurring before I took him to vet for a month before. I thought it would go away on its own but it didn't which is why I took him to vet. This is my first time for any of my cats to ever have a URI, so this is all new to me. So the conventional antibiotics didn't work. The congestion pills worked and he was able to eat with ease but after two weeks of giving him everything, he actually got worse. It's been a month now that I didn't give him any meds because I thought again he could heal on his own. So then I found a hollistic near me which I may be taking him tomorrow. He's not eating and he's lost a lot of weight.
I bought him coconut oil and colloidal silver which are both really good strong natural effective antibiotics that I now will help him. He's probably 10 pounds with his weight at the moment, normally 14 or 15 pounds, he's a Big sweetheart. so I've given him 0.5 coconut oil since he's never taken it before and with all of the liquid chicken baby food that I'm feeding him with a syringe I don't want to overwhelm him.
So 1 tsp of baby food, and I've been spraying the CS in his mouth once, and I sprayed it into his nose as well. I'm working on giving him more CO, CS, and baby food through out the day and I've been with him seeing how he's been behaving and making sure he's not vomiting or anything, which he is not at all. I'm wondering how much does of the CO, CS, and liquid baby food doses should I give him?
I've been starting off small because I'm not sure how much to give him. Please help me! He's also drinking constantly and going to the bathroom right after, which could have something to do with the kidneys or lots of things. I'm trying to save myself from going to the holistic vet, because I have other bills at the moment so I'm trying to wait it out and cure him of his URI. He's very congested which is causing him to not eat. He's constipated as well, and he's been trying to go potty out of the litter box here and there but mainly in the litter box. So I think I might give him baby food sweet potatoes as well.
I am having the same problem with my cat. Interested in knowing if you tried this yet and if it worked. He has taken every antibiotic and is taking it bad and famciclovir together. Which used to help but now doesn't do much.
With my cat, 10ppm and depending on how sick they are, dropper full every 2 hours till there is a noticeable change. Longest time I had to do that was 16 hours (8 doses total) but the cat was almost dead from eating bad treats. After that I go to 2-4 times a day till they are well. Once they "seem" well I do it for 2 more days just to make sure.
With my cat, 10ppm and depending on how sick they are, dropper full every 2 hours till there is a noticeable change. Longest time I had to do that was 16 hours (8 doses total) but the cat was almost dead from eating bad treats. After that I go to 2-4 times a day till they are well. Once they "seem" well I do it for 2 more days just to make sure.
Posted by Flavia (Western United States) on 08/10/2017
David and Therese,
That's amazing, because my cats love L-lysine in their food. I tasted it before I gave it to them, opened the capsule, tasted a bit of the granules, and it just tastes slightly salty. Maybe that is why they like it, it is like adding a wee bit of salt to their food. I sprinkle the granules on their dry kibble food, add a bit of water just to moisten the dry food, stir till the L-lysine granules dissolve, and they eat it all up.
When my cats were sick with kitty cold, I gave 100mg a day - but in two doses - 500mg in morning, 500mg in evening. It helped one cat within 2 days, she got well quickly. The other two cats didn't seem helped by it, but maybe they just needed more of the L-lysine. I was worried about giving too much Lysine though, so I never went above 1000mg a day for them, and I started the apple cider vinegar cure instead. I only just started that today, so I have to see how that goes.
I would resume treating as you did and keep at it longer. Using Apple Cider Vinegar daily or colloidal silver daily may not be a bad idea as a preventative.
Cats don't tend to start eating again once they've stopped, without some intervention. It's like they totally forget they have to and things quickly start shutting down. I know vet bills are hideous, but I really think you should take you little guy in. We had a great cat that was with us for 18 years. At least three times in his life we had to take him in to kickstart his eating. And it was worth it every time.
Apple Cider Vinegar & Upper Respiratory Infections in Cats
This is my third day giving my cat ACV. Although this seems to be helping just a bit, he throws up every time I give it to him & then he is nauseous for a couple hours afterward. I don't know whether I should keep giving it to him or not.. Because him throwing up twice a day is not good for him. After he throws up, I give him another dose ( which always stays down) But, still he looks sick as hell afterwards! He hates me for it. I'll keep it up for another few days or so. Hopefully it will help out more than it hurts. My cat is 16 years old & has been since for months now. Vet visits have done nearly nothing to help... I'm hoping for a miracle. I will update with the status of ACV & Figuro in one week.
One answer to this is to get either empty gelatine capsules from a health food store. About an inch long. Or empty the capsules from something like acidophilus capsules and use the empty containers(Note: make sure that whatever was in the capsules beforehand is not toxic to your pet. Don't ever use or empty capsules that contained something of a drug or medical nature).
I found I could put almost half of a dropperful or 1/4 tsp of goldenseal, echinicea or ACV into the long end of the capsule(if you pull it apart there's a short end and a long end-fill the long end and put the short end on as a cap). If, after filling the capsule you put the lid on, it is possible to,holding the capsule end to end between your thumb and index finger squeeze the filled capsule a little and it makes it 3/4" long not one inch. If your cat can swallow something of that size greased with a little butter,it's an excellent way to get ACV,echinicea, goldenseal down them without them tasting the bitter taste.
Note: some cats have a very small mouth and very small throat, or mucus, etc at the back of the throat so check the size of the capsule that it is not large enough to block the throat or can cause added difficulty. Look for a smaller capsule or don't use this approach if that is the case.
I have a 1 yr old /10 lb Male Neutered cat by the name of Max, He's an indoor/outdoor cat, is up to date on his shots. However we noticed this past week he can't hardly meow real loud, and now he is doing a coughing/gaggin noise. I think he has an upper-respiratory infection/virus. What is hard for me, and I am not working at the moment, and I don't have the money for the vet. So if I can figure out a way to help my furbaby in anyway naturally, that would mean the world to me. Well today I gave him L-Lysine 500mg today that was told to me by the rescue group in my county. However I didn't know anything about about giving them Apple Vinegar Cider, or even using it in a steam or nebulizer, I think that is amazing. However instead of all that-Can you use 1/4 tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar in a medicine seringe and just shot it to the back of their throat, it would be alot quicker than trying to get them to eat a pill, unless of course you think it might burn. If using Echinacea, how much do you use. Do I need to give him the AVC, Lysine and Echinacea all at the same time, same day, etc. Any suggestions is helpful. Thank, Shelly
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
The lysine provided to you from the rescue group is a remedy used to treat feline herpes -the symptoms of which *sound* like what your cat has. Continue feeding that, in wet food if you have it, along with the Echinacea - which tastes really awful so you need to disguise the taste.
You should use a warm cloth to clean the gunk from his nose and eyes and keep him comfy.
ACV can be given more directly - syringe - but you want to dilute it as straight ACV is pretty harsh and you cat might just throw it right back up due to the acidity. Try mixing 2-3 teaspoons into 8 ounces of pure water and see if you can get that down via syringe over the course of a couple hours.
Read up on feline herpes to see if this is what your cat may have:
Thank you for your testimony. It is 9:00 pm Sunday eve. I just rubbed ACV on my 4 mo. old kitten. I will check back in a couple hours. I hope this works.
Re upper respiratory infections. There's a medication that is given for pets who have asthma, it will clear outthe nasal passages and mucus accumulations in the chest, bronchial tubes, etc in about four hours. The pet will then be able to cough up if there's anything that remains or starts to accumulate again but if the mucus is too much the pet can't. This medication helps to dispel the mucus and enable the pet to cough up also once it's manageable. One injection lasts 7 days, In combination with an injectable antibiotic that lasts two weeks it gets cats over cat flu and other respiratory problems fast. I can't name the name of products so just ask you vet if the congestion is really bad in chest or nasal passages for the injection for asthma that will clear it( It begins with a C). It will, at least, be able to give you a handle on it until you can get other things in place.
Posted by Dmg (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) on 03/13/2012
Just wanted to let people know that lysine is great but I found out it competes with theanine in the cat's body - which is an essential amino acid, without it they will die or get very sick - so make sure you don't give the lysine constantly.
I have found there is a pet safe (made for humans) liquid mineral supplement that really helped my rescue kittens get better quite amazingly when they got very sick. I like it too. The company starts with a ms and is in new mexico.
My kitten has upper respiratory infection and I am interested in lysine.. I'm on layoff get unemployment. Where do you get this lysine.anything from an all natural store... Goldie days, runs around like a mad cat. Lol she's very active.. She still raddles, green goo from eyes and nose..please help
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
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