My cat has runny eyes with green discharge and also a runny nose..

Question

I adopted him as a stray from outside and it's been about 2 and a half months now that I found him and he's been doing well until now. He is a grown cat..not nuetured.. very large and long. haired. so he's eating well and seems to be ok just.. his eyes are very runny and swollen like and his nose is runny also.. I can't afford to take him to the vet due to the dog that I have already and her vet bills are all I can handle right now ! So I'm hoping he will be ok ?? Are these the symptoms of a very sick cat ?? or will he get better without any treatment.

Answer 1

Your vet should be able to solve this with some medicine. It's probably a "cold" that cats can get, and it could turn into a serious problem, so get to the vet, quickly.  

Answer 2

He has a respiratory infection most likely and unlike colds in humans, they can become quite serious in cats. He should get antibiotics from the vet.  This should not be an overly expensive vet visit but it is necessary.

Answer 3

Bozema is right- it is an upper respiratory infection- especially if there is a green discharge- cats get these type of infections from viruses  and antibiotics are given to prevent a secondary infection- amoxicillin is given if it is the herpes virus, which most commonly causes the symptoms that you have mentioned (not the same as human virus).  L-lysine- is being given to cats to suppress this virus and it is over the counter-  it comes in a capsule that you can break open 250 mg is what they recommend for cats- (but look it up on the web- all the info for this supplement is there), add a little water and give to your cat with a syringe ( no needle of course- the pharmacy will have one for free probably-) the antibiotics do not get rid of the virus- it is just a precaution against further infection-  There is another virus that causes these symptoms in cats - chlamydia-  it is the one that causes conjunctivitis (pink eye) in your cat- does your cat look like it has pink eye- if so then this does require tetracycline -  (these viruses stay with kitty- there is no cure) its best to give your cat wet food so he doesn't dehydrate- dehydration will cause alot more problems-  I have six cats and mine were exposed to one of these viruses so I know what they do if you go to the vet-  also- it will be cheaper for you if you have the prescriptions filled at the a pharmacy instead of the vets office- way cheaper for the antibiots infact- medication doses for antibiotics for cats are found online at a pet pharmacy- some antibiotics can be found in the fish department of your local pet store- they are the samething that you or I would take but the doses will be too high for a cat- can they be divided????hmmmm- good luck

Answer 4

hes got a eye infection maybe but i would call my vet and ask him what to do he might have some alleges  so i would call him and ask the vet also use a Luke warm wash cloth and clean his eyes but don' t put soap on the rag just water it will help from caking up and drying out  

Answer 5

I'm afraid the colored eye discharge is the sign of a bacterial infection and the only way to deal with that is with antibiotics from the vet.

The runny nose might be viral and he doesn't need antibiotics for that.  Eye problems really need vet attention.  Be sure to check with the vet about what he would charge to see the cat.  As a veterinary "frequent flyer" my vets will sometimes give me a break on the costs.