Signs & Symptoms of Pneumonia in a Kitten

Like humans, cats and kittens are susceptible to pneumonia, an infection of the lungs that causes respiratory distress. And like human pneumonia, feline pneumonia has specific symptoms that indicate the presence of infection. If your kitten exhibits any symptoms, such as trouble breathing or catching his breath, contact a veterinarian immediately.

Breathing Difficulties

Kittens may breath rapidly, cough, sneeze or wheeze when they have pneumonia. They may become less active or less vocal in order to keep themselves from breathing heavily. Listen for any rattling or bubbling in your kittens chest that can indicate congestion in the lungs, and call an emergency veterinarian immediately if you notice the kittens gums or nose turning blue. A bluish tint to their mucus membranes indicates cyanosis and that they are not receiving enough oxygen.

Refusal to Eat

Cats and kittens find food appetizing because of its strong odor. If your kitten is refusing to eat, it may be congesteda symptom of pneumoniaand cannot smell its food.

Changes in Behavior

Fever and breathing discomforts makes kittens with pneumonia potentially weak, listless or lethargic. It can also cause other types of behavioral changes, such as unprovoked aggression, submissiveness or litter box accidents.

Aspiration Problems

Bottle-fed kittens may develop aspiration pneumonia. Sometimes, bottle or tube-feeding forces milk into the trachea. This can be caused by overfeeding, misplacement of the bottle nipple or feeding tube or a congenital defect, such as a cleft palate.

Symptoms of aspiration pneumonia include milk or formula flowing out the kittens nostrils, frequent sneezing or coughing and difficulty breathing. The milk in the lungs can cause an infection that causes fever, wheezing or severe respiratory distress.

Severe Trauma Symptoms

If a kitten receives trauma to its chest, it may develop pneumonia due to pleural effusion, or damage to the lungs that causes fluid to quickly accumulate. A kitten will have immediate trouble breathing and may be unable to lie down. She may try and expand her chest cavity and stand with her head and neck extended and legs far apart. She may also show signs of shock or may collapse and pass out. If you suspect that your kitten may have received a chest trauma, contact an emergency veterinarian immediately.