Elderly cat breathing difficulties when purring

[annac]

This is my first post, and I'm hoping someone can give me some advice....

 

A week ago I added four new POL girls to my existing flock of four. There has been the expected bullying while they sort themselves out but things seem to be gettting better - the new girls stick together and steer clear of the oldies for now.

 

Anyway, one of the newbies, Loretta (Silver Star) has been sneezing, and has been a bit down - still moving and eating, but less active and alert than the others, and jeeping more to herself. This morning she was making a noise I can only describe as honking - seemed to be when she was breathing in (eg after a sneeze). She was also sounding rattley somehow...

 

I put Citricidal in the water anyway, as Alesha (existing "Top Bird") is prone to sneezes, but is there anything else I can do to help Loretta?

 

Thanks!

[-sarahjayne]

You could take her to the vet, it's probably a chest infection, Rhonda got it and had a 5 day course of baytril, it wasn't expensive at all at my vet, £13 for consultation and medicine. She was back to normal after the 5 days

[chelsea]

I agree with Sarah.

 

Best not to leave wheezing and rattles in chickens, if you nip it in the bud with antibiotics it will soon be gone.

[annac]

Thanks for both the replies. Loretta has actually been a lot better today - a few sneezes first thing, but not the awful honking noise anymore. I'll see how she gets on - might have just been panicing a bit.

 

Unfortunately I may have found another reason for her general lethargy - red mite in the house when I cleaned it out this evening Have spent the last 30mins catching and dusting 8 very lively girls!