Most viral diagnoses are made from clinical signs. But other things can cause URI signs especially fungal infections and cancer. Most cats get over their URIs well faster than 9 days if it's viral, so I'd be worried about those 2 things. Depending on PE results and history I might do a nasal swab or blood draw or both. But that totally depends. Since there is nothing you can do about a virus I don't spend a lot of time or money trying to figure out which one it is, save FeLV and FIV. If FeLV or FIV are involved then I get very gloom and doom.

thanks - that makes things clearer.

I'm so curious as to what the vet says and what she'll recommend when i tell her that clavamox hasn't helped it seems. This cat definitely has congestion in her head although she has no obvious signs of a URI.

If FeLV or FIV are involved then I get very gloom and doom.

Just out of curiosity (and as an owner of a FIV+ cat), what do you mean by that?

Thanks :)

My aunt always used a vaporizer when her Persians got upper respiratory infections.

yes, sylvia, i had read on the web about that. Also, a way to dispense medications - through vapor.