First post here, but I've been lurking for a while.  I'm looking for
best wishes as I take one of our cats to the vet for an URI (I think).

A few weeks ago our cat sitter had to back out suddenly before we were
going out of town, so we had to board our two cats, Shadow (11 month
old grey male, altered) and Olivia (Black and while 4 year old female,
also fixed).  After looking around we found a place that had good
recommendations and a site visit went very well, so we had them stay
there.  (We also had to get some extra shots - they are strictly indoor
cats, with no other contact.  Olivia got a distemper shot.)

While out of town we called and got good reports from the kennel.

When we got home after a week we noticed Shadow was sneezing a bit.  He
just sneezed for 3 days or so - nothing more serious - then it cleared
up.  (Olivia had a spot on one of her front legs were she licked the
fur off.  She gets stressed - see below)  Well, day or two later Olivia
started sneezing.  Hers had progressed until she was congested and her
eyes and noes were running.

Now I'm sure everyone is saying "Take her to the vet!"  Well, we
ballanced that with what we had read - that this is viral and drugs
can't help.  But our biggest worry was that Olivia REALLY gets stressed
when we have to put her in the carrier to go anywhere.  She is a
homebody and doesn't have any desire to set paw outside, and most
especially the vet.  I believe this sickness was probably picked up by
being near other animals plus the stress of her being away from home.

We have waited a few days, caring for her at home, to see if she picked
up or got rid of it as fast as Shadow has.  We've kept her warm and
comfortable.  I clean her eyes and nose when they need it.  She has
been eating some and drinking some (we've seen her do both, plus
evidence in the litter box) but not at her non-sick level.  I've kept
the humidity in the room high, which seems to help.  She's been around
the house - watching the birds from the window ledges, migrating to sun
herself by the windows, but she's only gotten a bit better.  Her eyes
don't run as much, and she's still mostly congested though she can
still breathe through her nose.

I think her eating has lessened some, too, which is why we decided to
go to the vet, despite the kitty stress.  For the last two days I've
been giving her water and chicken baby food via a syringe, not because
I thought she wasn't eating at all but because we arent' there all day
to watch her and sometime Shadow eats her food.  I wanted to make SURE
she was getting food/water.

Does all this sound reasonable?

So we're going to the vet this afternoon.  Good wishes and prayers for
Olivia are appreciated, please.  I want to get her checked out, and get
some meds to make her more comfortable if possible.  She's a strong
kitty, and I want to help her out the best I can.

Mike