Cat peunmonia second opinion

Feb 14, First visit = cat has stuffy nose, coughing 4-5 times a day, each cough is continuous coughs around 10-20 times. Administrated 14 days antibiotics and eye drops for mildly swollen eyes. (Doxycycline 25mg 1x a day, famcyclovir 62.5 mg 1x a day, ofloxacin) cat around 2.2 kg   Results: after 14 days no coughing or swollen eyes after, but after stopping meds 4 days later, started coughing again   March 4, Second visit: gave 10 days of antibioics as follow-up, slightly more dose because cat gained weight, dr says should be better within 3-4 days, if not then come back immediately (bromhexine 2mg 1x a day, Doxycycline 25mg 1x a day, famcyclovir 125mg 1x a day) cat is around 2.7 kg   Results: did not get better after 3-4 days, developed yellow nose discharge and lots of sneezing, green mucus occasionally , situation got worse, took cat back at 5th day   March 10, Third visit = dr recommended x rays and labwork, xray shows mild pneumonia, gave heavier dose and new antibiotics for 10 days, did nose lab to see what bacteria. (Amoxycillin 50mg 1x a day, famcyclovir 2x a day, fortiflora) cat around 3 kg   Results: after heavier dose and new antibiotic, improvements showed within 4 days. No more coughing and seems fine, labwork did not cultivate any bacteria. However cat breathes are significantly faster at sleep (40-60 breathes per minute) instead of under 30 before.   Third visit: After 10 days follow-up, no more coughing, but rapid breathing at sleep. Dr. Says its normal since peunmonia doesnt go away with just 10 days of antibiotics that easily. Administrated another 14 days of antibiotics and recommended xray after to see if cleared up by then, if cat gets worse come back earlier. (Amoxycillin 50mg 2x a day, famcyclovir 125mg 2x a day, fortiflora) cat around 3.2 kg   Results: cat started sneezing around 2-3 days, at 4th day, cat is coughing again morning and night, 2 times a day, each time is 10-20 coughs, mucus at times when sneezing. however cat breathes at sleep is no longer rapid and constantly around 30. I feel the cat is not getting better and wonder if I should visit more vets?

Hello!  That sounds like a long road, but recovery from pneumonia can be.  I don't have much context here - eg  how old your cat is - growing, or fully adult?  I am encouraged that the breathing is now slower at rest - it suggests that the patient may be getting more Oxygen into the body with each inhalation - and it is possible that the coughing and sneezing may be mucous coming up (leaving the airways freer) so this isn't always terrible news.  However, do you know what was thought to have caused pneumonia in your cat? Pneumonia is often secondary to something - some might argue that healthy animals are unlikely to 'just get' pneumonia so I wonder whether an underlying cause has been found?  What sort of improvement is your vet expecting from here?  What do they feel a successful resolution to this case would look like and when would they expect to see it?  If no improvement is seen, what would be their next step? I think that by asking these questions you can get a good idea as to the bigger picture.  It is then up to you whether you seek a formal second opinion - but if you do so, we would recommend that you go to someone with more experience of treating feline respiratory disease than your current vet.  (The equivalent vet to yours in the next valley is likely to do the same sort of thing again).  Usually your vet will recommend and contact someone for you;  mostly, vets are very happy to get the opinion of a more knowledgable clinician in a complicated case.   It is common for long courses of antibiotics to be recommended if bacterial disease is suspected - and not uncommon to change antibiotics once culture results are through.  However, the success of treatment often depends on the context surrounding the illness in the first place.  Best of luck with your cat and please do let us know how this case concludes!