Cat with breathing issues, please help if you can

Hello & thanks for any advice you can give

I have taken the cat to the vet who diagnosed URI & prescribed antibiotics, but having read up on URI, it does not sound like my cat, so I would please like to know what you think.

He also diagnosed conjunctivitis which is possible as the eyeball was very red when the vet pulled back the eyelid. He has a small amount of discharge, twice slightly red coloured, but the amount produced is not abnormal.

The cat is a little over 1 year old and for a few weeks has been getting tired too quickly after exercise - he will rasp & pant. Once he was breathing very heavily whilst sleeping. I woke him up and it continued for a couple of minutes but then returned to normal.

I have read that catflu should only last for a couple of weeks and this has been going on for at least that long without any "flu-like" symptoms. he is not exhibiting any other symptoms that I can obviously associate with this. He still wants to play and run around.

The vet took his temperature and said that it was high. He felt around his neck and pressed in, the cat made a large rasping sound at this. He didn't seem to do any other tests.

I am not a fan of antibiotics and am concerned that my cat may be taking them unnecessarily whilst the true cause of his panting is being overlooked.

Please advise, thank you.

11/7/12