My cat has a runny nose: why and what should I do?

For a few days now, your little cat has had a runny nose. Just like us, our beloved whiskers can have a runny nose, a kind of cold. Although not serious for humans, this symptom should not be taken lightly in our cats.

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My cat has a runny nose: should I be worried?

Runny nose, shiny eyes, a duck voice... We've all had a cold (also called rhinitis) at some point, that viral condition that keeps us awake and costs us a lot in tissues - because yes, there's no question of taking toilet paper for our delicate nostrils.

In our cats , a runny nose is just as common, but unlike us, this symptom must be monitored closely, as it is often a sign of a more serious condition.

When the nasal discharge is heavy and lasts for several days

First of all, note that the cat's nose is naturally slightly moist, especially when it is not sleeping. This characteristic allows it to capture odors, because odorous molecules are more easily attracted to a moist wall. This humidity is due to the imperceptible secretion of nasal discharge and saliva. Do not worry if its nose is therefore slightly moist. On the other hand, if kitty has had a runny nose for several days, this is not normal.

If your little friend has a runny nose, first observe the liquid coming out of his nose. There are several types of nasal secretions in our furry friends. These can have different colors and textures. They can be:

- Transparent like water. This is called serous discharge.

- Clear and viscous like baby snot. This is called mucous discharge .

- Viscous with yellowish to greenish pus. These are mucopurulent discharges . The presence of pus is characteristic of a bacterial superinfection.

- Blood-tinged. These are hemorrhagic discharges that can mean the presence of a foreign body in the nasal cavity, an infection or even a tumor. By foreign body, we can mean pine needles, blades of grass or even woolen threads that have lodged in the nasal cavity. Yes, it can happen!

The stranger the appearance of nasal discharge, the more it should alert you. An appointment with the vet is therefore essential. That said, serous and mucous discharge is not harmless either, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, repeated sneezing, fever, watery eyes (conjunctivitis), apathy, etc.

Whatever the condition of your little cat, consult your veterinarian! Of course, note that if your mustachioed one has a small drop in his nose, it is not a big deal. He could have sniffed a little dust for example. A runny nose in cats becomes worrying when it lasts more than three days and other symptoms are associated .

My cat has a runny nose, what are the causes?

A runny nose in cats can have several causes.

Coryza

Runny nose, sneezing , watery eyes, all these symptoms suggest a cold. But in cats, what is often perceived as a mild cold can be coryza , an upper respiratory infection also called “cat flu”. Most cases of coryza are due to feline calicivirus (FCV) or feline herpesvirus (FHV), the two main agents. Highly contagious, this condition is transmitted by sick animals, but can also be transmitted by healthy carriers.

As explained in our article on coryza in cats , symptoms include breathing difficulties, fever, watery eyes, open-mouth breathing or a severe sore throat leading to loss of appetite, dehydration and lethargy, but also a discharge from the nose (rhinitis) which can become purulent in the event of bacterial superinfection and create crusts that make it difficult for the cat to breathe.

FCV can also cause ulcers of the tongue and palate, and FHV can cause corneal ulcers and conjunctivitis (red eyes) with sometimes purulent discharge. If left untreated, eye discharge can dry out and prevent kitty from opening her eyes.

Coryza mainly affects kittens aged 2 to 12 weeks, cats carrying the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and cats living in shelters.

Chlamydia

A runny nose in cats can also be of bacterial origin and be one of the symptoms of chlamydia, a bacterial infection caused by Chlamydophila felis. This disease is also very contagious and affects the cat's respiratory tract and eyes.

In affected cats, conjunctivitis is predominant, but this symptom is often associated with nasal discharge, initially clear and then purulent, fever, sneezing, tears that are also purulent, and very severe fatigue. Feline chlamydia is transmitted from cat to cat, but also from cat to man. It can be a complication of coryza. Here too, vaccination is essential; as a general rule, the vaccine against feline chlamydia is administered at the same time as the vaccine against coryza.

Allergic rhinitis

Coryza is often blamed, but an allergy can also be responsible for his runny nose. Your little cat may be allergic to various things such as pollen, a household product that you use, essential oils that you diffuse in your rooms or even dust. Generally, in the case of allergies, the runny nose is accompanied by sneezing.

Note that mineral litters, which are composed of clay minerals or sand, are very dusty, and some cats (especially those with existing respiratory problems) may have difficulty tolerating the particles emitted during each passage in the litter box.

If you are looking for the ideal litter for your cat, we share with you all our advice for choosing the best litter for your cat.

A foreign body

As we mentioned earlier in this article, if your cat has a runny nose, he may also have a foreign body stuck in one of his nostrils.

Cats, and especially kittens, like to put their noses everywhere. They smell and sniff every surface they come across. And sometimes, small objects end up in their noses. Foreign bodies that obstruct their nasal cavity and cause discharge. By foreign bodies, we mean, for example, thorns, spikelets, blades of grass or even tiny bits of wool from your sweater or blanket. Yes, it can happen!

A dental problem

A dental problem can also be the cause of a runny nose. When there is an infection on a tooth in the upper jaw, it can affect the sinuses that are close to the root of the teeth.

Don’t hesitate to consult our article: why and how to take care of your cat’s teeth.

A nasal tumor or cancer

Finally, in very rare cases, a cat with a runny nose (sero-mucous discharge) may have polyps, growths located on the mucous membrane lining the nasal sinuses, or cancer (nasopharyngeal lymphoma). Very often, the nasal discharge appears from a single orifice and is tinged with blood.

There are other causes of your cat's runny nose. Another is Cryptococcosis, a fungal disease caused by a fungus, Cryptococcus sp. But this infection is most common in warm, humid areas.

This (non-exhaustive) list of causes may be worrying, but keep in mind that a cat that has had a runny nose for several days and is not at all in its plate - or rather its bowl - is not insignificant, hence the importance of monitoring your little cat closely and consulting your veterinarian at the slightest doubt.

You are the father or mother of your four-legged baby, and as a parent, you know deep down that something is wrong. Make an appointment with your veterinarian, even if there is nothing to panic about. Which is the case in most cases, rest assured 😽

My cat has a runny nose, what should I do?

A visit to the vet

We're repeating ourselves a bit, but if your cat has had a runny nose for several days, consult your veterinarian . He will examine your furball, carry out tests if necessary to determine the origin of his nasal discharge and he will prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Care and lots of cuddles

At home, you can relieve your cat by regularly cleaning its nose and eyes with saline solution or clear water. Remember to wash your hands before and after each cleaning. If it is coryza, the infection can spread. And of course, take care of your little ball of fur, with lots of love and cuddles. But you already do that. Be careful not to bother it too much, though.

Rest and stay warm!

The best remedy for our sick whiskers is rest. For that, we can trust them, they are the kings of naps! If your cat has access to the outdoors, try to keep him in your house while he heals. In case of coryza, he must not infect the other cats in the neighborhood either.

Quality food

We will never stop saying it: a healthy cat is a well-fed cat! The food our cats eat plays a fundamental role in their body, which needs to defend itself against germs and bacteria.

In their food, our beloved cats must find quality proteins , sources of amino acids that contribute to the proper functioning of their body (immunity, growth, digestion, reproduction) and their structure (bones, skin, muscles, hair). Without animal proteins, and therefore without these amino acids, our cats would have severe deficiencies. A taurine deficiency notably results in an alteration of the immune function.

To be healthy, our little companions must also find lipids (essential fatty acids), minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium, etc.), some fiber and vitamins (especially group B) in their food.

At Ziggy, our recipes contain all the nutrients our cats need to feel good about their paws. Formulated by our veterinary nutritionist, Dr. Géraldine Blanchard, they contain muscle and noble offal of great nutritional richness, lipids, vitamins, minerals in just the right amount and a little fiber for their intestinal transit. Fiber provided in particular by vegetables.

A tasty food

A quality diet is essential, but it must also be appetizing. And for good reason, a runny nose is often accompanied by a loss of smell and consequently a loss of appetite.

In our cats, the olfactory criterion is decisive in the acceptance of food, they sniff their bowl before tasting their kibble and/or their pâté.

Be careful though; many manufacturers add additives and flavor enhancers to increase the palatability of their products. And these don't provide much, if anything at all, from a nutritional point of view.

At Ziggy, we have chosen to add fish oil to some of our recipes, which, in addition to making our food appetizing, provides good fatty acids (omega 3 and 6), which allow our little cats to have healthy skin and hair. We have also added thyme, an aromatic plant that increases the palatability of our food.

The Ziggy Family cats love our deliciouscat food and their very tasty cat food . If you don't believe us, ask them for their opinion 😺

Avis clients sur les croquettes et pâtées pour chat Ziggy - My cat has a runny nose: why and what should I do?

Tip: If your cat is reluctant to eat, don't hesitate to warm up the pâté by adding a teaspoon of warm water. You can also add a little tuna juice.

Good hydration

Also remember to keep your little cat well hydrated. Provide plenty of water so that he can drink and give preference to pâté. Although we often have the impression that our cats are sufficiently hydrated by drinking from their bowl, they actually have difficulty meeting their water needs, especially if they only eat dry food (kibble).

One of the advantages of pâté is that it is very rich in water. Our cats therefore consume water without realizing it.

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Good daily actions to preserve your cat's nose

In addition to a good diet, there are a few rules to follow:

- Avoid using perfumes or essential oils to scent your home

- Be careful with heating which makes the air drier and which can lead to drying out of the olfactory mucosa, then immune deficiency and a “cold”.

- Do not smoke in front of or next to your kitty. A cat that lives with a smoker would be at greater risk of developing lymphoma (a malignant tumor of the lymphatic system).

- Place your basket in a place protected from drafts, away from windows and doors if possible.

- And of course, think about vaccination to protect your little companion as much as possible against viruses such as coryza.


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