What to Do When Your Cat’s Nose Is Stuffy

1 Cat Stuffy Nose Causes and Care

I. Cold and Nasal Congestion

Cat cold symptoms generally include runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, loss of appetite, fatigue and sleepiness; nasal congestion is a very obvious symptom. If a cat has a cold with congestion, it may well have trouble breathing through the nose. Over time this can damage the internal nasal tissue and impair the cat’s sense of smell. To relieve cold-related congestion, the cat’s cold must be cured—give it a cat-specific cold granules, combined with some health supplements that boost resistance, helping the cat improve its own immunity. If congestion is especially severe, a nasal decongestant can help the cat breathe quickly. Keep the cat warm during a cold, feed a light diet, and supplement nutrition promptly once the cold improves.

II. Feline Rhinotracheitis

Feline rhinotracheitis is a highly contagious acute infectious disease, also called infectious rhinotracheitis, caused by a virus infecting the cat’s upper respiratory tract. The virus in a sick cat rapidly multiplies in the epithelial cells of the nose, throat, trachea and tongue, and is excreted with its secretions. A healthy cat becomes infected upon contact with a sick cat’s secretions, and the virus also spreads through droplets.

In the early stage of feline rhinotracheitis, the cat’s temperature rises, with paroxysmal coughing, and nasal discharge gradually increases, turning from serous to purulent. So if a cat’s nose is blocked, it may well have rhinotracheitis. Kittens have a high death rate from rhinotracheitis; adult cats can also die easily without timely treatment. Because it is highly contagious, the sick cat must be isolated.

Treating feline rhinotracheitis first requires fighting the virus—oral medication or drops can be used; for better results, lysine is also needed, or some anti-infection medication, and cat nasal powder can be added to the food. The sick cat needs an adjusted diet with more protein, fed higher-nutrition cat food or canned food.

A cat’s stuffy nose must be addressed promptly to find the cause; if it is rhinotracheitis, treat promptly. If you have other related questions, you can also consult an online pet veterinarian.