My cat has one-sided nasal discharge and snores. What's wrong?

Malcom is very handsome! Nasal discharge often is related to an infection. Cats can get upper respiratory viral infections and can get a secondary bacterial infection, leading to lots of nasal discharge. Other causes include polyps or even foreign body (like a blade of grass) up the nose. I would recommend you take Malcom in to your vet and have him checked out. He hopefully just needs a course of antibiotics to clear it. Some cats with chronic nasal discharge need antiviral medications or further testing. I hope Malcom is back to his normal self soon!

Upper respiratory infections, allergies, and minor issues with the throat or lungs can sometimes cause congestion or coughing/snoring sounds, however minor cases may resolve on their own with little symptoms. If your cat is still eating and drinking and acting normally, it may just be best to keep an eye on her and watch for any changes. If you do see symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, loss of appetite, fever, difficulty breathing or discharge from the eyes and nose, then scheduling a veterinary appointment for further care is best. If she stays normal, then bringing it up at your next vet checkup if still concerned is best so that your vet can make sure to examine those areas more thoroughly.

Young cats often have mild upper respiratory infections like feline herpesvirus that causes chronic sneezing, nasal and ocular discharge. If possible, you need to get your cat examined and tested for infectious diseases to know what you're dealing with. If it's a herpesvirus, these cats respond to the amino acid lyceine that you can buy at a health food store, or your vet may have a formulation in cat treats or paste form that is much tastier.

Sorry to hear Smoky isn't acting normally. If your current veterinarian hasn't performed diagnostics to back up his statements, I would consider taking him elsewhere in order to do a little more investigation since there have been persistent clinical signs. Abnormal breathing and increased nasal discharge could be an indicator of an upper respiratory infection, feline asthma, cardiopulmonary/cardiovascular disease, or a primary respiratory condition. X-rays of the chest would be the first and foremost diagnostic test to perform in order to rule some of these in/out. There are medical therapies as well that can be attempted instead of diagnostics, but if you would like to get down to the crux of the issue, the diagnostics would be preferable. Hope this makes sense.

Was your kitten ever examined for nasopharyngeal polyps? There is a possibility that your kitty has a polyp in the area that connects the nose with the mouth. These polyps can grow big and fill out the cavity and cause signs that resemble upper respiratory infections without the infection. Snoring is another sign. They are most commonly seen in kittens and young cats, but can occur in any cat. Here is some more information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/ear-polyps-in-cats/

This could be due to an upper respiratory infection or it could be a structural problem with the nasal passage. Another option is a foreign body that is stuck in the nose. If the clinical signs persist and there is no improvement with medications, the veterinarian will need to look up the nose with a camera to see what could be going on.

Hello. This does sound like an upper respiratory infection. Most of these are viruses & run their course over several weeks. If Nancy is eating well, there is probably not much you need to do except keep her warm & feed her well. If the discharge becomes thick or bloody, or she quits eating, &/or develops severe conjunctivitis, please see your vet. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.