Why is my outdoor cat sneezing green mucus? When should I see a vet?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Cats that sneeze and have runny eyes of and on chronically typically will have Herpes Virus. This is like when people have a cold-sore, and when they get stressed it 'flares' up. A flare-up in a cat with herpes virus is sneezing, discharge from the nose, and some red eyes. As long as they are still eating, drinking and acting normally then you can't really do anything as it is viral vs. bacterial. Sometimes these flare-ups can lead to a secondary bacterial infection. If you are seeing green/yellow discharge (the image you have posted looks suspicious but it is hard tot ell the exact colour from the picture) or if Hunter is not eating/drinking, then sometimes antibiotics or an anti-inflammatory are required. If it is worse in the summer it could also be allergies that are causing the sneezing and discharge, in which case as long as he is eating and playing, there isn't any need for intervention. Best of luck with Hunter.

Since this has bene going on for a while, I would get it checked by your vet as soon as possible. It could be a cold, he could have sneezed some particle of foreign material up into his nasal cavity, he could have a polyp in his nose, there's no way to know for sure without an exam with your vet. The greenish tinge to the discharge may mean he already has an infection going on. Your vet will do an exam, possibly lab work and/or x-rays to determine what's going on and based on these results will be better able to tell you what's wrong and give you treatment options.

Poor Romeo! Cats are prone to upper respiratory infections that can cause the symptoms you are describing. These are often viral, but can be mixed with bacterial infections as well. Stress reduction and proper ventilation can sometimes help in these cases. Cats need at least one litterbox per cat plus one extra to help reduce stress associated with the litterbox. They should be placed in separate rooms, away from the food and water bowls, must be scooped at least daily (preferably multiple times a day)and washed out at least weekly with a mild soap, followed by thorough rinsing. Cats need a lot of space to explore, but keeping them indoors is much safer than letting them outside, due to the risk of injury from cars, wildlife, other animals, etc. The key is providing space (particularly vertical space for climbing, such as cat trees, ledges, and the like) inside the home. Visit http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=T&C=33&S=2 and https://indoorpet.osu.edu// for tips on stress reduction. Also look into Feliway, a synthetic pheromone that is available in a diffuser and spray form that promotes calm feelings in cats http://www.feliway.com. In some cases, persistent nasal discharge can be causes by a polyp, mass or foreign object stuck in the nose, which would require further veterinary care. Your vet may recommend imaging to see if there is anything visible in the nose that could be causing this. If you notice Romeo having difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance, or pale gums, have him seen by a vet right away, as this can be dangerous respiratory distress. God luck to you both!

That's great Zamba is eating well, but it is not normal for him to be sneezing, especially with green discharge. At his age an upper respiratory infection is likely. I recommend a vet visit to diagnose and get him started on antibiotics. Good luck and kisses to Zamba!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible as it looks like a severe upper respiratory infection. Sometimes when untreated, they can result in pneumonia. They are likely going to start him on antibiotics right away. Good luck and have a good night!

This is a classic presentation of a cat with an upper respiratory disease. They usually do have a fever early in the infection and will feel bad. They also tend to avoid eating and drinking, because the congestion in the nose does not allow them to breathe properly. You can help the congestion by giving him a steam bath. There is a link below that has good information about how to do this and other helpful tips for this condition. http://www.wikihow.com/Help-Your-Cat-Breathe-Easier It's best if you can get your cat to a vet within the next day or two. While these infections are often due to a virus, they can become complicated with bacterial infections, which will make things much worse. The vet would be able to prescribe the necessary treatment to make him feel better and keep the infection from getting worse. I hope this helps and he feels better soon.

Green mucous is a sign of infection. Poor Zena. She may be showing early signs of an upper respiratory infection (URI). If that is the case you may be able to stop things from getting too bad if you act early. Other possible causes are a fungal infection or parasite problem (not as common). Most cats URI's are initially caused by a viral infection that later on turns into a secondary bacterial infection. To help boost Zenas immune system you can give her over the counter Lysine (antiviral medicine) from your local pet store. Then visit your local vet to get her examined and treated (i.e. Antibiotics) if the green mucous continues or if Zena starts sneezing, coughing or having difficulty breathing. Hopefully this is a mild URI and nothing more.