My cat has constant snot and loud breathing. What's causing it?

This one sided discharge in Molson could be due to cancer, fungal infections, foreign bodies, and oronasal fistulas that may affect a single nasal passage. It can also be a sign of a respiratory infection, but usually that is accompanied by additional signs such as sneezing. I would have him seen by a vet in the morning. The vet can diagnose what is causing the singular nasal discharge, and can treat him for it. Tonight, you can try using a humidifier or bringing him into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve his symptoms.

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.

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.

Poor Spike! There are a few things that could be going on here. First, he may have a condition called chronic rhinitis - basically, this is a chronic upper respiratory infection that causing changes in the tissue and bone structure inside the nose, which makes symptoms very hard to get rid of even with proper antibiotic treatment. He could also have a nasal foreign body of some kind (like a piece of grass), a fungal infection like cryptococcus which wouldn't respond to antibiotics, or even a nasal tumor. Since he's been on antibiotics twice now with no improvement, you have a couple of options. Ideally, it would be best for Spike to have some further diagnostic testing to try and figure out what's causing the chronic symptoms - this would likely involve culture and cytology of the nasal discharge, skull x-rays, and possibly rhinoscopy (looking inside the nose with a tiny camera) and biopsies of anything in the nasal cavity that looks suspicious. Referral to a specialist may be required for some of these tests. Or, if you prefer not to pursue any additional testing right now, your vet should be able to talk to you about other treatment options that may help to relieve his symptoms. Many cats with this issue respond well to anti-inflammatory drugs, long courses of antibiotics (4-6 weeks), intranasal antibiotic/steroid drops, or even adjunct therapies like laser treatment or acupuncture. I would recommend asking your vet for his/her suggestions on the next step. If they don't have any other suggestions or don't want to talk with you about options, you can get a second opinion from another vet if needed.

Chronic upper respiratory issues in cats can be frustrating. At this point Jaxson may need further diagnostic testing. Your vet may consider a sedated exam to look for nasal pharyngeal polyps or a foreign body. If there is an infectious component blood tests may be used to try to find out what the cause is. If no answer is found referral for imaging such as a CT scan may be able to determine if there is a mass or foreign body in his nasal passages.

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!

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.