My adult cat has a watery nose discharge. Is it a cold? What to do?

If your kitty has no problems breathing, and if the discharge stays clear, then you do not have to do anything. The next time she has that discharge, take her temperature and if it is 102F or higher you should monitor her for lethargy or not eating, as she may have a viral infection. If the discharge is purulent (yellow or green) she needs to be seen by a veterinarian.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Mini is having a runny nose. It is possible that she is suffering from an upper respiratory infection that may be viral and/or bacterial in origin. If you believe that she is not having difficulty breathing (ie, has a respiratory rate of less than 40 at rest and is not using her belly to help her breathe), she is eating normally, drinking, urinating and defecating normally, and has a normal energy level, you may be able to monitor her at home. Sometimes, keeping her in the bathroom while you run a hot shower can help clear her sinuses. If you notice any purulent (yellow, thick, foul-smelling) discharge from either her eyes or nose, I recommend having her seen by a veterinarian to be examined and treated. I hope this is helpful!

She probably has an upper respiratory infection or cold. Please keep her warm and feed her often. As long as she’s eating she should recover in a week or two. If she stops eating you should take her in for an exam and treatment. They may need to treat her with antibiotics and fluids. This is common in kittens and they usually recover fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Nicole.

This is likely the start of an upper respiratory infection. These are often due to a virus that is usually self-limiting (will go away on its own - much like a cold with people). These can become worse and complicated with bacterial infections, so if Alexa is having issues with congestion, or starts to develop yellow/green nose or eye discharge, then it will be best to take her to a vet for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. For now, make sure she is comfortable and free of any stressful situations. These infections often happen in times of stress, so if there was a potential new stressor, then try your best to remove it. I hope that helps and Alexa gets better soon.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Upper respiratory infection in cats is often a chronic disease, it can flare up for example because of stress or concurrent disease process. As long as Scooter is bright, has good appetite and does not have any breathing problems, you should monitor him at home. You should clean the discharge from the nose (and the eyes if necessary) with baby wipes. Offer him warm, tasty food as with runny nose cats can not smell very well. Typically, uncomplicated cat flu symptoms go away after 7-10 days However, if Scooter starts breathing heavily, goes off his food or the discharge from the nose turn green or yellow, you should take him to your local vets for an appointment.

This may be from an allergy or a sinus or upper respiratory infection. It is common in cats and quickly can progress to a decreased appetite and lethargy. Most respiratory infections in cats are from viral infections that can be contagious to other cats. If he is eating still, then you can make an appointment with your vet and do no need to get him treated as an emergency

Hello. It is very common for an upper respiratory tract infection to also cause eye symptoms. This may include a clear watery discharge and inflammation of the eyelids and conjunctiva. If the discharge becomes thick and yellow/ green or your cat squints or is holding the eye closed, she should be rechecked and started in eye medication as well. If the symptoms are mild as they are now, it may resolve on its own when the virus runs its course and goes away. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach