My old cat keeps sneezing with green eye mucus. Is it serious?

Hunter may have a little virus. This can be common in young cats. I would make sure he is continually eating and drinking. If the sneezing or clear discharge gets worse then I would recommend bringing Hunter to the veterinarian so they can provide medication to help him feel better. If this is just a virus it can take up to 2 weeks for it to resolve. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The most common cause of Muse's symptoms is a viral infection with feline herpes virus. In Muse's case with the combined eye issues and sneezing, I would recommend having her seen by a veterinarian for appropriate medical therapy. The virus will have to run its course like a cold, but medications will lessen the severity of the symptoms. There are other potential causes, but feline herpes is the most common. The other potential causes are other kinds of infections. Hope this helps!

Sneezing and eye tearing in cats is often the result of a viral upper respiratory infection. Symptoms may include sneezing, eye or nasal discharge, nasal congestion, eye squinting, lethargy, and inappetence. Common causative agents include herpesvirus and calicivirus. The fact that he is eating and drinking normally is a good sign. However, because he is an older kitty, it will definitely require close monitoring to ensure his signs are not worsening. An exam with your veterinarian is recommended to make sure that his vital signs are normal, including a normal temperature. If he'll let you check his temperature at home, you can. I suggest lubricating a thermometer and checking his temperature rectally. Normal temperatures for can range between 100.5 to 102.5. If his temperature is 103 or higher you should consider bringing him in to your vet. Additionally, if you see yellow/green discharge from the eyes or nose, increased frequency of sneezing, lethargy, loss of appetite, or open-mouth breathing I suggest bringing him to your vet right away. Viral infections, just like in people, can weaken the immune system allowing bacterial infections to occur, which requires veterinary prescribed antibiotics. If there are any other cats in the house, I recommend temporarily isolating them from your sneezy cat until his signs resolve. Minimizing environmental stress is also recommended for his recovery. If you have any other concerns or are interested in additional information I'm happy to follow-up with an online consultation.

I am sorry to hear about Mars. We can see sneezing occasionally with allergies but don't as often see green mucus with allergies. We would also worry about upper respiratory infection given his history of being an outdoor cat, and a foreign body in the nasal passages (sometimes we will find things like blades of grass that have gotten stuck up in the nasal passages. If he is eating and drinking with a normal energy level, no cough, and no breathing difficulty, you can try monitoring him and treating him with saline drops in the nose (one drop in each nostril twice daily) or steam treatments (you can put him into the bathroom while you run a steamy shower for 10 minutes a few times a day) to see if this helps. If he is not improving or develops a cough, trouble breathing, decreased appetite or energy he needs an examination by a veterinarian. You can read more about upper respiratory infection at https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951489

Sounds like Colby Jack could have an upper respiratory infection. Upper respiratory infections are most often caused by viruses, but occasionally secondary bacterial infections can develop so if he continues to have green discharge from his nose I would recommend seeing a veterinarian who may prescribe antibiotics. It is also common for the respiratory viruses to affect the eyes and cause conjunctivitis so watch for redness of the eyes or green/yellow discharge. The sore on his lip could potentially be related as well if it is at the lip junction but if it is on an area with hair it is probably unrelated.

Yes, chronic sinus issues are very common in cats which have a history of severe URT infections. Steam therapy can be helpful to loosen the mucus and protracted courses of antibiotics can be helpful if he becomes rundown or unwell from it.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sneezing in cats may be due to an upper respiratory infection (URI), rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal passages), a foreign body stuck in the nostril(s), or even something like a tumor or mass in the nasal cavity. Common URI's in cats include herpesvirus and calicivirus, which are often treated supportively with either anti-viral medications and/or antibiotics in case a secondary bacterial infection is present. Sometimes, steroids such as prednisolone are recommended when cats are sneezing to see if they can help reduce inflammation in the nasal passages. Iggie may benefit from steam therapy, which is as simple as keeping him in the bathroom with the door closed when you shower, to allow the steamy air to help moisten his nasal passages. If he continues to sneeze for more than a day or so, I recommend having him seen by your veterinarian, who can perform an exam and treat accordingly. If you can, try to get a video of his sneezing episodes to show your veterinarian when you go. I hope this is helpful - best of luck with Iggie!