My Persian kitten has nose slits. Can he live a normal, healthy life?

If your Persian kitten has a vey short nose his nostrils may be small and not allow good airflow which could effect the sleeping pattern. Also if he has an upper respiratory infection that could be impacting his breathing. I would have his nostrils checked by your veterinarian. There is a surgery that can be done to enlarge the nostril opening. If he has a mild cold the breathing and sleeping better should improve as the nasal discharge resolves. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Leo.

Persians have congenital problems with breahing anyway due to the shape of their head and squished nose, So anytime they get an upper respiratory infection this is made worse. You should take her for an exam and a course of antibiotics to your vet. In the meantime you can give her a bit of a steam bath in the shower ( bowl with hot steamy saltwater in a small container or in the shower, so she breathes this in and may liquify the mucus.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Leo. I would recommend that he sees his veterinarian as he may have an upper respiratory tract infection. If this is not the case, then he may be experiencing allergies or even have a diseased tooth. You veterinarian will be able to guide you on if diagnostic tests are necessary or if treatment is needed. I hope this information helps!

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/

Cats are obligate nasal breathers, meaning that they do not breathe through their mouths unless they absolutely have to (such as when the nasal passages are swollen / inflamed). If Lynx is sick and cannot breathe through his nose, the flight may be too stressful for him and for him to open mouth breathe would not be good for that long. If he is sick, I would recommend postponing the flight or boarding him somewhere to play it safe. I hope this helps!

Oh goodness. This is very concerning for a cleft palate. I would highly encourage you to reach out to the organization and have them schedule you an appointment with their veterinarian. This is a very dangerous and serious condition. Best of luck and I hope you have an answer soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

If he is all else is normal, you can try over the counter lysine- often sold at pharmacies and pet stores. It is an antiviral and can help for upper respiratory viruses. If this is a new finding and he seems not to feel well, it would be safer to take him in.... I would also take a warm washcloth and gently exfoliate his nose and continue to keep his eyes clean as you have. I hope this helps!