A cat's stuffy nose could be caused by allergies, dust or a cold virus. Vacuum carpets thoroughly, up to twice a day, if allergies are the culprit. Humidity and saline irrigation of the nose will help ease stuffy nose symptoms, but cannot cure an upper respiratory infection (URI), also called rhinotracheitis. Cats can develop secondary infections on top of the URI, and these must be treated by a veterinarian with antibiotics.
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Humidity
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Breathing steam will help ease a cat's stuffy nose. When you take a shower, take your cat in the bathroom with you. Or take your cat into the bathroom and run the hot water in the tub or shower, for 15 minutes at a time, every few hours. When you exit the steamy room, wrap your cat in a towel to avoid giving him a chill from damp fur. Run a humidifier, especially in the room the cat is in.
Saline
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Spray or drip saline into your cat's nose to break up mucus. Buy saline nasal sprays such as Little Noses, or make your own. Into 1/2 cup room-temperature water, mix 1/8 tsp. table salt. Use an eyedropper or nasal bulb to get the saline solution into the cat's nose. The mucus will either run out of the cat's nose or backward down his throat; this is all right, the cat will swallow it. Since saline is not a foreign chemical to the cat's body, it is safe to use as often as needed, with no side effects. Make a fresh solution of saline each time to prevent introduction of bacteria. Herbalists say you can add a single drop of goldenseal extract to the saline solution to disinfect and reduce swelling in nasal tissues.
Hydration &Feeding
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Be sure your cat is drinking enough water. Drinking fluids is difficult with a stuffy nose, and cats have a low thirst drive. You can give your cat 2 cc of water from a measured dropper every 4 hours. Cats that cannot smell because of a stuffy nose will often refuse food. Offer strong-smelling varieties of canned cat food, often the fishy-smelling ones, to stimulate hunger. If that does not work, water down canned cat food and offer 4 cc every few hours, squirting the food into the cat's mouth. The cat must have nourishment for her immune system to fight the virus and any secondary infections.
L-Lysine for Herpes
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Colds in cats are sometimes caused by a herpes virus. Dr. Jean Hofve, DVM, says L-Lysine, an amino acid found at health-food stores, is a treatment option for herpes. Dosage for a cat is 1,000 mg per day for 5 days. Since herpes is a chronic resident virus, a dose of 250 mg per day can be given for maintenance for as long as you desire.
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