What should I do if my cat has a runny nose, watery eyes, and sneezes?

A cat with a runny nose, watery eyes, and sneezes may be suffering from a cold, feline upper respiratory infection, or exposure to irritant odors. First, if your cat's appetite is not affected, it is likely caused by irritating odors such as perfume, air fresheners, formaldehyde, essential oils, etc. Generally, after proper ventilation, your cat's symptoms will improve. Secondly, if the cat's spirit and appetite are also affected, it is likely caused by a cold or feline upper respiratory infection. To avoid delaying the diagnosis and treatment, it is recommended to take the cat to the pet hospital as soon as possible.

1. Cold

The most obvious symptom of a cat cold is sneezing, and the frequency of sneezing will increase as the disease progresses. It will also cause a runny nose, initially producing watery nasal fluid, later becoming mucoid or even purulent. If the later infection is severe, it can cause systemic symptoms including fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy.

It is recommended that owners take their cats to the pet hospital in a timely manner, and let the veterinarian treat the cat accordingly. Generally, after taking medication for 3 to 5 days, the cat will improve. In the daily care of the cat, attention should be paid to keeping the cat warm. Do not bathe the cat until it has fully recovered from the cold. You can also feed the cat some nutritional supplements to improve its immunity.

1. Feline Upper Respiratory Infection

If the cat is young or has not been vaccinated against infectious diseases, it may be infected with the herpes virus, also known as feline upper respiratory infection. After infection with the herpes virus, it can cause conjunctivitis and upper respiratory tract infection symptoms, clinically manifesting as coughing, frequent sneezing, runny nose, and teary eyes, increased secretions from the eyes, and reddened conjunctiva.

Owners should take their cats to the pet hospital in a timely manner for diagnosis. If the diagnosis is feline upper respiratory infection, treatment usually involves using interferon and lysine preparations, which can effectively inhibit virus reproduction and thus achieve a therapeutic effect. However, after treatment for feline upper respiratory infection, the cat may remain carriers for life.

1. Exposure to Irritant Odors

If the cat is exposed to irritant odors such as perfume, air fresheners, formaldehyde, or essential oils in its environment, it can stimulate the cat's eyes and nose, causing a runny nose, teary eyes, and sneezing. This condition will not affect the cat's appetite, and generally, after transferring the cat to a well-ventilated environment, the symptoms will improve. It is also recommended not to use irritant items such as perfume, air fresheners, formaldehyde, and essential oils around the cat.