Why won't my cat's chronic squinty eyes and raspy breathing go away?

Question

The cat at the ranch I work at has had squinty, watery eyes, and breathes a little raspy. He's more than a year old and has been that way ever since someone dropped him off at the ranch as a kitten. It seems like a cat cold, but then I thought those go away on their own..? :( This may be irrelevant but he's also cross eyed.

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

Sometimes colds don't go away on their own, and I would have him seen by a vet. He may need medications to treat his symptoms, and the vet can prescribe that. It also sounds like he has an eye infection, and those are considered quite serious because leaving them untreated can lead to vision loss. That requires an immediate trip to the vet, and if you don't want to assume financial responsibility for him, you can take him to the SPCA. They can treat his symptoms, and can find a home for him. If you do want to take him to the vet, I would have him seen ASAP. There is few things you can do at home for him that will work well in conjunction with medications from the vet. First, you can try starting him on an L-lysine supplement - this is an amino acid that has been shown to help the immune system fight off respiratory infections more effectively. Enisyl and Viralys are both good brands, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription - just follow the dosing instructions on the label based on your cat's weight. If he's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing him into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections.

Why won't my cat's chronic squinty eyes and raspy breathing go away?

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