My cat has chronic sneezing and aggressive behavior. What can I do?

Question

Hi, I have a cat who got s respiratory infection when he was a kitten I took him to the vet and he got better, but now two years later he still sneezes a lot and releases a lot mucus through his nose. Is this normal? Is there anything I can do to reduce the mucus. Also he seems to be suffering from ptsd. I think it was because when he was a kitten I fostered an older cat who would attack him a lot. He tends to snap and claw for no reason sometimes. What can I do to help him with this behavior? Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | neutered | 16 lbs

Penelope Graben, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello! Many respiratory infections in cats are caused by Feline Herpesvirus, which is similar to what causes cold sores on the mouths of people. When it flares up, it cause respiratory signs, including sneezing and congestion. An anti-viral drug called Famciclovir can help control the flare ups when they happen. There are also nasal drops that can help with chronic congestion. If the mucous is thick and green, it could indicate a secondary bacterial infection that may need a course of antibiotics to clear. Sometimes chronic nasal congestion in cats can also be caused by small polyps in the nasal cavity or dental disease, such as an abscessed molar that is spreading infection to the nasal sinus. Getting an accurate diagnosis on what is causing Squirt's nasal congestion can help you get the tools you need to combat flare-ups. For snapping and clawing, I would recommend trying to pinpoint what triggers Squirt to act like this. When he is being too rough, leave him alone for a few minutes so that you are not rewarding the behavior. For any cat dealing with any anxious behavior, I recommend something called Feliway. It's a natural feline pheromone that is calming to cats. It comes in plug ins, sprays, and collar form, so is an easy first thing to try. I also recommend environmental enrichment, such as increasing play time and ensuring there are multiple high places that he can perch- cats find the tops of cat trees, refrigerators, etc very calming. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

My cat has chronic sneezing and aggressive behavior. What can I do?

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