My cat has been having audible breathing noises for a few months. No open mouth breathing, just audible through the nose, on and off throughout the day. She’s developed some weird other noises especially while sleeping or falling asleep some snoring, random sneezing as well. She isn’t overweight or old.
We’ve tried antibiotics but it didn’t help. The vets are quoting between $2-10k for just imaging for polyps, not even removal, if they see any. It’s impossible to afford it. She’s eating and playing and acting normal otherwise. I’m wondering what it can be, is it likely polyps and if I don’t go into debt to see, am I going to make her like unliveable?
I’m wondering if I can even rent a car and come down to a cheaper clinic in the US (I’m in Canada) which may be cheaper than doing it locally. There are very few low cost vets here and they only work with people on welfare so it wouldn’t apply. There’s a huge gap between people who are on assistance and people who aren’t but still can’t a afford $10k in imaging.

Hello! My cat Daisy (3y/o F, spayed) has been having upper respiratory symptoms, specifically, nasal discharge in one nostril, reverse sneezing, and congestion on and off since November 2024. She is otherwise acting normal (same appetite, energy levels, etc). She will go a day with these symptoms and the next day they’ll clear up, then come back again. I’ve taken her to the vet twice and the first time they said to just give lysine supplements (didn’t work) because she’s had a history of URI when I adopted her 2 years ago and the second time they said to give chlorpheniramine (which didn’t work) and then prescribed hydroxyzine (which also didn’t work). I don’t really know where to go from here if it isn’t allergies. Just wondering if you have any thoughts? Thank you!

Hi, this inquiry is for Dr. Graf or Dr. Magnifico, both have seen my Blink for this mystery issue. Blink has had random nose bleeds on and off for about 6 months now and not really sure the cause. They are extremely intermittent and bleed from different parts of his nose (it’s never a lot of blood but enough to notice) He has no other symptoms and is behaving like his normal self although he does have sneezing fits sporadically. Him and his brother both have always had runny eyes etc. On 4/3, Dr. Graf recommended we start a steroid which we totally agreed to but truthfully we did not pick up because we were worried about the side effects and since the nose bleeds are so intermittent we thought we would watch and see. Today 4/21 was the first time we saw a nose bleed happen again (the last time was 3/27). I have included a picture. We just want to make sure we are doing the correct thing, is it still recommended for him to take the steroid?

One thing I realized that I didn’t mention before is that our neighbor is a heavy smoker (cigarettes) and not sure if this is contributing… we like to keep the windows open when it’s nice out so sometimes you can definitely smell it. Just wanted to add that detail as well.

Thanks!

Hello,
We have a cat who has been sneezing, making noise when breathing, and has had discharge (sometimes bloody) from a nostril. She has had these symptoms for several months and they seem to be getting worse. Our regular vet has treated our cat with antiviral, antibiotic, and steroid medications. The medications have not helped.They are not sure of the cause of these symptoms, but a visiting vet suggested our cat may have nasal polyps. We were referred to a specialist vet who suggested testing (biopsy, CT scan, X-ray) with a quoted price of $8,000, which is more than we can afford. We saw your video on nasal polyps and wanted to see if you are able to help us and our cat, Koshka. Thank you very much!

My 13 yr old feline, DLH with multiple teeth cleanings and extractions started sneezing Fall 2023. My vet recommended Lyseine, which has helped. She had another teeth cleaning and single extraction Nov 2024. This weekend she began sneezing multiple times a day and now has runny eyes. I would also swear her lips are inflamed around her whiskers. I contacted the vet and we will try an antibiotic. What else should I do to assist? I am getting a humidifier and will keep her in my bathroom when I shower each day. Should I change her litter type? They both currently use Dr. Elyse Attract Long Hair. Obviously if the antibiotic doesnt work I will take her back in for further examination, Thank You!

Colin to Dr. Krista : May I pick your Brains?

Dear Dr. Krista,

I’m writing to ask your advice about a stray cat I found last month. See images attached.

But first I want to thank you for the polyp videos you made, which were refreshing, as well as impressive.

One of my strays was snoring, so I was eager to pluck out a polyp hiding behind his soft-palate. (He didn’t have one, but I’m gratefully alerted for the future.)

Last month I found a stunted stray ginger cat outside a 7/11 in North Thailand, where I’m a self-financed Christian missionary.

Can you help me diagnose, and treat the problem?

At first I thought it was simply FVR / Calici and chronic snuffles.
But when I opened her mouth, she had only 4 teeth in her head!

Yes, she had calici tongue-ulcers, but little sneezing, no ocular discharge, and has been eating like a horse from day one. She’s happy and bright in herself, apart from the ugly sore nose.

Her mandibular Ln were big and hard, so I put her on antibiotic tablets, with a little dexamethasone (actually 2.5mg Prednisolone tab. daily.)

Then after a week or so I sedated her, and examined her mouth more closely, no observable polyps (drat!) but one of her molars was loose and covered in calculus, so I pulled that one out, and cleaned up the remaining molar and two premolars, otherwise the poor thing would have zero teeth.

There was of course gingivitis and pharyngitis, but pink, not red like “dragon-mouthed cats” on dcf.

For the last month I’ve given her a course of floxacilin (30 days) with amoxycillin, and tried all sort of creams on her nose and lower eyelids which. as you can see, are raw and sore.

Her Ln are almost normal now, +but that nose is no better+, and she tries to rub as though it is itchy.

(I made up creams mixing; 10% flours of sulphur, betamethasone, ivermectin, and vaseline)

There’s a temporary lessening at best, but no lasting improvement.

So what is your differential for her?

In NZ where I locummed, cat leprosy was common (Mycobacterium from mice and voles) so that was my diagnosis, but the floxacillin has made no impression.

I’ve trimmed her claws and taped her fore paws to stop her making her nose raw.

I’m stuck, and thought of asking you Doc.

I’d guess she’s 3-4 years old, confident, unvaccinated, entire, lived wild all her life eating left over fast food, and possibly DCF from neighbours.

Since October I’ve been feeding her raw chicken frames, tinned sardines, vitamin syrup, and no DCF.
She loves raw chicken :), and eats whatever I put in front of her and still looks for more.

Apart from her nose you would not think she was ill in any way.

Thanks for your advice.

Colin

PS. For some reason, Depo-medrone has been taken off the market here, not even local vets can get hold of it.

Colin Melbourne English missionary in Asia
https://www.born-again-christian.org/news/
https://www.born-again-christian.org/news/ไทยคริสเตียน/
https://www.born-again-christian.info/aboutus.htm
https://www.born-again-christian.com (Asian languages)

So my cat was diagnosed with upper respiratory about 4 months ago. Well he has been sneezing ,sounds nasally and , boogers just in the nasal area and the culture came back with pseudomonas well he is still lethargic and now won’t eat or drink now. He has been on orbax, nose drops, intrafungal medicine. Also he has a constant fever of 104°F. I am taking him to the vet tomorrow but wonder if it could be polyps? Pancreatitis?

Hi Dr. Magnifico,

Our adopted cat (former stray cat, now 100% indoor) has always shown all of the signs of a nasopharyngeal polyp (about 4 years now). I didn’t know what it was until I saw videos of cats with similar breathing noises and eventually saw your YouTube polypectomy videos.

Three short videos of his breathing sounds (turn up your volume) follow:

Called our vet for a surgeon referral, but they’ll only refer for a CT scan ($2000) before they’ll refer to a surgeon. Surgeon’s websites all indicate that they will only accept appointments by referral from a general Vet, so I can’t just make an appointment for examination by a surgeon (which I’m happy to pay for).

Bottom line, looking for a second-opinion / consult (happy to pay!) on whether it’s really necessary to do a $2000 CT scan *before* being referred to a surgeon for (a probably $2000) surgery. I’d rather just have a surgeon put the cat under anesthesia, go in, look for the polyp, and remove it if they see one. Happy to pay $2000 for just that surgery, even if it turns out there’s no polyp.

Thank you in advance for any response.

Hi, my cat has been sneezing and had a runny nose frequently recently. Her ears and gum also look pale. She’s underweight since before I pick him up from the street. May I know, what is going on with her? I am afraid to go to the vet because Im afraid I can’t pay the bill.

My dog has been sneezing frequently over the past few months. We are now noticing a small growth and change in shape on his nose as well? Any advice or help would be much appreciated, thank you!

-Mitch