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Feline chronic rhinitis
We speak of chronic rhinitis when a cat has been sneezing and has a runny nose for several weeks, with periods of calm and recovery. It is most often a sequela: during severe coryza, the fine structures inside the nose have been damaged. Th...
What is it?
We speak of chronic rhinitis when a cat has been sneezing and has a runny nose for several weeks, with periods of calm and recovery.
It is most often a sequela: during severe coryza, the fine structures inside the nose have been damaged. The mucous membrane no longer plays its role of filter and cleaning, and bacteria permanently settle in a nose that has become welcoming.
It is therefore no longer really an infection to be eliminated, but a handicap to be accompanied. The goal is not complete recovery, which is rarely achieved, but a cat that breathes, eats and lives properly.
Commonly observed signs
These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.
Related signs — each one links to its page:
Sneezing in bursts, often in the morning or after rest.
Permanent or periodic nasal discharge, thick, yellowish or greenish, from one or both nostrils.
Whistling nose and noisy breathing, mouth sometimes ajar to breathe.
Capricious appetite: a cat who no longer feels anything eats little.
Occasional nosebleeds.
Scabs around the nostrils, cat rubbing its muzzle.
Neck lymph nodes sometimes enlarged.
When to consult without delay
This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.
Causes and risk factors
The most common cause is the destruction of the internal structures of the nose during a long-standing coryza, in particular by the herpesvirus.
Bacteria then colonize this weakened nose: they maintain the flow but are not the primary cause, which explains why antibiotics improve without lasting resolution.
Other causes must be ruled out before concluding: inhaled foreign body, polyp, tumor, dental disease whose infection goes up to the nose, fungal infection.
A discharge from a single nostril in a mature cat is particularly suspicious and requires examination.
History of severe coryza, especially in the first months of life.
Shelter cat or cat from a community.
Lack of vaccination during childhood.
Diseases weakening the defenses: IVF, feline leukosis.
Environment loaded with smoke, dust or irritating products, which fuels inflammation.
Flat-faced breeds, whose nasal cavities drain poorly.
Diagnosis and care
Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.
The objective of the consultation is first to rule out the causes which can be treated: the veterinarian examines the mouth and teeth, looks at the back of the throat and assesses the air flow through each nostril.
X-rays or, better, a CT scan of the head show the condition of the nasal cavities and sinuses.
An exploration of the nose under anesthesia, with samples and possibly endoscopy, makes it possible to look for a polyp, a tumor, a foreign body or a fungal infection.
Screening for FIV and leukosis is usual.
A bacterial culture alone is of little use: the nose of a chronic cat harbors bacteria anyway.
Treatment
The support is long-term support, adjusted over time.
Courses of antibiotics prescribed by the veterinarian relieve outbreaks, without being a permanent solution: their repeated use without advice encourages resistance.
Anti-inflammatories may be offered to calm inflammation of the mucosa.
Maintenance care at home is essential: gentle cleaning of the nostrils, daily steam sessions in the bathroom, humidification of the air, nebulizations if the veterinarian recommends them.
Stimulating the appetite is as important as anything else: very fragrant food, warmed to body temperature, served in small, frequent quantities.
Surgery is only considered for a specific identified cause, such as a polyp.
Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.
Prevention
Vaccinating kittens from the recommended age is the best way to avoid severe coryza which leaves these after-effects.
Seriously and completely treat an acute episode of coryza, without stopping treatment as soon as possible.
Remove irritants from the home: tobacco, incense, sprays, dusty litter.
Maintain good air humidity, especially during heating periods.
Have your teeth checked regularly.
Possible complications
Extension of the infection to the sinuses, which are even more difficult to clean.
Descent of the infection towards the lungs.
Progressive weight loss in a cat that loses its sense of smell and appetite.
Selection of resistant bacteria after repeated antibiotics.
Delay in diagnosis of a nasal tumor, the first signs of which resemble those of a simple rhinitis.
When to see a veterinarian
The discharge concerns only one nostril, or contains blood.
Your cat's face becomes deformed, or a bump appears on the muzzle or under one eye: consult quickly.
He breathes with his mouth open or with effort.
He is losing weight, or hasn't eaten for twenty-four hours.
The flare-ups become closer together or more severe than before.
Prognosis
Complete healing is rare: the damaged mucous membrane does not rebuild itself.
On the other hand, most cats live a long and comfortable life with maintenance treatment and a suitable environment, at the cost of a few outbreaks per year.
The prognosis depends above all on the cause: after-effect rhinitis can be managed, a polyp can be operated on, a nasal tumor requires completely different treatment. This is why we must not settle for repeated antibiotics without having looked for them.
Frequently asked questions
Why do antibiotics work, then they come back?
Because bacteria are not the primary cause: they take advantage of an already damaged nose. The antibiotic reduces the bacterial population, the signs improve, then the nose recolonizes. This is why we talk about support rather than healing.
My cat is no longer eating, what should I do while waiting for the consultation?
Offer a soft, strong-smelling food, warmed to body temperature, in small, frequent quantities, and clear his nose with steam. If the fast exceeds twenty-four hours, do not procrastinate any longer: in cats, prolonged fasting damages the liver.
Is it contagious to my other cats?
Chronic rhinitis itself is a sequela, not a contagious disease. On the other hand, a cat carrying herpesvirus or calicivirus can release these viruses during outbreaks: keep other cats vaccinated.
A discharge from just one nostril, is it different?
Yes, and it still deserves careful consideration. An attack on only one side points towards a foreign body, a polyp, an infected tooth or a tumor, rather than towards a sequela of coryza, which generally affects both sides.
References
AAFP — American Association of Feline Practitioners
Content reviewed by the TunisieVet editorial team · Updated 09 August 2026
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