You may have heard that cats have to have a wet nose, as it is a sign of good he alth and the absence of disease. Well, this is not entirely true, because the humidity of our cats' noses can change throughout the day, with temperatures, exercise, food, grooming or he alth status.
But, Why do cats have a wet nose? In this article on our site we explain what causes a wet nose in cats, how normal is it and what can cause alterations in the humidity of the feline nose.
Is a cat's wet nose normal?
If you're wondering what happens if my cat has a wet nose, don't worry, it's normal. This moisture is produced by the glands located around your nostrils, in the rhinarium area. Together with the inner tear duct, they promote secretions and make your cat's nose naturally a little wet But a wet cat's nose can also be due to other causes, as explained in the next section.
On the other hand, if, on the other hand, you notice that your cat's nose is dry and has lost its moisture, it may be due to reasons such as heat, dehydration or fever. We explain it to you in the article Is it normal for a cat to have a dry nose?
Causes of runny nose in cats
In addition to the humidity of your cat's nose, there are some causes that can explain why it is wet. We highlight the following:
- Grooming: you already know that cats, as long as they are he althy, dedicate a lot of time of their day to this activity, which makes them allows you to relax and feel clean of dirt and organisms that could put your he alth at risk.
- Water intake: Another reason that can explain the moisture in your cat's nose is that he has just passed through the water bowl to drink some water.
- Weather conditions: the coldest months of the year and the places with the highest ambient humidity also tend to make our noses small felines are colder and wetter than in other months of the year and than in other drier locations.
My cat sneezes and has a runny nose
However, while a wet nose in cats is normal, if your cat seems to have a very wet nose, this may be due to a common infectious disease in cats, such as the feline rhinotracheitis This disease is caused by feline herpesvirus type I (HVF-1), which has the ability to establish latency in the cells of cats through those it infects. This latency can end in stressful situations or immunosuppression, in which the virus reactivates and clinical signs reappear. The most characteristic include rhinitis, mucopurulent nasal and ocular discharge, anorexia, sneezing, secondary bacterial infections and even pneumonia.
But, in addition to rhinotracheitis, there are other diseases that can change the humidity of the feline nose, in addition to producing a runny nose. These are pathologies such as the following.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Due to ultraviolet rays, it develops especially in white or very white, pink-nosed, sunbathing cats. It is a malignant tumor that spreads locally to the nasal plane, face, mouth and ears. On certain occasions it can spread to the lungs or lymph nodes. The skin becomes reddish, with ulcerated areas and crusts with raised and hard edges. The lesions can bleed. Treatment consists of removing the tumor as soon as possible to avoid invasion of adjacent tissues. Sometimes the ears must also be removed, but if the tumor is located in the eyelids or in the nose, the removal is more complicated. Additional radiation therapy or cryosurgery may be considered.
Polyp or nasal tumor
Nodules in the nasal cavity interfere and can increase secretions, increasing moisture and causing nasal discharge. Inflammatory polyps in cats are nontumorous masses that form from the mucosa of the eardrum, Eustachian duct, and/or nasopharynx. In young cats it is more frequent and may be congenital, due to the development of a remnant from the pharyngeal arch, or as a consequence of chronic infections in the upper respiratory tract, ascending infections of the nasopharynx or otitis media. These cats exhibit stertorous breathing, as well as ear scratching or vestibular or Horner's signs. The treatment is ventral osteotomy of the bulla with traction of the polyp and surgical removal, although it can also be done by endoscopy. Subsequently, corticosteroids can be used to prevent recurrences. The most common tumors of the nasal cavity in cats are lymphoma, carcinoma, and sarcoma, which cause clinical signs such as nose bleeds, breath sounds, facial deformity, or nasal discharge.
Pneumonia
Consists of an infection/inflammation of the lung caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites. Affected cats, in addition to a wet nose, will present with cough, fever, anorexia, lung sounds and respiratory distress. You have to go to the vet to start the treatment.
Strange body
The damage caused by a foreign body that enters the cat's nose, such as a small ear, is responsible for irritating the nasal cavity, causing inflammation, rhinitis and runny nose, as well as being able to predispose to secondary infections. Especially if you see that the secretion goes from transparent to purulent or is yellowish or bloody, go urgently to the veterinary center. It can be serious and need quick attention.
