The cat is a born hunter who uses his acute sense of smell and his great flexibility to hunt down his prey. Smell is one of the most important senses for this animal, not only for hunting, however, there are situations that can negatively affect this sense and the associated anatomical structures, such as the nose and face.
A cat with a swollen nose is not a normal situation, so it is necessary to go to the veterinary clinic to find the cause of this symptom and treat it as soon as possible. In this article on our site we explain why your cat has a swollen nose and what to do in each case.
Symptoms associated with inflammation in a cat's nose
In general, in addition to a swollen nose, the cat may also have other symptoms that can help us better identify the cause, such as:
- Facial deformation (cat with swollen face).
- Nose or eye secretions.
- Tearing.
- Conjunctivitis.
- Nasal congestion.
- Cough.
- Breathing sounds.
- Loss of appetite.
- Fever.
- Apathy.
Depending on the symptoms associated with cat swollen nose, we can diagnose the cause and determine the best treatment.
Cat with swollen nose due to foreign bodies
The intrusion of foreign bodies into the nasal passage is usually the most common cause that explains why a cat has a swollen nose. Cats love to explore and smell anything new, however, sometimes this curiosity can cause them to bite or inhale a foreign body that then gets stuck. These foreign bodies can be seeds, plant thorns, dust or small objects.
In general, a harmless foreign body causes the cat to have a swollen nose and sneeze with discharge as a way of trying to eliminate it. So, examine the upper respiratory tract and look for some kind of foreign body. If your cat sneezes frequently, we recommend you read the article on Sneezing in cats.
Cat with swollen nose from bites
Cats with uncontrolled access to the outside are more likely to be bitten by different insects or parasites. However, this does not mean that house cats or that if they go outside with surveillance they cannot suffer from this situation. In either case, a wasp, bee, scorpion, mosquito, beetle or spider sting on the cat's nose will automatically trigger an inflammatory reaction.
On the other hand, parasites such as ticks and fleas can also bite the nose, although this is less likely because they tend to prefer other areas of the body. In these cases, in addition to observing the notable swelling of the cat's nose, we will see that it scratches intensely.
Likewise, contact with certain plants that are toxic to cats can also cause an almost immediate inflammation in these animals, accompanied by redness, sneezing and itching, among other symptoms.
Cat with swollen nose due to allergy
Inflammation is one of the main allergic reactions that the body triggers when in contact with the allergen. For this reason, this is one of the main causes of inflammation of the cat's nose and face. Depending on the type of allergy, the inflammation will spread to one area or another. For example, if it is a case of food allergy, it is common to see that the cat has both the nose and the mouth swollen and red.
In all cats with cat allergies, it is normal to observe symptoms such as the following:
- Local erythema (redness).
- Local swelling / inflammation.
- Pruritus (itching).
- Local temperature rise.
- Sneezing.
On the other hand, it is possible that the animal has been exposed to a very large amount of allergen and therefore suffered an anaphylactic reaction, which is nothing more than a severe and rapidly evolving systemic allergic reaction. This reaction includes symptoms such as:
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, face, neck and even the whole body, depending on the time of exposure and the amount of toxins.
- Difficulty to swallow.
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath).
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Abdominal pain.
- Fever.
- Death (if not treated in time).
This is a veterinary emergency, so if you notice any of these symptoms you should take your animal to the clinic as soon as possible.
Cat with swollen nose from abscesses
When the cat has an abscess on the face, which is an accumulation of pus in small spaces, it is common for the sensation to be that the animal has a swollen nose or face. An abscess in this area may present as a lump in the cat's nose or as a sore on the nose if it has been broken open. These abscesses can arise from:
- Dental problems, that is, when the root of one or more teeth begins to become infected and causes a reaction that begins with swelling local area of the face and then produces a very painful abscess.
- Trauma from scratches from other cats or animals. Animal nails contain many microorganisms and can cause very serious injuries if not treated in time. What may appear to be a simple scratch can result in a wound to the cat's nose or an abscess that disfigures the cat's face or other body regions (depending on location).
Treatment requires cleaning and disinfection of the site and may require drainage and antibiotic therapy. For more information, consult the following article: "Abscesses in cats - Symptoms and treatment".
Feline cryptococcosis and swollen nose
Cryptococcosis in cats is caused by the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans or Cryptococcus catti, present in soil, bird feces, and some plants, and is transmitted by inhalation. It can cause pulmonary granuloma,a structure formed during inflammation that tries to circumscribe the agent or lesion by creating a capsule around it.
Cryptococcosis also affects dogs, ferrets, horses and humans, but its most common presentation is asymptomatic, that is, without symptoms. In cases in which there is clinical manifestation of symptoms, they usually manifest themselves through nasal, nervous, cutaneous or systemic reactions. Nasal symptoms are characterized by developing a nasofacial inflammation, accompanied by ulcers and nodules (lumps) in the region.
Another very common symptom is the cat's swollen face and the so-called " clown nose" due to the characteristic swelling of the nose and inflammation of the nasal region, associated with sneezing, runny nose, and enlarged regional lymph nodes (lumps in the cat's neck).
In this disease it is very common to see that the cat drips water from the nose or sneezes blood, that it has a stuffy nose or that it has sores.
To identify cryptococcosis in cats, a cytology, biopsy and/or fungal culture is usually performed. The fungus can lie dormant for months or years, so it may not be known when or how you contracted the disease.
Treatment of cryptococcosis in cats
Then the question arises: what is the medicine for cryptococcosis in cats? Treatment of fungal diseases is time consuming, it is at least 6 weeks, and can last more than 5 months. The most commonly used medications are itraconazole, fluconazole and ketoconazole
In these cases, liver values should be monitored, as this long-term medication is metabolized in the liver and may cause liver changes. In addition, if there are secondary skin lesions and a wound in the cat's nose, topical and/or systemic antibiotic treatment should be prescribed, along with local cleaning and disinfection.
Remember that you should never self-medicate your cat. This can cause adverse reactions, multi-drug resistance and even death of the animal.
Cat with swollen nose due to viral diseases
The Feline AIDS virus (FiV), the Feline leukemia(FeLV), herpes virus or calicivirus can also cause inflammation nose, sneezing and even wounds and scabs on the cat's nose, among other symptoms of each disease.
If you wonder how to treat these viruses in cats, the answer is depending on each step, so it is necessary to visit a specialist. Likewise, it is important to consider vaccination as a prevention method.
In the following video we talk about the most common diseases in cats, their symptoms and treatments.
Other causes of inflammation of the cat's nose
Although the above are the most common causes that justify why a cat has a swollen nose, the truth is that they are not the only ones. Thus, the following are also common reasons:
Nasolacrimal duct blockage
The nasolacrimal duct is a small structure that connects the lacrimal gland, where tears are produced, to the nasal cavity and can sometimes be blocked by blockage by secretions, strictures or foreign bodies and cause the area to swell.
Respiratory disorders
Respiratory disorders, whether acute or chronic, such as asthma or rhinitis, can affect the nasal cavity and nasopharynx. If you notice any respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose or eyes,cough or breathing noises , you should take your cat to the veterinary center so that the symptoms do not worsen.
Nasal neoplasm or polyps
By direct or indirect obstruction of the respiratory structures, the cat may also have the above symptoms.
Trauma or hematoma
Animal fighting can also cause severe bruising (collection of blood) and sores on the cat's nose. If the cat is hit or run over by a car or other heavy object, it may also appear with a swollen nose and face and sores.
Sporotrichosis
Sporotrichosis in cats is a fungal disease and is usually treated with an antifungal such as itraconazole.
This is a zoonosis and whose pathogens can enter the animal through open wounds, animal bites or scratches, affecting more the mouth and nose.
