Expert: Tina - 6/2/2009

Question
I have an 11-year-old male weighing approximately 17 pounds.  We have had him since he was 4-months-old.  He seems to have a sensitive system and used to suffer from frequent vomiting.  We have made some dietary changes and he seems to be better in this regard.  About two years ago in the fall he started sneezing, coughing, and having green mucus from his nose.  I took him to the vet and he got a shot of antibiotic plus an oral antibiotic.  This seemed to cure him and he was better for about six months.  The same symptoms recurred in the spring.  By then our vet had left the practice and we saw a new one.  She put him just on oral antibiotics and he seemed again to improve.  The symptoms once again recurred this past fall.  He was put on a different oral antibiotic which he did not tolerate at all with frequent vomiting and a skin reaction. He was then put on the oral antibiotic from the previous spring, but again suffered a skin reaction towards the end of the course, and with only moderate improvement in his symptoms.  She also suggested a food supplement, lysine, which doesn't seem to make much difference.  His symptoms intensified again this spring and I brought him to another vet.  The vet suggested that he may have a chronic sinus condition or chlamydia (?) of his respiratory tract.  He received a shot of steroids, a shot of antibiotics, a distemper booster, and a different oral antibiotic.  He improved initially, but again developed intolerance to the antibiotic towards the end of the course.  Now six weeks post treatment his symptoms are once again recurring with sneezing, coughing, and mucus discharge from his nose.  I'm hesitant to take him back to the vet because he travels very poorly.  The vet had mentioned previously giving him steroid and antibiotic injections at home.  My question is whether cats can suffer from environmental allergies, as the symptoms seem to flare with the change in weather, or if it is just a result of a worsening in the chronic sinus condition.  If they can suffer from allergies, is there anything that can be done to treat them?  I asked my vet but never really got an answer.  Thank you so much!

Answer
HI Heather,

To answer your main question - yes cats can suffer from environmental and food allergies just as humans can. However allergies do not usually result in green mucus - green usually indicates an infection.

Steroids in cats have a much higher incidence of side effects than in dogs or humans, and they seriously suppress the immune system. In no circumstances would I ever give steroids to a cat who may have a sinus infection - it will get worse. Your vet basically just gave your cat every pill and injection he could think of. Your vet was also wrong to give a vaccination to your cat wile he was sick. Vaccinations specify in their inserts NOT to administer to sick animals. Vaccinating an already-sick animal can make them sicker.

Did he think of testing for FIV or FeLv? If not I would do that. FIV +ve cats can live long healthy lives but they are more susceptible to infection and need to be kept strictly indoors and have special considerations such as frequent dental cleaning. FeLv is unfortunately lethal but cats may live several years of good life.

Lysine is effective against herpes virus - that was a likely guess by your vet. Your cat may still have herpes virus even through the lysine has not helped, but due to the apparent seasonal nature of your cat's problems allergies do seem more likely.

Also you mentioned that your cat was prone to vomiting in the past, a sign that he likely has a reactive immune system and is likely to develop IBD (irritable bowel syndrome) if he is fed an inappropriate diet.

If your cat's symptoms are currently a clear discharge now, not green, I would advise the following:
1.  stop all antibiotics and steroids
2. Keep your cat indoors and make sure you use only "green" cleaners in your home - white vinegar and baking soda are cheap and effective. Do not use "green" cleaners that contain essential oil these are toxic to cats and also aggravate allergies. Seventh Generation "free and Clear" products are good if vinegar and baking soda do not suffice.
3. Get a good HEPA filter and use it in your home.
4. Consider your cat's diet - since allergies are cumulative, eating grain-filled cat food can cause food allergies which amplify the allergic reaction to airborne allergens. Check out the following websites for more information on diet:

http://www.felinenutrition.net
http://www.catnutrition.org
http://www.catinfo.org

Bring your cat info the bathroom each evening and set the shower on hot to steam up the room, keep your cat in there for 20 minutes or so while you keep her company. The steam will loosen mucus and allow her to breathe better.

If there is still green or yellow mucus it may be an infection, you should try the following supplement, lactoferrin - a derivative of colostrum it locks up free iron in the blood - bacteria require this free iron to reproduce, so by binding up the iron it starves bacteria. I have had great success with treating upper respiratory and sinus problems with this supplement. In fact the supplement will be harmless if your cat does NOT have an infection as this supplement does not boost the immune system or act directly by killing bacteria, it just starves them out without affecting the cat's own cells.

http://www.vitacost.com/Symbiotics-Lactoferrin-100

the dose would be 1/4 to 1/2 of a 250mg capsule per day, mix it into canned food. You can split the daily dose into a morning and evening dose if you want. I would start with 1/2 capsule per day for 2 weeks then 1/4 capsules for an additional 2 weeks.

Good luck!