Chronic nasal discharge and rhinitis in cats causes ongoing discomfort, difficulty breathing, and reduced quality of life, with herpesvirus infection as the most common underlying cause.
Cats with chronic rhinitis live with persistent nasal congestion, sneezing, and difficulty breathing through the nose. Nasal discharge stains their face and requires frequent cleaning - an unpleasant experience for cats that value cleanliness. The congestion impairs their sense of smell, reducing appetite as food loses its attractiveness. Cats sleeping while congested breathe through their mouths, disrupting normal sleep. Purulent discharge from secondary bacterial infections indicates ongoing infection causing local pain and systemic immune response. The chronic, often permanent nature of herpesvirus-induced rhinitis means affected cats spend months to years in this state of respiratory impairment, with periodic flares of acute worsening.