Cats With Allergies?

[jeannine1976]

Three years ago, my husband and I adopted two cats. They're brothers, Alvin and Simon, and were a year old when we got them. Before they came to our home, they lived with a friend who runs a Second Chance operation from her home. She found them as kittens (mum was killed by a possum) and weaned them. Both cats were well treated.

When we first took them, our friend mentioned that Alvin had started sneezing. We didn't think anything of it. Cats sneeze. However, the sneezing began to get worse and has never gotten better. Alvin spends about 75% of his time with a stuffy nose and sneezes a LOT in an effort to clear his sinuses. Simon has never had this problem.

Both cats are indoor. We do not have other pets. Our home is clean with hardwood floors and very few rugs. Alvin is otherwise healthy with a good weight, clear eyes and ears. His appetite is fine. He's responsive, affectionate, and very active. Both cats eat quality cat food and have quality litter that is changed often. They're brushed twice a week and have their front claws, which are kept trimmed. Alvin has never had a fever and is pretty much stress free, unless you count occasionally having to wait an extra 10 minutes for dinner.

I've taken Alvin to the vet five times in an effort to find the source of the stuffy nose and sneezing. I've had blood work and swabs done on him. I have never gotten a definitive answer from the vet, though she's happy to take my $250 every time. I've given Alvin 250mg of L-Lysine (Viralys) twice a day in an effort to boost his immune system. I use Little Noses saline mist to help him when he's really stuffy. I "steam" him in the bathroom by running a hot shower and staying with him for 15 minutes. Nothing is helping. I feel that I've exhausted my options and now I just follow him around with a box of Kleenex.

I have not noticed that the seasons or weather affect his stuffy nose and sneezing at all. I'm at my wit's end here. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Is it possible he's allergic to something? If so, what could it be? I've had cats for 30 years and have never seen this.

[opus88]

so sorry for all little Alvin's problems, poor little guy, you are doing everything right, from the steaming to the lysine...I will send you a site on some limited info abt FVR...was he ever actually given a diagnosis?
I sent you a private message, you can read this by clicking on your inbox in the upper right side...with some additional resources.

also try this link....keep us posted, I sure hope you can find Alvin some help..

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/121604.htm&word=feline%2callergy%2cspecialist

[jeannine1976]

I don't mean to sound obtuse, but a specialist of what? Cats? Allergies? Cat allergies? Do these specialists have a title or a specific field of study that I can begin searching for one by?

[morgance]

I'd recommend seeing a specialist, cats and dogs like humans can develop/have allergies only unlike humans they can't speak to help narrow down what is the cause....I'd see a specialist as they would likely be best at prescribing the best allergy meds and it never hurts to have a secondary evaluation done by a specialist.