Does a water vapor session in your bathroom while you shower, or under a towel with a bowl of steaming water, really help to relieve the nasal congestion of a cat suffering from a bacterial and viral infection, which has blocked his nose with snot? The theory is to loosen the snot so that it flows out. It is also a technique recommended for people.
Sometimes people add a decongestant to the water to make the process more effective. Dee says “add a dollop of mentholatum to the water”. My vet said don’t add anything to the water but I totally trust Dee because she has years of hands-on experience.
I have two veterinary sources which say steaming is good so I am doing it to try to help relieve the discomfort for my cat who is very ill with suspected herpes virus or calicivirus or some other nasty cat virus combined with a horrible secondary infection. My vet recommends it and so do the books I have.
The downside is that cats don’t like it. People know what is happening. They understand that there will be steam or water vapour in the bathroom but cats don’t. For them it’s strange and unsettling. Also you have to put your cat in a carrier to control him. This downside offsets the potential benefits I feel.
Also a cat will learn to be wary of you if you constantly make him do things which he finds unpleasant because he does not realise it is for his benefit.
I will continue to do it at least once per day as I have to try everything I can to promote a return to health. I am giving him L-lysine when I can.
I can not believe that you have in a cage! [I know, I know.] Put him in the cage outside on your balcony/patio, and f*kin vacuum the h*ll out of the flat! “Lysol certain areas (carpets/rugs/upholstery/vents) then let fresh air in while you sit outside w/the Charlie, stroking, petting, soothing, playing, then bring him back in and give yourselves a robust dinner of sardines, fresh salmon and egg.
then take a nap! You and he will feel soo much better, guaranteed by Shrimp and me 🙂
I hope that your Charlie improves very quickly, and he should, given that you are there to take care of him! Call Cornell–when I get in a bind, with my cat’s health, that’s what I do! 🙂
And not only that, but if bacterial, even warmer temps (such as sauna) may exacerbate and accelerate the colonies so that he gets worse. Take her to a good veterinarian, please .
Yep, Dee may be right on. Eucalyptus or mentholatum may alleviate that nasty upper resp. If it is bacterial, which Dee has probably already mentioned, 10 to 18 day course of antiobiotics, followed by a two-wk course of plain greek yogurt, teaspoon at a time, 2x/day. Viral? Better have kitty tested, if she doesn’t get better, for any of the feline virals they can test for. That may seem a bit extreme, but if the handsome little devil doesn’t recover in three to five/one to three days, take the little kindred spirit to the veterinarian.
My Shrimptaro has asthma, as well as bronchial, so I am constantly listening for anything that sounds a bit “over the top.”
I use a vaporizer. Cats don’t seem to mind. I think it’s better to use the comparatively small amount of electricity required to power it than to use the amount of water required to produce and maintain steam in the bathroom.
Thanks Leah. It is a good sign. Although it took a lot of encouragement from me to get him to eat. I have my fingers crossed. He is not much better really but I am more hopeful than before.