My cat has a dry, warm nose. Does it mean that my cat is sick? Owners often ask our vets this question, and the simple answer is no. Cats use their nose to collect important information about their food and their environment. A normal, healthy cat's nose can vary between wet and dry several times over the course of a day. The common reasons for this are too much time spent near a heat source, such as a radiator, a fan or lying in the sun. A healthy cat may have a small amount of clear nasal discharge.
If your cat has a constantly runny nose with or without discoloured mucus it can be an early sign of an upper respiratory tract infection. Cats that are persistently sneezing, or have discharge from their eyes, should visit their vet.
Treatment will depend on the results of a clinical examination by your vet and any tests that are done. Read more about cat flu and respiratory infections in our article. Cat owners should be aware of the risk of sunburn to their cat, especially light-coloured cats, and those with thin fur, or pink skin on the ears and nose. There is more information about sunburn in our article about ear problems in cats. Autoimmune diseases are very rare and other diseases would be ruled out first.
Book a video appointment to have a chat with one of our vets.
What can we do for your furry friend?
With FirstVet, the vet clinic and pet shop are only one tap away. Get fast advice, trusted care and the right pet supplies – every day, all year round.
FIRSTVET UK LTD
25 Horsell Road
London
N5 1XL