Allergies vs URI

For the past 8 months we have been battling with a chronic URI. Several rounds of antibiotics, it gets a little better, then comes back, rinse and repeat. She spends 15 minutes in the bathroom twice a day for steam. That's the time the hot water runs out. It's always mucus and sneezy snot rocket related. Not green, but clear or white. 

Last week I started adding in a high dose 500mg twice a day of Lysine to her wet food. Still no improvement. She's never had goopey eyes. The eyes are always crystal clear. Could this be allergies instead?Would it be worth trying to treat with some allergy meds for a week to see if that helps? 

Does anyone else have any suggestions that I could bring up to the vet? Or even to point me in the correct research direction?

We would appreciate any help! It's not fun being sprayed by buggers while cuddling. LOL

I have the same battle with mine and it seems to improve with warmer weather but starts with the colder weather. I have tried everything as well. Does your kitty improve with the warmer weather or its it the same year around?

I'm sorry that your kitty is dealing with this too! It's just awful. I feel so bad that I can't fix it!

Even the BF who "**** hates cats", as he phrases it, feels bad for her. I think he's starting to worry but isn't telling me. I caught him snuggling with her last night. LOL Usually she blows snot on him and he launches her off the bed. Then she comes right back to him and does it again. I swear she's laughing about it. When she's done messing with his head, she usually comes to sleep on my side. 

It's actually gotten a little better with the colder weather, but it's still bothersome for her. It was really bad over the summer. This is a new thing that developed in this last year. She was a kitty that I scooped up off the streets at least 10 years ago. Since then she's been strictly an indoor kitty, which is a struggle, but I'm happy to report we have a 100% success rate. I was thinking that she had that herpes virus, but with the lack of eye goo, now I'm doubting. 

Since it's worse during the summer and your cat has been treated with many many antibiotics has your vet looked into antihistamines to control the sneezing and discharge? Looks like it is allergic rather than viral or bacterial. If it was the herpes virus it would be cyclical it will come and go and she would have been this way 10 years ago when you got her. Has something changed in your household Since last year? New food? new cleaners, new cat litter? New flea medication?
These were all the things explored with my kitty. After all the tests that have been negative my unfortunate conclusion is my cat just gets a runny nose when it gets cold outside. It Unfortunate due to the money I have spent coming to that conclusion. As far as the lysine The vet told be once they have an outbreak of herpes virus the Lysine won't get rid of the symptoms. It's to prevent the outbreaks. I would look into the allergy angle if you already have maybe adding an antihistime to control the sneezing.

Thanks! I was just wondering if it was logical to look into an antihistamine. I'll schedule another vet visit to discuss.

It certainly hasn't seemed cyclical. She's always blown bubbles when purring, but never actually sneezy before this. Would it be smart to keep her on the Lysine, as a just in case?

Allergies usually present in cats with itchy skin and intestinal problems.

A runny nose is how allergies present in people. Your cat probably has a viral or bacteria illness.

It takes a little time for the L-lysine to really start showing an effect, so don't give up on that yet! You may still see some improvement.

I have tried everything and had every test and my cat still sneezes when it's cold outside and doesn't when it's warm. I think it's related to the cold but I may be wrong it's just my conclusion. She's a very small cat 5lbs. I have my kitty on lysine as well it can't hurt.
but I am not understanding how your cat is spraying mucus but not sneezing. Is it her nose is bubbling with mucus when she purrs? Because that's normal. if she is trying to breath and forcing out mucus and spraying on everyone, that's a different story. If they don't sneeze they don't open the pathway up for the mucus to drain down the throat. That's why you put them in the shower. If she's not sneezing that's why it's being force out her nose. Has the vet examined you cat's nasal cavity? There may be a polyp in the back of the throat blocking the drainage into the throat.
If it's just the nose bubbling when she purrs that's not something fixable it's normal and you just have a happy cat.

Happy update! Well she got much worse, the allergy meds maybe helped a little bit with the congestion, but no large improvement. I started using this stuff

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/produ...espiratory-Support-Herbal-Formula/999179.aspx

It's been a couple weeks and she only occasionally sneezes. No shooting bugger sprays! It's amazing. Before we started using she had at least one plugged solid nostril all the time and was miserable. This stuff tastes horrible and the only way I can get her to take it is to put it inside a gel capsule from Amazon and then use a piller to get it down her throat. Then follow that with some water down her throat because she has developed a talent for working the pills back up her throat.


I can fit 6 drops in each capsule and I'm now down to only dosing her once a day. I'm so excited that she's finally feeling better. Thanks everyone for your help!