Cat with swollen bulbous nose

[CaitlinDavidson]

Hi I'm hoping someone might be able to help.

So, I picked my cat up which i bought from a woman on preloved on Sunday.

She has a swollen (i would say) bulbous nose. I asked the woman about it and she said that when the cat was around 1-2 years (she's 6 now) old it appeared on day and she took her to the vets but her vet apparently said that she could have done it running around and she didn't seem to be showing any signs of discomfort or infection. No blood or discharge so the vet advised her too leave it and its been that way for 4 years now.

I want to believe this is true but it very odd and I have never seen anything like it before. (I'll attach some pictures). She seems a happy enough a cat. Quite quiet for a Bengal but she has let off a few loud meows. She only been with me for 3 days so she's still settling in and becoming more confident every day. She's friendly and well behaved. Runs for food every morning and evening. You can touch her nose and it doesn't seem to be causing her any pain but i just wanted to see if anyone had seen anything like it before or had any idea what it could be.

I took her to the vets yesterday but they weren't really able to offer any explanation with out doing an x-ray. They told me to leave it for a couple of weeks and see how she gets on and then make a decision from there. Probably have to get X-Rays to see if they can find out if its anything harmful. I am just concerned that there could be something seriously wrong with her.

The cat is a Snow Bengal, she has given me all the documentation for her, health testing and microchip information. She is an ex breeding queen. Not that it matters but just to show that I did't just pick a random cat up without getting the important stuff.

Thanks

 

[artiemom]

I am glad you now have your own thread..
She is a cutie.. and looks so sweet--a gentle. sweet baby.

IMO, Four years is much too long to have a swollen nose from an injury or bug bite. It really is.
I would definitely take your new sweet baby to either another Vet or get x-rays done. I really would.

Did you happen to get your cats Vet records from the woman you got her from? And I kind of wonder if she is really a bengal. I think others will chime in on that, since I am not an expert on that. I think they would need a profile showing any and all rosettes. But this is mild point right now. Her nose is in question.. but it does raise my hackles

Yes, I would followup on this.. both things.

The fact that she has had a swollen nose for 4 years, without any type of Vet work up is disheartening to me. I mean no disrespect, when I am saying this, but it raises red flags to me. Why was the woman giving up this sweet baby?

Please keep us updated. This is a wonderful group.. I am sure people will chime in with help/advice.

 

[fionasmom]

She is a lovely, sweet looking little girl and probably happy to have a good home with you. I would do exactly what you are doing which is that you have already been to your vet and have a plan in place. Follow up with an x ray and proceed from there if necessary and if the vet suggests a course of treatment or diagnostics.

I have never, in my entire life of owning cats, had one run face first into something hard enough to do damage. This might be another kind of injury, such as involvement in a car accident or blunt trauma of some kind, but this is all speculation.

I am not suggesting that the previous owner is not telling the truth as I would have no way of judging that, but do you think that this is a much more recent occurrence than 4 years ago?

My cats have all been former ferals or street strays, so I am not qualified at all to discuss her breed. She is exceptionally pretty though.

 

[CaitlinDavidson]

I am glad you now have your own thread..
She is a cutie.. and looks so sweet--a gentle. sweet baby.

IMO, Four years is much too long to have a swollen nose from an injury or bug bite. It really is.
I would definitely take your new sweet baby to either another Vet or get x-rays done. I really would.

Did you happen to get your cats Vet records from the woman you got her from? And I kind of wonder if she is really a bengal. I think others will chime in on that, since I am not an expert on that. I think they would need a profile showing any and all rosettes. But this is mild point right now. Her nose is in question.. but it does raise my hackles

Yes, I would followup on this.. both things.

The fact that she has had a swollen nose for 4 years, without any type of Vet work up is disheartening to me. I mean no disrespect, when I am saying this, but it raises red flags to me. Why was the woman giving up this sweet baby?

Please keep us updated. This is a wonderful group.. I am sure people will chime in with help/advice.

Yes I thought the same. Found it hard to believe. I got the vets name from her so I can contact them. I was wondering the same tbh about her really being a Bengal but it doesn't bother me if she is or not. More concerning that if she isn't this woman has provided me with a family tree and 'TICA' certificate of registration that is fraudulent. But I wouldn't know how to tell if they are real or not.

She was giving her several cats up as she could no longer care for them as her husband was now disabled. She really didn't seem dishonest but I guess people never do.

Thank you for your advice. I shall stick with the x-ray and see where we get up to.

 

[CaitlinDavidson]

She is a lovely, sweet looking little girl and probably happy to have a good home with you. I would do exactly what you are doing which is that you have already been to your vet and have a plan in place. Follow up with an x ray and proceed from there if necessary and if the vet suggests a course of treatment or diagnostics.

I have never, in my entire life of owning cats, had one run face first into something hard enough to do damage. This might be another kind of injury, such as involvement in a car accident or blunt trauma of some kind, but this is all speculation.

I am not suggesting that the previous owner is not telling the truth as I would have no way of judging that, but do you think that this is a much more recent occurrence than 4 years ago?

My cats have all been former ferals or street strays, so I am not qualified at all to discuss her breed. She is exceptionally pretty though.

Thanks you for the advice. I will stick to my plan.

I have never seen nor heard of anything similar happening and have had several cats.

Yes I do think that this could a more recent injury or swelling of some sort and she isn't being honest with me.

Only thing I find strange is that it doesn't seem to hurt the cat. The vet was really prodding it and she wasn't bothered at all.

 

[fionasmom]

Please let us know what happens.

 

[IndyJones]

Has it been biopsed? My concern would be a tumor, especialy if it has been there as long as you say it has.

 

[IndyJones]

I am glad you now have your own thread..
She is a cutie.. and looks so sweet--a gentle. sweet baby.

IMO, Four years is much too long to have a swollen nose from an injury or bug bite. It really is.
I would definitely take your new sweet baby to either another Vet or get x-rays done. I really would.

Did you happen to get your cats Vet records from the woman you got her from? And I kind of wonder if she is really a bengal. I think others will chime in on that, since I am not an expert on that. I think they would need a profile showing any and all rosettes. But this is mild point right now. Her nose is in question.. but it does raise my hackles

Yes, I would followup on this.. both things.

The fact that she has had a swollen nose for 4 years, without any type of Vet work up is disheartening to me. I mean no disrespect, when I am saying this, but it raises red flags to me. Why was the woman giving up this sweet baby?

Please keep us updated. This is a wonderful group.. I am sure people will chime in with help/advice.

Its hard to see but there are rossets on her back in the photos.

But the nose is a greater concern. I would have it biopsed if it was my cat.

 

[KittyCat_chitchat]

She's gorgeous, big nose and all! Thank you for taking her in.

Re/ her nose, I would agree with all of the above. You were definitely smart to have her checked out by a vet. The only time I have seen anything like that was when my cat Loki tried to eat a bee and got stung. He was back to normal in a matter of hours. If this really has been around for four years, then your next step after the x-ray should definitely be a biopsy, as IndyJones suggests. None of this is to say that the woman who you rehomed your new cat from wasn't being honest, and it isn't my business to judge her. However, the cat's health is the top priority, so better safe than sorry.

From the pictures, I would say she does indeed look like a snow Bengal, so that adds up. It's normal for a cat to be quiet for a few days after being rehomed, or indeed just moving house. She'll be a little uncertain as she adjusts to the new place. It's great that she's already being sweet with you and not hiding away. That tells me she's probably been loved and well treated.

 

[neely]

I got the vets name from her so I can contact them.

First, she's pawsitively adorable. What's her name? Second, if it were me I'd call the breeder's vet to discuss her nose with them but I'd want to take her to my own vet who I have confidence in and trust. I'm very picky when it comes to the medical professional treating my own cat. You should be able to get her medical records from the breeder's vet for your own vet to review. Please keep us posted on her progress.

 

[artiemom]

I agree, she look so sweet... Yes, what is her name??

If it were me, I would take her to my own Vet and not use the one the woman had suggested.. Yes, a biopsy is probably indicated. I would 'want' a biopsy, in order to ease my mind. Four years is a long time to be having an enlarged nose. Who knows how it may be affecting her.. Cats are so good at hiding pain, and adjusting to it.

I am as neely is: I am questionable about Vet care, and would want to take her to my own Vet-- a Fresh set of eyes, can do wonders.. I would stay away from any Vet who had treated her in the past. They would be biased.

The reason I was questioning her lineage, was not because I did not see rosettes, I did. I was questioning because her front legs look like a tabby's legs.. But I do not know anything about Bengals.. Her nose is the important thing.

She looks so sweet, especially for a Bengal. She must have be wiped out from being a 'breeder'.. poor little girl. She probably needs and wants your love..

Please keep up updated!! ((hugs))

 

[silent meowlook]

Hi. If she were my cat I would try o get a referral to an internal medicine veterinarian.If you can’t do that, discuss with your vet, sending out a fungal panel along with a specific test for Cryptococcus. I have seen cats noses look like that with cryptococcus and it can be a very slow moving disease.
I have also seen that in relation to pododermatitis, so you may want to ask about that as well.

Bottom line is that it is not normal and a diagnosis she be pursued and appropriate treatment started.

Good luck.

 

[CaitlinDavidson]

Hi. If she were my cat I would try o get a referral to an internal medicine veterinarian.If you can’t do that, discuss with your vet, sending out a fungal panel along with a specific test for Cryptococcus. I have seen cats noses look like that with cryptococcus and it can be a very slow moving disease.
I have also seen that in relation to pododermatitis, so you may want to ask about that as well.

Bottom line is that it is not normal and a diagnosis she be pursued and appropriate treatment started.

Good luck.

Hi, what's an internal medicine veterinarian? Do I get that though my vets? Thanks for the response.

 

[CaitlinDavidson]

Thanks everyone I'll keep you updated. Her name is Coco

 

[silent meowlook]

Are you in the US?
An internal medicine veterinarian is a veterinarian that has done extensive additional schooling and internships to become board certified in small animal internal medicine. A specialist is usually needed when you have problems with your pet that is more complicated than regular veterinarians are used to seeing. If you have an unusual issue or complex issue with your pet, it can save allot of time and money to just go to a specialist because they have the additional knowledge and can get to a diagnosis quicker, usually. You can ask your vet for a referral or see if there is a specialty hospital in your area that would have many different specialists there.

I have seen noses that look like your cats before. I would be highly suspect of a fungal infection or a plasmocytic bacterial infection. But I am not a vet and I do not know. I don't think it is something that you should wait and see on, even if it has been going on for years.

 

[CaitlinDavidson]

Are you in the US?
An internal medicine veterinarian is a veterinarian that has done extensive additional schooling and internships to become board certified in small animal internal medicine. A specialist is usually needed when you have problems with your pet that is more complicated than regular veterinarians are used to seeing. If you have an unusual issue or complex issue with your pet, it can save allot of time and money to just go to a specialist because they have the additional knowledge and can get to a diagnosis quicker, usually. You can ask your vet for a referral or see if there is a specialty hospital in your area that would have many different specialists there.

I have seen noses that look like your cats before. I would be highly suspect of a fungal infection or a plasmocytic bacterial infection. But I am not a vet and I do not know. I don't think it is something that you should wait and see on, even if it has been going on for years.

No I'm im the UK. Ok I'll ask my vets and see what they say. Thanks

 

[Milk]

My cat's nose looks exactly like that. Shes had it since she was a kitten, I brought her to the vet and they said it's harmless and they also touched it and doesn't seem to be in pain. that was a year ago and I am planning on taking her to the vet again but was looking on here to see if anyone had any answers. I have a photo of her nose attached