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Finster has been snotty ever since I got him...we've tried everything, antibiotics work for about a week then after a few days off of them the snots come back, we thought it was allergies and tried antihistamines...dried him up a little but not completely...so I resigned myself it was one of those chronic virus', most likely herpes related, that all cat owners dread...

So, once I was able to actually stand up and say, "Hello my name is Lisa and my cat has Herpes" ....My Vet suggested putting him on 500mg of L-lysine a day (human form found in any vitamin store) and I am glad to say...it has done the trick...

Supposedly the L-lysine inhibits the virus and keeps it in check. He has been on it for about 2 weeks now and he is like a new cat...I wish I would have done this sooner...

I am using the L-lysine in combination with Xclear nasal drops, (also human form, which actually devour any bacteria in the nasal passages), and Felovite II vitamins...

I am so glad to finally have a natural way to solve and manage this problem...and recommend it to anyone else out there battling the same thing...

Rigby is loud when he breathes, but no drippage of any sort comes out of his nose or eyes. the vet said he might have had a cold early on, and it scarred his nasal passage.

do you think the lysine would help this or is it just something to live with?

It can't hurt, L-lysine has other positive effects on the body, L-Lysine is an essential amino acid that is required for growth, tissue repair, enzyme production and for fighting viral infections....

But,if he's not drippy then I would tend to agree with the Vet, Fin's a loud breather too...that hasn't gone away, just the snots...vet says he may have very narrow nasal passages...which is causing this...he sounds like Darth Vader when he breathes...

A saline nasal spray may help Rigby out by soothing the nasal passages...I'm still using the Xlear for this...which I understand you may still have reservations about...but any saline nasal spray will help...the Xylitol in the Xlear just a natural way to keep the bacteria at bay...which is important to me considering the amount of anitibiotics I have had this poor cat on...

Have you tried a steam treatment with him? put the shower on full blast hot and put him in the bathroom for about 15 minutes...this will open up his passages...this plus the spray may help him out...it's not a cure though...like the L-lysine, it's just management.

good luck...

do you just mix the lysine with food?

your breeder's explantion made me feel better and i use the xlear on occasion, when it's louder than normal. but not on a regular basis. he just hates getting a shot up the nose.

as for the steam, whenever i shower, i try to take him in with me, and lock the door so he can take in the steam.

it breaks my heart a little if i hearing him breathing really loud. i just want to help him. but i suppose that as long as he doesn't have a fever, he's doing ok and nothing to be worried about.

thanks for your help!!

They sell the L-lysine in powder form online and you can mix with his food...but, this won't work for me because Fin doesn't always eat all of his food in one shot and Alastair finishes it up...so I just bought the 500mg tablets and cut them in quarters and give them to him like I would any other pill...I am lucky and he takes them pretty well...you could also buy the pills and crush them up and mix with food, but if you were going to do this the powder form is a much easier option...