A little background - I worked at a specialty and emergency animal hospital, my aunt is a vet, I volunteered in cat rescue for a long time. I’ve seen a lot. I can guess a lot. This is just a hope that maybe someone here can give a suggestion.

About 3 weeks ago my 10yo male neutered domestic long haired cat, Hagrid, started reverse sneezing. It was weird but with the weather changing I figured I’ll just watch. After about 4 days I took him to a veterinary urgent care (it was a Saturday) - they took X-rays and sent me home with a nose drop solution for feline congestion and an antiviral (famciclovir). On cray his heart was fine and lungs had “minor changes”. I started doing 20m steam bathroom sessions with him 2-3x/day to loosen possible mucus and ease breathing if that’s what it was.

After a few days of not seeing any change, I did follow up with my regular vet. I used to work with her at the emergency vet and I trust her judgment. She said other than the GRADE 3 HEART MURMUR and the minor lung changes, she has no guesses. She said go get the echocardiogram and that will basically tell us where to go. Whether this is heart disease or possibly asthma and we may try a bronchodilator and/or inhaler. I preemptively bought the inhaler mask just in case.

The next day we went to an ER vet near me becaue he started coughing and because they have “3 internal medicine specialists on staff” and, if he needed it they could “get a cat scan”. 5 hours later they said no he’s fine he’s breathing normally take him home. Keep using the nose drops and finish the antiviral. That was it.

A few days later (it’s now 2 weeks) he didn’t eat breakfast. This cat has never ever missed a meal. This cat stole my husbands spam from a piping hot skillet straight from the oven (he’s Korean, spam is a staple here). Later that day I was vacuuming and for the first time he ran from the vacuum and when I caught up to him he was full body shaking. I put him in a carrier and drove him 3 hours to the ER vet I used to work at because the dr working that night is brilliant.

He took X-rays; ran bloodwork, 3 vets determined no heart murmur, flashed his abdomen to make sure there was no free fluid. He told me bloodwork confirmed no heart disease, he’s not dehydrated, his white blood cells were normal (no infection). Temp slightly high but it was snowing and we drove in the dark to a place I hadn’t been to in almost 10 years and he doesn’t love the car, so that didn’t say much. He was obviously breathing weird (at this point the cat breathes noisily- mouth hangs open- NOT PANTING, NOT LABORED BREATHING) but he didn’t need oxygen and was getting 100% O2 without added oxygen. We made the soonest appointment I could find in THREE STATES for 2 weeks from then on April 16.

That was 04/02. Since then he has become lethargic and inappetent and lost almost 3/4 of a pound in a week. I called the hospital and begged them to see him sooner. So, this past Friday, 04/10, they had me bring him in for a drop off and one of the internal medicine specialists doctors was able to do a cat scan. She also took samples from inside his nose/mouth for histopathology. She confirmed no masses, there is nothing obstructing his airway. Radiologist confirmed no obvious signs of cancer like masses or tumors. So while still a possibility, it could be that or even allergies.

(Side note she did say his intestines are a little thickened which could indicate IBD or even GI lymphoma. I let her know that Hagrid has had an abdominal ultrasound in the past and yearly labwork because he does have a sensitive stomach and about once a month will vomit/have diarrhea but after a day or 2 is back to normal. No answers on that and it’s been a minimum of 7 years)

That was last Friday. He is still not eating. I started him on Cerenia (anti nausea) and picked up Hills Science Diet AD (for critical care pets) because it is high calorie and very easy to mix with water to syringe feed him. We are waiting for results of the samples the dr took. I just want this cat to want to eat again. I have tried all kinds of shit to help- sure he’ll eat a churu but not the food under or mixed with it. I’ve tried the food he loves but usually gives him diarrhea but he won’t touch it. He’s still using the litter because he’s still somewhat drinking water and he’s getting liquid in the syringed food or wet food he does lick up.

The video is from 3 weeks ago before he stopped eating, before urgent care. The reverse sneezing has pretty much stopped. Now he just…breathes with his mouth open and is noisy and still won’t eat in his own.

Any help or advice or suggestions are welcome.