Donna Plomchok of Holtwood has had a lot of cats, and a lot of her cats have had snuffles.

One, Nice Eyes, was cured after a tumor was removed. The growth started in his ear and invaded his nasal passages, causing congestion. Pudge, now 7, has been sneezing and weeping since kittenhood. Starburst, just a kitten, is on her second round of antibiotics to treat a nasal infection.

When Plomchok installed an air filtering system to help her own allergies, it seemed to help her cats too. A year ago she began giving all of them L-lysine, a veterinarian-prescribed nutritional supplement.

"I think it helps," she said. "Also, we have a good vacuum and keep the house pretty clean."

 Other tips from snuffler owners are to avoid strong-smelling household cleaners, use a dust-free kitty litter and buy a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

To help soothe a pet's inflamed nasal passages, veterinarians suggest putting it periodically in a room with a vaporizor or in the bathroom with a hot shower running. A nebulizer or bronchodilator can also deliver medication in a fine mist.