Is there anything more adorable than a kitten or cat sneezing? If your cat sneezes every once in a while, there is usually nothing to worry about, and you get a moment or two of cuteness. Occasional sneezing in cats happens for the same reasons we sometimes sneeze: the cat’s body, specifically the nose, responds to irritants that get into the nasal passages. In addition, movement or excitement can sometimes cause cats to sneeze.
If your cat sneezes more regularly, more intensely, or develops additional symptoms, a trip to the vet is necessary to find out why the cat is sneezing and see if treatment is required.
Why Is My Cat Sneezing?
There are a lot of reasons why cats sneeze, some of them don’t mean anything, but some can be quite serious. If you notice your cat sneezing a lot, your vet will review the cat’s symptoms and begin to make a diagnosis.
Reasons cats sneeze include:
- Something they smell, such as perfume or chemicals
- They may inhale dust or other airborne particles
- Grass, hair, lint, or other small, foreign object
- Upper respiratory infection
- Nasal cavity or sinus inflammation
- Infection or inflammation of a tooth that drains into the sinus
When to See a Vet about Your Cat Sneezing
If your adult cat only sneezes every once in a while with no other symptoms, you may be able to wait and monitor them for a day or two to see if the sneezing worsens or other symptoms appear. This is not the case for kittens. You should always take your kitten to see a vet immediately if they have sneezing accompanied by other symptoms.
In adult cats, if the sneezing doesn’t subside after a few days to a week, and other concerning symptoms arise, a trip to the vet will be required for diagnosis and treatment. This is critical if your cat has stopped eating. Lack of appetite is often a symptom of upper respiratory infection because it affects their ability to smell or taste their food. This, coupled with issues breathing through the nose, makes eating unpleasant. Some conditions may also make swallowing difficult.
Humans, dogs, and some other animals can go for weeks and sometimes even months without eating, but a cat goes into starvation mode if they don’t eat for just 2-3 days. When this happens, cats often develop fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis), a serious and sometimes fatal condition.
Upper Respiratory Infections in Cats
Upper respiratory infections are one of the leading causes of a cat sneezing. It could be something a simple as a common cold or something more serious as a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. Depending on the symptoms, your vet may swab your cat’s eyes, mouth, throat, or nose and have it sent to a lab to narrow down or confirm the diagnosis.
Common viral infections that may cause your cat to sneeze include:
- Feline Herpes Virus – cats can catch this virus from other cats. Stress often causes a flareup and makes it more transmissible to other cats. Otherwise, it is dormant in the cat’s system. Treatment consists of controlling the symptoms during flareups. Feline herpes is not contagious to humans.
- Feline calicivirus – highly contagious among cats, this virus usually causes mouth ulcers and can also affect the cat’s respiratory tract and sometimes causes pneumonia.
These types of infections can make your cat more susceptible to developing other respiratory issues that can make sneezing worse. For instance, a cat that has herpes may also develop a bacterial infection. These can be treated with antibiotics.
In addition to sneezing and trouble breathing, symptoms of upper respiratory infection in cats include:
- Sneezing that lasts hours or days
- Clear, yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge for the eyes or nose
- Swallowing or coughing repeatedly
- Fever, drooling, fatigue, depression, or lethargy
- Lack of appetite, decreased appetite, weight loss, or dehydration
- Poor coat condition
Kitten and elderly cats are generally at higher risk of developing an upper urinary tract infection. The viruses that cause these infections are usually highly contagious, so cats kept in groups such as multi-cat households or overcrowded shelters are very vulnerable to infection, especially if they are not vaccinated.
Although the infections above are the most common, there is a wide range of infections that can lead to your cat sneezing, such as:
- Feline infectious peritonitis
- Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
- Feline leukemia
- Chlamydia
- Bordetella
- Mycoplasma
Sinus and Nasal Issues
Cats can suffer from sinusitis and rhinitis, inflammatory conditions that affect the nose. Sinusitis is caused by inflammation of the tissue that lines the sinuses, and rhinitis is caused by inflammation of the nose’s mucous membranes, otherwise known as a stuffy nose. It is not uncommon for these two conditions to occur at the same time in cats, and when they do, the condition is called rhinosinusitis. They are common complications of upper respiratory infections.
Symptoms of sinusitis and rhinitis are frequent sneezing accompanied by the following:
- Mild cases: clear discharge from the nose
- Severe cases: yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge from the nose
- Pawing or worrying the face
- Discharge and tearing from the eyes
- Trying to clear the nose with short, rapid inhalations, know as reverse sneezing
- If fungal, a small bump on the bridge of the nose
Diagnosing sinusitis and rhinitis entails a thorough physical exam and a review of your cat’s medical history. The vet may perform a rhinoscopy, where they will use a small endoscope to see the nasal structure, and they may do a nasal wash to get a sample.
Chronic Upper Respiratory Infections in Cats
In cats, as in humans, upper respiratory infections can become chronic upper respiratory conditions. Cats that have frequent and recurring sneezing “spells” may have chronic rhinitis.
Symptoms of chronic upper respiratory conditions in cats are the same or similar to those described above, but they last much longer, sometimes weeks or months, or in intervals over time. They can also lead to recurring bacterial infections that can make the symptoms worse.
Common symptoms of chronic upper respiratory infections include:
- Prolonged sneezing fits
- Runny, stuffy nose
- Nasal discharge that is thick and yellow
- No appetite
- Difficulty swallowing and drooling
- Discharge from the eyes
Cats that have recovered from viral infections, such as feline herpes virus and feline calicivirus, are more likely to suffer from chronic upper respiratory conditions. In this instance, their symptoms may persist intermittently or continuously. They are also more prone to suffering from virus flareups due to illness, stress, or immunosuppression.
If your vet thinks your cat is suffering from a chronic condition, they may choose to do any of the following to determine the underlying causes:
- Urine and blood tests to look for viruses or other infectious diseases
- X-rays, CT, or MR of the pharynx, nose, and chest
- Rhinoscopy to get a better look at the structures within your cat’s nose
- Small nose biopsies to see if any organisms are present
There are no cures for these chronic upper respiratory conditions. Treatment usually focuses on managing the symptoms with veterinary care and medications.
Allergies and Inhaled Irritants
Allergies in cats rarely cause sneezing, instead, they cause skin irritation, itchiness, and hair loss. However, some cats with allergies may suffer from watery, itchy eyes, coughing, wheezing, and sneezing, especially if they have asthma. This is known as allergic rhinitis, and if they are caused by outdoor allergens, they will be seasonal. If they are caused by indoor allergens, they may have symptoms be year-round.
Potential allergens and irritants include:
- Perfume
- Bug spray
- Cigarette smoke
- Scented litter or one that creates dust
- Candles
- Cleaning agents
- Pollen
- Dust
- Mold
Vaccines and Cat Sneezing
Vaccines, especially ones used to prevent upper respiratory infections, can also be a cause of sneezing in cats. In these instances, the symptoms tend to resolve within a few days with no treatment.
Is Cat Sneezing Serious?
There is often no reason to worry about your cat sneezing every once in a while, we do that ourselves and often don’t know why. If this happens to your cat, it is most likely one of the minor issues discussed above. Something they have inhaled has irritated their nasal passages. However, if you notice your cat sneezing often, take note of when it happens.
Vets often look for patterns to help with their diagnosis, so if you notice that your cat tends to sneeze at the same time each day, during a specific activity, or in a particular room, make a note of it. This can help you and your vet find why your cat is sneezing.
It’s always best to start with the easiest, most obvious solution first. Is your can sneezing when you clean or when they use their litterbox? If the answer is yes, it could be the chemicals in the cleaning products or litter. Cats are very sensitive to odors and also very particular about scents. Changing cleaning products or litter might just be the cure for your cat sneezing.
However, if your cat is sneezing a lot, and you’ve noticed other symptoms, such as discharge from the eyes or nose accompanied by a loss of appetite and a lack of energy, then it could be something more serious. Your cat may have an upper respiratory infection or some other underlying issue that needs a vet’s attention.
How Do You Treat a Sneezing Cat?
If you notice your cat sneezing continuously or often or your cat has any of the symptoms above, it is time to call the vet. These are signs that they have an illness or condition that will be difficult to resolve without veterinary care.
If you think your cat has an upper respiratory infection, there are some things you can do immediately to give your pet some relief, such as:
- Clean any discharge from your cat’s eyes, nose, and face with a warm, moist cotton ball
- Tempt them to eat with their favorite treats or warm up some canned food
- Make sure your cat has access to plenty of fresh water
- Use a humidifier to help your cat’s nasal passage stay moist
In mild cases, this may be enough for the infections to resolve on their own, in a few days or a week or so. For more severe cases, additional treatments may be needs, including:
- Antibiotics or antiviral medications
- Nose or eye drops, or both
- Steroids to reduce inflammation
- Subcutaneous fluids to relieve dehydration
Severe upper respiratory infections may require that your pet be hospitalized so that treatments like IV fluids and nutritional support can be administered. If your cat has symptoms for more than a week, it is important to have a vet assess your cat as soon as you can. When left untreated, an upper respiratory infection could lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, long-term or chronic breathing issues, and, in some cases, even blindness.
If your vet determines that your cat has sinusitis or rhinitis, the treatment may include a nasal flush combined with broad-spectrum antibiotics to eliminate or prevent a bacterial infection. He may also give your pet some steroids to open up the sinus and nasal cavities. IV fluids and nutritional support may also be required.
Just like allergies in humans, there is no real cure for allergies in cats. In this instance, your vet will devise a plan to give your cat relief from the symptoms. This will most likely consist of allergy medicines for cats and possibly a special diet, depending on the cause of the allergy (food or inhalant). Apoquel is a leading allergy medicine for cats and dogs among others.
With proper care and swift action, your cat sneezing can go back to being the source of “awws” instead of “oh noes.”
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