What is Sneezing?
There are numerous conditions that are related to sneezing in cats. Some are chronic while others will only occur once. Nasal issues often cause pain to the cat and interfere with its intake of food. Dehydration and malnutrition are very serious issues in cats, especially if the cat is young. The discharge that accompanies the sneezing may be clear, cloudy, bloody or of a yellow/green color. Often a bacterial infection will develop in addition to other infections. Veterinary attention is needed as soon as possible to ensure the best possible outcome for the cat.
When the sensitive nerve endings of the mucous membranes in the nasal cavity lining become irritated, a reflexive expulsion of air happens to remove the irritant. This is referred to as a “sternutation” in the medical community, and is commonly called a sneeze. Cats sneeze for many reasons. Occasional sneezing is a normal function. Severe, sudden sneezing that persists and is accompanied by discharge is not normal. This is an indication that there is a greater problem with the cat’s health.
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Symptoms of Sneezing in Cats
While the actual sneezing is quite obvious, other signs may show up that indicate a greater problem with the cat. Watch for any of these symptoms paired with sneezing, as many harmful viruses can affect various parts of the body.
- Sneezing
- Pawing at the face
- Nasal discharge
- Eye discharge
- Nose bleeds
- Bad breath
- Gagging
- Frequent swallowing
- Swollen nose
- Loud breathing
- Runny, red eyes
- Blindness
- High fever
- Lethargy
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Tongue ulcers
- Shifting lameness
Causes of Sneezing in Cats
Many different underlying issues can cause sneezing in a cat. These conditions range in severity. Common causes of sneezing are listed as follows:
- Viral infection
- Bacterial infection
- Fungal infection
- Tick-borne infection
- Foreign object in nose
- Nasal polyps
- Nasal tumors (cancer)
- Dental disease
- Birth defects
- Allergies
Any infection that causes sneezing may turn into an upper respiratory infection which has the potential to develop into pneumonia.
Diagnosis of Sneezing in Cats
After symptoms have been noticed, do not hesitate to bring your cat into a veterinary clinic or animal hospital. Some infections and conditions can progress to life-threatening severity. The veterinarian will require your cat’s full medical history, including vaccinations received, and will inquire about the onset of symptoms. A complete physical examination will be performed to note all visible signs of health issues.
The veterinarian will likely run various tests to determine what condition is present in the cat. Commonly found viruses include feline herpesvirus (FHV), calicivirus, and reovirus. Bordetella, chlamydia, or rhinotracheitis may also be the cause of symptoms. Cytology of nasal discharge and bacteria culture tests may prove to be helpful in identifying viral and bacterial infections. Fungal serology may be used to identify fungi in the cat. Blood tests including a Complete Blood Count and a biochemical profile can assess overall health and confirm the presence of cancer in the cat. X-rays may be needed of the chest if pneumonia is suspected.
Treatment of Sneezing in Cats
To relieve sneezing, the underlying cause must be treated or cured. Most viruses will run their course in one to four weeks. If the cat is very young, the condition may be a medical emergency as kittens respond worse to most infections.
Supportive Care
While viral infections cannot be cured, supportive care can greatly improve the cat’s chances of beating the virus. Fluids may need to be replenished intravenously and appetite stimulants may be needed to entice the cat to eat. Humidifiers can help moisten a cat’s nose to ease congestion. Supplements can help boost the immune system to speed up the recovery process.
Surgery
If nasal tumors or polyps are blocking the nostrils, they may have to be surgically removed. This requires general anesthesia and carries further risks. If tumors are cancerous, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also be used to treat the condition.
Removal of Foreign Object
Certain objects may get stuck in a cat’s nose. These commonly include seeds or blades of grass. A veterinarian may be able to remove lodged items with special instruments while a cat is under general anesthesia.
Antibiotics
As bacterial infection often occurs secondary to other upper respiratory infections, antibiotics are an effective way to rid the body of harmful bacteria. Antibiotic drops or ointments can be used to treat infections that have spread to the eye. Post-surgery, antibiotics will often be prescribed to ward off new infections from occurring.
Antifungal Medication
If a fungal infection is causing the sneezing, antifungal medication can relieve the symptoms and remove the fungi causing the issue.
Dental Treatments
If the underlying cause has to do with poor dental hygiene, dental health can be corrected to relieve sneezing.
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Recovery of Sneezing in Cats
While your cat is healing from an upper respiratory infection, do all you can to strengthen its immune system and limit stress-inducing scenarios in your home. Feed your cat a high quality food and check all of the ingredients to verify it is species appropriate. Do not expose the cat to cigarette smoke, as this can exacerbate sneezing, and remove any synthetic air fresheners from the house. It may be beneficial to invest in an air purifier. Supply the cat with fresh water often.
The cat will most likely not experience a shortened life span, however if a viral infection was present, life long symptoms may arise. In some cases L-Lysine may be administered daily to decrease severity of any flare-ups. It can help greatly to vaccinate kittens for feline herpesvirus to weaken its effect on the cat if infection ever develops. Discuss a proper vaccination schedule with your vet. Sometimes booster shots should not be administered in cats who have suffered from an upper respiratory Infection. The best way to prevent sneezing may be to keep your cat indoors.
Sneezing Average Cost
From 559 quotes ranging from $200 - $2,000
Average Cost
$600
Top
Sneezing Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Mancoon
Lucky
2 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Sneezing
Runny Nose
My cats been sneezing. We found her on the streets so we dont know her age. She is young and energetic but we are worried. The cat is a ketten though and does not have her ault teeth yet. The tip of her tail has no fur on it. My hisband and daighter have bonded with the cat already. I dont want to break their hearts and have to give her up. Please any advice on what to do?
Aug. 31, 2018
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domestic short hair
Moon
2 Years
3 found this helpful
3 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Sneezing
I adopted 2 kittens from a shelter, to add to my 2 yr old girls at home . all cats . the kittens had uri, and pneumonia so I gave them back to the shelter for fear of my girls getting it.I sprayed the room with bleach spray,and Lysol.kept it shut off for over 24hrs. Today when I opened the room up One of my girls sneezed, she has sneezed a total of 4 times the whole day, did she get the infection?
July 10, 2018
3 Recommendations
It is unlikely that the onset of symptoms would be that sudden from an infection, most probably the nasal cavity may have been irritated by cleaning products or something else; however keep an eye on your two girls and visit your Veterinarian if you have any concerns. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 10, 2018
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American Shorthair
Rosé
5 Months
5 found this helpful
5 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Sneezing
My cat sneezes a lot. She’ll go a while without sneezing but when she does sneeze she sneezes about 5 times in a row. It’s something she’s been doing a lot ever since I got her (she’s 5 months). She has no other symptoms. She eats and drinks just fine and is super playful and loveable. I don’t know what to do. I want to take her to the vet but I don’t have the money to spend hundreds of dollars if sneezing is her only symptom.
Dec. 10, 2017
5 Recommendations
There are so many different causes of sneezing in cats which may include infections, parasites, foreign objects, polyps, allergies among other causes; try giving cetirizine at 5mg per day to see if that helps at all. If you get no joy from the cetirizine you should visit your Veterinarian regardless of cost for an examination. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Dec. 10, 2017
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Russian Blue
Sophie
6 Months
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Noisy Breathing
Sneezing
every once in a while she will have a small sneeze
July 26, 2017
1 Recommendations
Sneezing may be caused by a foreign object, allergies, infections, chemical irritation or other causes. If it is every few days I wouldn’t worry, if it is every few minutes to a few hours I would have Sophie checked by her Veterinarian to make sure there isn’t anything serious there. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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Ragdoll
Matou
25 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Sneezing
So my cat is pretty old, but he is perfectly active and healthy... but recently something hit my radar; he is sneezing blood! I am really scared that he would die from it (like a blood clot or something) it’s like spewing everywhere and I’m really worried pls help!
Egyptian Mow
Olivia
10 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Sneezing
Red Eye
Scooting
My lil' girl, Olivia, isn't herself lately. I think she's around 10yrs old. She's been doing nothing but sleeping for a few months. She comes out to say hello briefly then goes back to her hamper & curls up in a ball. She is extra finicky about her wet food & her treats. Sometimes she'll eat, sometimes she wont.
Her left eye has always gotten red, irritated, & squinty. I'd say at least once or twice a week. Her occassionally sneezing wasn't a concern because she's one to sniff everything. The last 2 weeks her sneezing has increased to a few fits a day. Today it sounds deeper and more pronounced. Her & her brother have been lizard hunting since we moved in to this house in December. Oh! I caught her scooting her butt last week too... please help.
Domestic Short haired
Slater
15 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lethargy
Weakness
Sneezing
Wheezing
Yesterday my cat threw up a lot (we think it was the food, tried something new with milk, oops). Afterwards he sneezed for a few hours. We tried to wipe his nose and mouth with a warm wet cloth.
This morning he seemed to not feel well. He seemed weak, and continues to sneeze. He also sounds congested and wheezes. He hasn't really been interested in his normal food, but we have been able to get him to eat some treats.
My biggest concern is he is not interacting with us tonight, and staying in the other room sleeping. Every once in a while we hear a sneeze or a cough. Also tried to clean his face and nose some more as he has had some crusty boogers.
I have read that he might have aspirated his vomit into his lungs. My question is what can I do for him? How long does it take for his body to expell that? How can I get him to eat if he can't smell food?
Any suggestions would be great.
Sneezing Average Cost
From 559 quotes ranging from $200 - $2,000
Average Cost
$600
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
