Cat Health & Sneezing Problems

Cats use their noses to explore their environment, and occasionally they inhale something that irritates their nasal passages and causes a few sneezes. Most of the time there is no need to worry. Sometimes, though, sneezing indicates that your cat has an infection or a more serious condition. The difference depends on whether there are other symptoms present and whether the sneezing is occasional or frequent and prolonged.

  1. Causes

    • To determine what is causing your cat's sneezing, consider when and how often she sneezes. If she sneezes when she's in a specific room, or after using the litter box, she may have allergies that trigger the sneezing. If the sneezing comes on suddenly and continues, a nasal obstruction or underlying dental condition may be the cause; if it's a dental problem she may have difficulty chewing her food. Sneezing accompanied by other cold-like symptoms may mean your cat has an upper respiratory infection. If none of the above is the case, you should consider that he may have a more serious illness such as feline herpesvirus, leukemia or immunodeficiency virus.

    Considerations

    • Runny eyes and nose may indicate an upper respiratory infection.

      If your cat has allergies, you can try to determine what he is allergic to and eliminate it from his environment. Do not give him over-the-counter allergy medications. Common indoor allergens include smoke, mold, dust or scent from cat litter, and household cleaning agents. If you suspect that she has a feline upper respiratory infection and the symptoms continue for more than a few days or she stops eating, you'll want to consult your vet. A dental problem also requires a visit to the vet, as does a nasal obstruction.

    Solution

    • If your vet rules out all other causes of frequent or continuous sneezing, she may diagnose your cat with a chronic disorder such as feline herpesvirus, leukemia (FeL) or immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Feline herpesvirus, like the herpes infections humans get, goes into remission for long periods; when there is a flare-up, inflamed nasal passages cause sneezing. Your vet can treat the symptoms if they are severe. FeL and FIV suppress your cat's immune system, so he is more susceptible to infections that can cause sneezing. Your vet can treat the symptoms and the secondary infection. A cat with any of these disorders should be under a vet's ongoing care.

    Prevention

    • To prevent the illnesses and infections that may cause sneezing, have a kitten immunized against feline upper respiratory infections, FeL and FIV. After that, a yearly check-up by a vet should include vaccinations against these diseases, especially if your cat goes outdoors. In addition, have the vet check your cat's teeth regularly; to guard against future gum or dental problems you could have his teeth cleaned once a year, although this will have to be done under anesthesia.

    Time Frames

    • Nursing kittens ingest maternal antibodies that help protect them from infectious diseases. Once a kitten is weaned, at about 6 to 8 weeks, he should get the first of a series of vaccinations that will be repeated every three to four weeks until he is about 12 weeks old. When he reaches adulthood, he should get some vaccinations annually. Vets now think that other vaccinations, including those that protect against upper respiratory infections, should be given only every three years instead of every year. Your vet will be able to advise you about this.