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Causes of Sneezing
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Feline sneezing is most commonly caused by viral upper respiratory infection. Less frequently, it may be a symptom of Chlamydiosis--inflammation of the eyelid tissues--or the bacterial infection Bordetellosis, which can cause disease in the upper respiratory tract.
Nasal Drainage
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Nasal discharge usually accompanies the sneezing. It can range from thin and clear to thick and yellow, which may indicate a bacterial infection. In some cases, there may also be blood, caused by damage from violent sneezing.
Related Symptoms
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Viral upper respiratory infections may cause other symptoms, including fever, dehydration, oral ulcers, difficulty in eating or discharge from the eyes. Nasal blockage from discharge may cause mouth breathing.
Risk
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Upper respiratory infections can be fatal to kittens. Feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus, which are responsible for 80 to 90 percent of infectious feline upper respiratory tract diseases, are not usually serious in adult cats, but can be fatal to kittens. Calcivirus infection also can cause lameness and chronic oral inflammatory disease.
Treatment
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Antibiotics are usually used to treat feline upper respiratory infections. Antibiotics are normally used to treat feline upper respiratory infections. It is important to ensure the cat is well hydrated and continues to eat. If the infection is caused by the herpes virus, a veterinarian may prescribe lysine, an amino acid.
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Cat Sneezing & Nasal Drainage
Feline sneezing and nasal discharge is most often caused by a viral upper respiratory infection. This condition is not usually serious in adult cats, but can be fatal to kittens. Sneezing also can be a side effect of a vaccination or a symptom of a bacterial infection or eyelid inflammation. Antibiotics are the most common treatment.