Cat Sneezing & Coughing

Cats, like humans, often sneeze and cough if an air pollutant is irritating their nasal passages, or if they have something caught in their throats. Coughing and sneezing can also be signs of illness.

  1. Types

    • Sneezing and coughing can be symptoms of a medical condition in cats, such as upper respiratory disease, allergies, enlarged tonsils, asthma, heartworm and rhinotracheitis (feline herpes).

    Identification

    • To identify the cause of your cat's sneezing and coughing, take a trip to the vet. A vet is able to diagnose a cat with coughing and sneezing by asking the owner questions about the symptoms, and through medical tests.

    Other Symptoms

    • Other symptoms to watch out for include watery eyes, depression, poor appetite, lethargy, weakness, wheezing and discharge from the eyes or nose.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Infected cats spread upper respiratory disease and herpes. Keep your cat away from sick cats to prevent an infection. Monthly heartworm preventative medication stops the spread of heartworm.

    Treatment

    • Many feline diseases or illnesses are treatable with antibiotics. The vet can prescribe the best course of treatment depending on the cause of your cat's sneezing and coughing.