Whenever you hear your cat sneeze you probably won’t pay big attention to it or it wouldn’t raise any concerns. However, sometimes it can happen that your cat starts sneezing a lot. Naturally, you would start worrying about this same as you would if this happens to you.
We all love our cats and don’t want them to suffer or have any health issues. So, if you are wondering why your cat is sneezing a lot keep on reading. We’ll explain some of the most common reasons for this occurrence and possible treatments.
What is a Sneeze?
Let’s start from the beginning. What is actually a sneeze? – A sneeze is a bodily function when a person or an animal forcefully expels certain irritants from the nose. This function is common for humans, but it’s also common for cats, dogs, lizards, chickens, and other animals. Sneezing can be caused by any type of irritants such as dust, strong smells, or any dirt. Sometimes cats sneeze when they sense catnip.
Very often when you notice your cat’s sneeze you would simply say “bless you” and won’t put any other thoughts into it. Still, if sneezing is persistent it is an alert as that is not a common thing for cats.
Why Is My Cat Sneezing a Lot?
To begin with, the most common causes of sneezing in cats are a nose tickle, dust or dirt, allergies, exposure to strong smells, or inflammation. Sometimes your cat can start sneezing irritated by any of the listed causes, but if this sneezing comes along with other symptoms you should consider taking your cat to the vet. Some of the symptoms that your cat can show next to sneezing a lot are
- loss of appetite,
- yellowish or bloody nasal discharge,
- labored breathing,
- fever
- watery eyes
If these symptoms appear they indicate that the situation with your cat’s health is not good.
Here are some of the health issues your cat may have if it’s sneezing a lot:
- Viral Infections – These upper respiratory infections are usually caused by a virus and in reality, these are common infections. Viral infection is the “common cold” in cats. Some viral infections that your cat may have are feline herpes virus or feline calicivirus. Both viruses can cause pneumonia or affect the respiratory tract.
- Nasal and Sinus Issues – Cats often experience Sinusitis or Rhinitis and both can cause inflammation in their noses and sinuses. As a result, cats can sneeze too much.
- Chronic Respiratory Conditions – Frequent sneezes in cats can be caused by various chronic respiratory conditions as well. In other words, cats can have permanent damages to their nasal passages or their immune system.
Treatment for Cat Sneezing
Whether the sneeze is mild or more severe it’s always best to consult with a vet. The vet will be able to determine the severity of your cat’s condition and prescribe the appropriate medication. Usually, the treatment for some of the conditions with cat sneezing as a symptom are antibiotics, steroids, or antihistamines. For mild sneezes, vets usually prescribe only nose drops, but they would need to get blood or urine samples from the cat to determine whether the cat suffers from other conditions.
Finally, the best thing that you can do if you notice that she is sneezing a lot is to consult with a vet and take the necessary actions.