Cats Sneezing: Causes & Treatment

Sneezing is a reflex that is universal to all animals that possess noses. An occasional sneeze is a healthy reflex, designed to remove small irritating articles from inside a cat’s nose. However, a cat sneezing repeatedly is never normal. This article explains the common reasons for cats sneezing, and how cat carers should respond if their cat starts to sneeze.

What Is a Sneeze?

Everyone knows what a sneeze is, but a definition can help to explain what, precisely, is happening.

A sneeze is a reflex (you cannot choose to sneeze at will), in response to an irritation of the lining of the nasal passages. The reflex starts with a slow inhalation of air into the lungs, followed by sudden, forceful expulsion of the air at speed, through the nose.

Any small, loose, particles in the nasal chamber are likely to be expelled at speed into the surrounding environment during a sneeze.

Causes of Cat Sneezing

Anything that irritates the lining of the nose can cause sneezing. Let’s go over a few of the most common causes.

Viruses

Feline Herpes Virus (FHV) and Feline Calicivirus (FCV), which are together known as the most common upper respiratory infections (URI) of cats (known colloquially as “cat flu”) are among the most common causes of sneezing in cats.

If a virus is to blame, the sneezing will normally be accompanied by other signs of viral infection (such as loss of appetite and eye discharge caused by conjunctivitis).

Other viruses, such as Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) can cause a wide range of signs of illness that can include respiratory disease and sneezing.

Infections

Bacteria such as Bordetella bronchiseptica, Mycoplasma or Chlamydia can occasionally cause sneezing in cats. Fungal infections may be seen occasionally in certain parts of the world (e.g. North America). Parasitic infections can rarely cause nasal irritation in cats.

Allergies and Irritants

Irritants in the air (e.g. certain deodorising aerosols) can sometimes cause sneezing. Your cat may also sneeze due to an allergic reaction to particles in the air (e.g. pollens, dust, cigarette smoke, etc).

Also Read: Allergies In Cats: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

Foreign bodies are another common cause of sneezing. Blades of grass, or any small object that may have been either inhaled, or perhaps swallowed then regurgitated, can trigger a sneezing fit.

Other Issues

Sneezing may also be associated with other conditions, including:

• Nasopharyngeal polyps are inflammatory wart-like growths that can grow from the lining of the nasal cavity, causing localised irritation
• Tumors of the nasal cavity are a rare cause, seen more commonly in adult cats, and especially in older cats
• Abscesses of the roots of the teeth in the upper jaw can impinge on the nasal cavity, causing irritation and sneezing, as well as other signs such as drooling or mouth pain
• Congenital abnormalities, such as cleft palates, are a rare cause of sneezing in kittens and young cats
• Idiopathic lymphocytic plasmacytic rhinitis describes a type of inflammation of the lining of the nose which develops for unknown reasons, linked to the cat’s immune system

Why Is My Cat Sneezing?

As noted above, there is a long list of causes that can make cats sneeze. To identify the specific cause in an individual cat, a series of investigations may need to be carried out.

1. History

As a first investigative step, your veterinarian will want answers to questions about your cat’s health and history. Questions about your cat’s history will include:

• How often is your cat sneezing? It’s normal for cats to sneeze occasionally, just as it’s normal for humans to do so.
• How long has the sneezing been going on?
• Do your cat’s symptoms include other signs such as wheezing, coughing, or other signs listed above?
• Does your cat have any other health problems?
• How old is your cat? (some causes are more common in kittens, while other causes are more common in older cats)
• Has anything changed in your cat’s environment? Are there any new cleaning products, perfumes, furnishings, flowers, cat litter or litter box, a new humidifier, or anything else that could have brought airborne irritants or allergens into your home?
• Does your cat spend time outdoors? (e.g grass blades may be more likely as a cause)
• Is your cat fully vaccinated against FHV and FCV?
• Has your cat has a recent veterinary check, including a dental examination?
• Are there any signs of dental disease such as halitosis, drooling, or mouth pain?
• Do you give your cat regular anti-parasite treatments?
• Has your cat been in contact with other cats? (e.g. at a boarding cattery)
• Does your cat have any other signs of unwellness, such as a head tilt (this may be seen in some cases of nasopharyngeal polyps)
• Is there any sign of a nasal discharge i.e. does your cat have a runny nose? If so, what is its nature? The color and consistency of the discharge can provide insights into the cause of the issue. For example, a blood-tinged discharge may suggest a more deep-seated infection or even a nasal tumor. Sometimes a discharge may start off clear but may become opaque, yellow, green, or brown, depending on factors like bacterial infections.

2. Physical Examination

After taking a detailed history, your veterinarian will carry out a detailed physical examination, inspecting your cat carefully, taking the body temperature, listening to the chest with a stethoscope, and examining the head, mouth and nose.

Sometimes this will discover the physical cause (e.g. the tip of a blade of grass may been seen inside the front of the nose).

3. Diagnostic Imaging

Radiographs (x-rays) may be taken of the skull and nasal cavity, and these may help to diagnose problems like nasal tumors or dental abscesses. Further imaging such as CT or MRI scans may be taken if more detail is needed.

4. Blood Samples

Routine profiling using biochemistry and haematology may be carried out to gather a baseline of data about your cat’s general health.

5. Rhinoscopy

Rigid or flexible endoscopes may be used to directly visualise the lining of your cat’s nasal chambers.

6. Biopsies

A sample of discharge may be collected, as well as a biopsy of tissue from the lining of the nose, to be sent off for laboratory analysis. Swabs may also be collected for bacterial and/or virus isolation.

Cat Sneezing Treatment

The type of treatment needed depends entirely on the cause of the sneezing, which is why an accurate diagnosis is so important. Possible treatments include:

• Removal of irritating foreign body
• Surgical removal of nasopharyngeal polyps
• Antibiotics to treat primary or secondary bacterial infections
• Antifungal medication for specific fungal infections
• Antiparasite medication for specific parasite infections
• Anti-inflammatory medication for certain inflammatory diseases such as idiopathic lymphocytic plasmacytic rhinitis
• Surgery and/or chemotherapy for some nasal tumours

Conclusion

If your cat starts to sneeze more than normal, it’s best to take them to your local DVM veterinarian for a thorough investigation to identify the cause, so that appropriate veterinary care and treatment can be given at an early stage.