Understanding Cat Sneezing: Common Causes and When to Worry

Why do cats sneeze? Like humans, there are several likely causes for releasing air explosively from the nose and mouth. Usually, it’s just the body’s way of expelling allergens or other irritants. Cats may also sneeze when they’re excited. However, if your cat is sneezing repeatedly and it doesn’t cease after a while, you will want to take a closer look. Sneezing might indicate a problem when accompanied by other symptoms. Cats can sneeze for a variety of reasons. Usually, the tickle in their nose is caused by environmental factors. However, it could also be a result of an infection or illness. Let’s examine the various causes of sneezing in cats and when you should consider checking in with your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. 

Nasal Blockage

The most common cause of sneezing in cats is nasal blockage. If a piece of litter, dirt, or catnip gets stuck in your cat’s nose, it is likely to cause a tickle. This is likely to lead to a bout of sneezing. Sneezing helps get the particle out of the cat’s nose. It’s the body’s natural way of getting rid of irritants and preventing serious nasal infections.

Infections 

Frequent sneezing in cats can be an indication of a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection. Usually, the sneezing will be accompanied by other symptoms when one of these is the culprit. Some of the common infections that may cause sneezing include: 

Upper Respiratory Infection

Often referred to as cat flu, upper respiratory infections (URIs) are caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. The condition is similar to the common cold or flu in humans. It can last for anywhere between 7 to 10 days on average. Kittens, older cats, and cats that have interacted with other cats recently are more prone to respiratory infections. In addition to sneezing, cats with URIs may also have other symptoms. These include coughing, excessive swallowing, lethargy, discharge from the nose or eyes, and loss of appetite. Upper respiratory infections can spread from one cat to the other. So if you have an infected cat, you should see a veterinarian right away for diagnosis and treatment. 

Feline Herpes Virus

This is another viral infection that can spread from one cat to the other through contact with discharge from an infected cat. The disease may also cause other symptoms such as nasal congestion, loss of appetite, drooling, and eye ulcers. 

Feline Calicivirus

Feline calicivirus is a contagious virus that causes respiratory infections and oral issues in cats. It is particularly common in cats in shelters or breeding colonies and mostly affects young cats. Calicivirus can cause mouth ulcers, pneumonia, and a range of other respiratory issues. 

Other infections

Besides these major infections, sneezing might also be a symptom of a broad range of other infections. These include: 

• Feline infectious peritonitis 
• Chlamydia
• Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
• Leukemia

Inhaled Irritants Or Allergens

A cat’s nasal passage may become irritated by inhaled allergens in their environment. This often leads to occasional sneezing bouts, especially when they’re near the irritant. If your cat sneezes quite often but isn’t showing any other sign of discomfort or disease symptoms, you should check the cat’s immediate surroundings for possible irritants. Some likely irritants that your cat may be reacting adversely to include smoke, perfume, cat litter, cleaning agents, candles, dust or pollen, and mold.  Allergic reactions are less common in cats than in humans. However, cats may occasionally suffer from allergies. In this case, the sneezing is often accompanied by other symptoms such as itchy skin. 

Dental Disease

Dental disease is not an obvious cause of cats sneezing, but it could be the cause of your cat’s sneezing. The roots of a cat’s teeth are located quite close to its nasal passage. Therefore, if it develops an infection or inflammation, there’s a very good chance that the nasal passage will also become irritated. 

Inflammation 

Inflammatory issues such as sinusitis and rhinitis are common causes of sneezing in cats. Rhinitis occurs when the mucous membrane in the nasal passage becomes inflamed, while sinusitis refers to an inflammation of the sinuses. Usually, these conditions occur as complications from an upper respiratory infection. In addition to frequent sneezing, inflammation can also cause eye discharge, among other symptoms. Your cat will also start breathing through its mouth because it finds it difficult to breathe through its nose. 

Reactions To Medication Or Vaccines 

Vaccines or medications administered to treat various infections in cats may also trigger sneezing. Usually, this lasts for just a few days after the medication has been given and should stop on its own. 

Why Do Cats Sneeze? — Identifying A Pattern 

Occasional sneezing in cats is nothing to worry about. However, if sneezing is frequent, the first step is to identify a pattern. Answering some of these questions might determine a pattern and a likely cause of your pet’s sneezing:

• Does the sneezing happen around a particular time of the day? 
• Is sneezing accompanied by other symptoms? 
• Does the sneezing occur in a specific room of the house? 
• Does sneezing occur during certain activities? 

Answering these questions will help you unravel the cause of the problem. For instance, if your cat sneezes more when it is close to its litter box, then it might be reacting to an irritant in the litter. Similarly, if your cat sneezes more when it enters the bathroom or kitchen, it could be a reaction to a cleaning product you’re using. However, if you notice that your cat’s sneezing is accompanied by a change in habits or other symptoms such as discharge from the nose or eyes, loss of appetite, or lack of energy, there’s a good chance that your cat is suffering from an infection that might require medical care.