is your cat is sneezing? do not fret ,Sneezing, a bodily function where the body expels irritants through the nose, is called a useful bodily function. Sneezing is a common behavior in many animals, including dogs and chickens as well as elephants and certain lizards.
moreover Sneezing in cats is normal and not something to worry about. If the sneezing persists or other symptoms are present it could be a sign of an underlying illness.
Here’s all you need to know to prevent your cat from sneezing.
What causes cat sneezing?
It can be difficult to diagnose cat sneezing for several reasons. Your veterinarian will first need to confirm your cat is sneezing or not. Coughing, gagging or sneezing can all be misdiagnosed as a “sneeze”. Each of these symptoms comes with its own list.
To help your vet determine if your cat is really sneezing, take a video of it during an episode. Cat sneezing can also be caused by a variety of causes. Cats can sneeze from infections, chronic inflammation, cancer, inhalation of foreign matter, and dental disease. Complicating matters further is the fact cats can have multiple causes at once.
These are some possible causes of sneezing among cats.
Viral Respiratory Diseases
The most common cause of sneezing in cats is viral upper respiratory infections. The most prevalent infection is feline herpesvirus. According to research 80 to 90 percent cats are infected with herpesvirus.
Moreover, Herpesvirus in cats is more common than herpesvirus for humans. It causes upper respiratory symptoms, such as sneezing, nasal discharge, and sneezing. Stress can exacerbate feline herpesvirus symptoms, just like in humans. While there are some indications that certain drugs might improve outcomes for cats with herpesvirus infections, there is no cure at this time.
Cat sneezing can also be caused by viral infections like calicivirus (which FVRCP combo vaccine protects against) or influenza.
Bacterial Infections
Cats with upper respiratory problems due to bacterial infections are almost always affected by them. A bacterial infection is indicated by yellowish or greenish snot appearing from the eyes or nose of your cat. These bacterial infections rarely occur in cats. Instead, they are often triggered by a disease or respiratory virus that causes damage to the nasal passages. Bacteria then takes advantage of these weakening barriers to attack the cat. 
Mycoplasma and bordetella are two common causes of bacterial infections in cats’ nostrils. These infections are not usually the only problem. However, antibiotics like azithromycin or doxycycline can dramatically reduce symptoms and sneezing, which will allow your cat to breathe easier. These infections may be easier to treat if your vet conducts research into the efficacy.
Inflammation and Irritation
Cat sneezing can be caused by a variety of diseases, including those that cause inflammation and irritation. Although the infections mentioned can cause inflammation, there are many other causes that cat sneezes. Inflammation can also cause cats to sneeze. This creates a feedback loop in which cats continue to sneeze even after the original problem has been resolved. This is often referred to by the term chronic rhinitis. It is not possible to identify a bacterial condition in cats that causes sneezing. A nasal biopsy must be performed under anesthesia. All other causes have been ruled out, inflammation will usually be the only cause of sneezing in cats.
There are many effective treatments, including steroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as well as drugs that are commonly used to treat nausea. Although immunotherapy is still in its infancy it has some evidence that could help cats with sneezing.
While allergies can be inflammatory, allergic rhinoitis (sneezing due to allergies) is rare in domestic cats.
Foreign Material
The nasal passages can be irritated by the inhalation of foreign material such as foxtails or grass blades.
These intruders can be inhaled by cats. The body will sneeze to remove them. This works for small particles, like dust, but larger objects can be difficult to expel by cat sneezing. These conditions can either be diagnosed by rhinos copy (in which a camera is inserted into the nose of an anesthetized feline), or a nasal flush (in which sterile saline is through).The nasal passages were again anesthetized to remove any remaining material.
Dental Disease
Pet owners may be surprised to learn that cat sneezing could be caused by dental disease.
The nasal passages are also located near the roots of many species’ upper jaw teeth. The barrier between the socket and the nasal can be breached if teeth become infected or there is severe inflammation. The sneeze reflex is activated when food particles enter the cat’s nose.
If the problem has advanced to chronic rhinitis, treatment will usually be done by removing the affected tooth or closing the abnormal hole. This condition can be painful so it is important to consult your veterinarian if you suspect that your cat has dental disease.
Neoplasia (Tumors)
Tumors, like most symptoms are, always top the list. Tumors can form in the nasal passages of older cats, causing irritation and inflammation, which causes the cat’s to sneeze. These tumors can be detected visually using rhinos copy and a nasal biopsy.
The prognosis for nasal tumors is not good if they are already present. Nasal tumors can be very painful, similar to dental disease.
Fungal Infections
Fungal infections in cats are less common than viral and bacterial infections. Cryptococcus is the most common suspect. There are effective treatments available for fungal infections in cats’ noses, but not viral ones There are effective ways to treat fungal infections in cats that aren’t caused by viruses, unlike viral infections.. A physical exam will not distinguish between fungal infections and other causes of cat sneezing. Therefore, rhinoscopy or a biopsy is usually necessary to diagnose a fungal infection. This location can have fungal infections that can be very painful.
Other causes
There are a few other reasons your cat might sneeze, such as polyps or abnormal nose and mouth formations. But these are far less common than the ones listed above.
Cats sneezing is serious?
It all depends on the cause. Sometimes, the cat’s sneezing reflex is triggered by environmental irritants, such as dust, mold or pollen, which they inhales. Sneezing in these situations is not usually serious, particularly if it occurs in an isolated episode. Cat sneezing more often is due to one or more diseases.
Usually, the first problem is a viral infection. Then, inflammation and bacterial infections cause damage to the nose’s architecture, which perpetuates the problem.
What if my cat keeps sneezing?
It all depends on what the cause is. It is unlikely that the cat sneezes will return if it is an isolated incident. It is possible that your cat will stop sneezing if it happens suddenly. However, treatment may be necessary.
However, if your cat has chronic sneezing they may be suffering from intermittent sneezing for the rest their lives. The likelihood of an underlying condition is increased if your cat sneezes continuously for a prolonged period.
When is it time to see a vet?
Many of these conditions can be painful or uncomfortable so it is a good idea to get your cat checked out as soon as possible. These signs can be more serious than others and should be addressed by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
- Appetite loss
- Weight loss
- Nasal discharge
- Worsening symptoms
- Persisting symptoms for more than a few days
- Cats sneezing with other symptoms
Although common, cat sneezing is not always a sign of a more serious condition. Concurrent lower respiratory diseases can be identified if a cat wheezes and sneezes. A cat that coughs and sneezes often indicates an upper respiratory problem with postnasal drip irritating his throat.
You can identify the cause of nasal discharge by taking a photo or making a note. It can cause discomfort for your cat and should be cleaned immediately. Although chronic nosebleeds are a sign of cancer in older cats, this association is not conclusive.
While sneezing cats are not usually expensive, it can be costly to get a diagnosis. It would be reasonable to assume that the cause would be determined by testing for viruses or bacteria. The nasal cavity is not considered a sterile area so a positive culture for bacteria will not prove that bacteria is the cause. A positive test for viruses does not necessarily mean that the cause is confirmed. Even symptomatic cats can often be positive for calicivirus and herpesvirus.
These are the ways that your vet can diagnose cat sneezing.
Physical Examination
To assess your cat’s overall health, your vet might first perform some baseline tests. An initial physical exam should include a dental exam. This will determine if there is any dental disease that may be causing your cat’s sneezing.
Imaging
In severe cases, imaging can help to determine the extent of damage to the nose and identify underlying causes.
Although your veterinarian may take X-rays of your cat’s head and chest, the best way to see if your cat is sneezing is with a computerized imaging scan. This requires general anesthesia, and is usually done in referral or emergency hospitals.
Rhinos copy
Rhinos copy is the procedure that inserts a camera into the nasal passages to look for any tumors or fungal plaques in an anesthetized cat.
Biopsy
To determine if there are any inflammatory, fungal or cancerous causes of your sneezing, rhinoscopy may allow you to take biopsies of your nasal cavity.
Nasal Lavage
Flushing the nose while anesthesia is being administered to a cat can reveal diagnostic information, such as the removal of a foreign body. It is also considered a treatment.
How do you treat a cat that is sneezing?
Cat sneezing can be treated by addressing the root cause.There are many treatments available. However, the goal of most chronic cases is to reduce symptoms and not cure them.
Although more research is required to understand the cause of cat sneezing infections, repeated or prolonged use of antibiotics has been shown to be effective in controlling symptoms.
Antibiotics
Although bacterial infections are not often the main problem, antibiotics can be used to treat them. These drugs can make your cat feel much better quickly.
Nasal Lavage
General anesthesia may temporarily relieve some clinical signs. It can also dislodge foreign material.
Other Treatments
Other treatments that have variable effectiveness include:
- Humidifiers and nebulizers
- L-Lysine to reduce flare-ups of herpesvirus
- Steroids
- Cetirizine (for cats) is far more effective than diphenhydramine for antihistamines
- NSAIDs
- Decongestants
- Antinausea medications
- Surgery in rare cases