A food allergy, tobacco smoke, a virus, a bacterium…, anything can be the cause that is making your cat not stop sneezing. Just like humans, cats sneeze because there's something irritating their nose If it's occasional, you don't have to worry, but if the sneezing is continuous You should be aware of the rest of the symptoms and take it to the vet to avoid greater evils.
On our site we are going to explain the main causes that justify why cats sneeze and you can visit the specialist with all the information. Read on to find out all about sneezing in cats, what to do and how to treat them.
Symptoms that may accompany sneezing in cats
If you are wondering why your cat is sneezing, the first thing you should do is Observe for other symptoms to rule out diseases of the the list. Symptoms that may indicate a disease are:
- Yellowish nasal discharge
- Greenish nasal discharge
- Red Eyes
- Swollen eyes
- Discharge from eye
- Respiratory problems
- Weight loss
- Apathy
- Fever
- Cough
- Swollen glands
If your cat, in addition to sneezing, has any of the symptoms we have mentioned, you should go to the vet quickly to have it examined and send you a treatment before it gets worse.
Sneezing in cats - Causes
As you have already seen, sneezing can be accompanied by a multitude of symptoms, signs that something is wrong and that your cat may have a disease. Next, we show you the most frequent causes that cause your cat to sneeze:
- Viral Infections: Feline herpes virus and calicivirus are the main cause of respiratory tract infections in cats. In these cases, it is common to observe coughing and sneezing in cats, as well as fever. These infections are contagious and can be passed from one cat to another. If not treated in time they can cause pneumonia.
- Feline immunodeficiency virus: also known as feline AIDS, it is very common in cats that have contact with the outside world. His defenses drop considerably and he may start to sneeze constantly, however, he will also present other symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite and weight, diarrhea, infections or gingivitis, among others. Today there are medications to treat this disease and thus ensure that your cat has a full and happy life.
- Bacterial infections: Like the previous ones, this type of infection is highly contagious and also affects the respiratory tract. Bacteria such as chlamydia or bordetella are very common and can be spread between cats that share a feeder or waterer.
- Allergy: Like humans, cats can also suffer from allergies. Any allergen, such as pollen, mites, food, etc., can cause your kitty's nose to become irritated and cause constant sneezing.
- Foreign objects in nose: Your cat may have lint or some other object lodged in his nostrils, so Until he expels it, he will not stop sneezing. Take a good look at him.
My cat sneezes a lot and has rheum
Sneezing in cats accompanied by rheum or eye discharge is often associated with feline rhinotracheitis, commonly known as the flu. It is a highly contagious viral disease, which usually appears more frequently in baby cats or in immunosuppressed adult cats. It is essential to visit the veterinarian to diagnose the disease and start treatment, which is usually based on the administration of antibiotics, analgesics, eye drops and fluid replacement.
Now, if your cat sneezes and has watery eyes without actually producing purulent discharge, it is most likely an allergy, which can be food or environmental.
My cat sneezes blood
Cats sneezing with blood can indicate various problems. It is possible that another cat has scratched him in the area of the nose and that, when sneezing, he leaves drops of blood, leading us to think that it comes from the inside and not from the outside. Therefore, the first thing we recommend is to check if the animal has external injuriesIf not, then we can think of the intrusion of foreign bodies that have caused internal injuries, that a nasal vessel has broken or that he suffers abacterial or fungal infection In the latter case, it is common to observe that the cat sneezes a lot and has bloody mucus.
How to cure sneezing in cats? - Treatment
At the vet they will help you find out why your cat is sneezing and, depending on the diagnosis, they will recommend one treatment or another. As we have seen, sneezing in cats can be caused by a mild cold or a more serious infection. For this reason, going to the vet if your cat sneezes very often is highly recommended.
Let's see the treatments of choice in the most common cases:
- Sneezing in cats due to bacterial infection. In the case of a bacterial infection, antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent it from turning into pneumonia.
- Sneezing in cats due to allergies In the case of an allergy, they will first have to find out what causes it. If it is food, they will recommend a change in the diet, eliminating what causes the allergy. If it's something else, they may prescribe antihistamines or a nasal decongestant.
- Sneezing in cats due to viral infection In the event that it is a cold, here you will find some home remedies for your cat to get better. For the feline immunodeficiency virus there are specialized medications to guarantee the cat a he althy and long life.
However, remember that the key to correctly identifying the he alth problem affecting your cat is go to the specialist.
What to do when a cat sneezes a lot?
In addition to visiting the vet to find the cause of the cat's sneezing and follow the veterinary treatment, it is advisable to offer a soft diet easily digestible to promote a speedy recovery. In addition, especially if the sneezing is due to a cold, it is advisable to do steam baths to decongest the nostrils.
My cat sneezes a lot, what can I give him?
Since the cat may not want to eat due to discomfort, it is best to give him his favorite food to get him to eat something or prepare a homemade diet. For the soft diet, you can include cooked chicken meat, cooked turkey meat and, in smaller quantities, cooked carrots and a little rice. Cats are strict carnivores, which is why it is not recommended to include a very large amount of carbohydrates.
Now if you want to know which sneezing medications for cats you can give, the answer is none. Only a veterinarian is qualified to prescribe this type of drug and indicate the correct administration dose. Giving the sick cat the wrong drug can considerably worsen the clinical picture.
Sneezing in baby cats
We have already seen that feline rhinotracheitis is one of the main causes of sneezing in baby cats, however, it is not the only one. Foreign bodies or wounds to the nose can also cause a kitten to sneeze a lot.
A kitten's immune system is still developing, which is why it is essential to visit the vet in the presence of any symptoms. It could be one of the causes mentioned, but it could also be the product of another pathology.
