We humans suffer from sneezing all the time due to different irritants. But do you know that your cat shows the same response to such irritants. Well you might have noticed your cat sneezing once in a while, but that is nothing to be worried about and your cat just had a tickle up her nose, or something went inside it. But if you see your cat sneezing continuously then it might be something bigger and serious than an irritant and you have to take your cat to a vet immediately.
Sneezing in cats occurs due to many reasons; some among them could be a respiratory infection, an irritant, allergies, dental diseases and other factors. If your cat is sneezing continuously and it is due t an infection you might notice other things as well; such as fatigue, lack of hunger and runny eyes.
Keeping all this in mind, let’s see why cats sneeze, what are the causes and how best to control it.
Reasons for cat sneezing
Aside from the obvious, your cat cleaning up her nose, there could be many other reasons why you cat is sneezing continuously. Let’s help you narrow down your cat’s condition.
Respiratory infections
There are 2 respiratory infections that are quite common in cats. These infections are not transferrable to humans but can get from mild to excessive in cats. If not treated immediately, these infections can lead to other secondary infections which can be treated with antibiotics.
Infections include feline herpes virus, which is caught by interaction with other infected cats and feline calicivirus, which causes mouth ulcer and is highly contiguous between cats and could lead to pneumonia.
Other infections include Feline leukemia, Chlamydia, Bordetella and Mycoplasma.
Allergens
Although this is quite rare in cats, but there are cats who have allergies to pollen, dust, fur or any other thing. This could be prevented by having discussion with your vet and what to do if such situations arise.
Dental disease
If your cat has a dental disease or has recently developed one, you will notice her continuous sneezing as well. This is because the bacteria in the teeth can enter the nasal cavity and cause infections.
Irritants
This encompasses a wide range of things that can cause a cat to sneeze. One of them being foreign substances such as grass, bark, dust or pollen. Chemical irritants are also responsible for sneezing and this includes smoke, perfume or sprays.
Among these, all could be treated at home if you clean your cat’s nose. But if the sneezing is persistent, it is time to consult your vet and see if your cat is suffering from any infection.
Effects of continuous sneezing
It is not just the sneezing that has caught your attention. Along with sneezing, you might notice other odd things in your cat’s health, and this is a common thing if your cat has a nasal or sinus infection and needs to be treated immediately.
Some of these effects include: nasal discharge with or without blood, runny eyes, lack of hungry and difficulty in chewing food, redness or squinting of the eye which could be due to ulcers, dehydration, fever, repeated coughing and swallowing and you might also notice your cat being excessively tired and having trouble breathing normally.
If your cat shows such signs along with sneezing, it might be your cat as a upper respiratory infection which can be easily treated with the help of vaccines and antibiotics.
How to help recover your cat from a cold
Before rushing to your vet and the time that is going to take, you can do certain things to make it easier for your cat and to prevent this from happening in the future.
- The first thing you need to do is clean your cat’s nose and any discharge from it, then feed your cat and keep it hydrated as much as you can. This might help bring relief to your cat before you seek out professional help.
- You can also remove any irritants that might be present in your home, such as dust, pollen or fur. If you know your cat is allergic, then buy nasal drops for her for times like these.
- In order to prevent such a thing from happening again, you need to make sure your cat receives their regular vaccines for viral and bacterial infections. Usually when you adopt a kitten from a shelter, you will be faced with such problems. Vaccines will make sure such problems never arise.
- Cats with infections love a heated place and would prefer one in the meantime they are okay. Make sure you have a humidifier switched on and your cat has a warm place to sleep.
- You also need to keep a close eye on her water and food intake and make sure she gets plenty of both.
- There are certain supplements available for cats that prevent the infection from spreading further or reaching the excessive state, this includes lysine, which is an essential amino acid for cats.
- In any excessive case, it is important that you consult a professional to help you.
Conclusion
We love our cats and a little sneeze might be enough to set us into a frenzy. But there is no need to worry if your cat sneezes once in a while. But if your cat is sneezing continuously and you notice other changes such as in its appetite, or if you notice any yellow or green discharge from its eyes or nose. Such signs point towards your cat having any respiratory infection or any allergens around. In excessive cases it is important that you seek professional help and, in the meantime, help your cat in its grooming and cleaning.