Why Do Cats Sneeze? Does Your Kitty Have A Cold?

As adorable as it may seem, sneezing cats are not always meant to be ignored, and we want to help you by decoding what such symptoms could mean in your furry feline friend.

Sneezing in cats is a common sight especially because of dust and other irritants in their nose, but when it starts to get abnormal, we want you to be able to identify the cause and get your kitty the best treatment possible. We have compiled all there is to know in this article, and if the symptoms mean you have to take your cat to the vet.

Being a parent is hard, and a pet parent, although it may seem easier, can be even more daunting, especially because they can't speak or explain what's going on with them or how they feel. As a result, getting a proper diagnosis or being able to determine why your purry babies are sneezing and whether they require immediate attention and treatment from the veterinarian can certainly pose a challenge. That is when we extend our knowledge to help you identify if it's serious or just a foreign particle irritating their upper respiratory tract.

If you enjoy reading about the behavior of cats, why don't you check out why do cats pant and why do cats trill?

Should you worry about your cat sneezing?

If your cat sneezes, there's no need to immediately jump into a panic, it could very well be a soft tickle. The causes of sneezing in cats may be something as minor as dust, foreign particles, or other irritants in their upper respiratory tract or nasal cavity. However, if the sneezing persists and more symptoms join the bandwagon, you ought to be a tiny bit concerned. Constant sneezing could mean a range of acute or chronic ailments such as respiratory infections, bacterial infections, or just your cat's immune system taking a downward spiral.

To begin with, a common cause of sneezing may simply be a reflex just like a human's, or a mild tickle caused by dust or other particles in your cat's nasal passages, which means there's nothing to worry about because your cat will probably scratch its nose and get rid of the itch itself. In rare cases, vaccines given to avoid any respiratory infection may cause sneezing in cats, but there's nothing to worry about because it will recede in a couple of days. As surprising as it may sound, if your cat is sneezing a dental disease may be the root of the problem. The sneezing is triggered because inflammation in the roots of the upper jaw could irritate the nasal passage situated right above it. Get this checked because if left untreated, severe inflammation may cause penetration through the region between the tooth socket and the nose. Another reason for a cat sneezing a lot could be nasal tumors (Neoplasia), which mostly occurs in older cats. These tumors grow inside the nose and need to be detected via a biopsy of the nose or rhinoscopy. These are said to be painful and may recede after some treatment, in some cases, they may be chronic and require more visits to the vet. Apart from these easily detectable sneezing cat issues, some may cause additional concern. If the sneezing carries on, it may indicate an underlying disease. Your cat may have a common cold, or something more serious such as an upper respiratory infection, chronic upper respiratory issues, or problems in the sinuses or nasal passages. If you notice symptoms such as loss of appetite, snoring or labored breathing, nasal discharge, fever, tears from the eyes, or constant pawing in their nasal or facial region, it's time to take your cat to the vet and rule out any serious disease.

When Cat Sneezing Becomes An Issue

If your cat's sneezing has not taken a break in a while, keep an eye out for a sign or some symptoms that may determine whether there is cause for concern. Often, if a cat sneezes a lot, it is accompanied by eye or nasal discharge, decreased appetite, coughing, heaving or open-mouth breathing, inflammation, or fever, several nasty factors may be messing with your kitty.

To avoid their condition from worsening and to get an accurate diagnosis, you must visit a veterinarian. When your cat is sneezing a lot, the number one sign that something serious may be the cause is loss of appetite in cats. Unlike humans, cats will start starving within two to three days, which will slow down the treatment along with their recovery. On the other hand, fungal, viral, or bacterial infections could also be the cause of sneezing and requires medical attention immediately, especially if your cat is immunosuppressed or unvaccinated. Apart from respiratory infections, inflammation in the nasal passage may indicate sinusitis or rhinitis. These conditions usually occur together and your vet will have to conduct a rhinoscopy of your cat's nose to check out the inflammation and treatment will mostly involve antibiotics to keep bacterial infections away, a nasal flush, and nutritional supplements or intravenous fluids, if your cat is not eating well. Although the treatment from your veterinarian will be able to handle any disease as long as it's diagnosed on time and the symptoms are not too severe, you still have to be careful and monitor your cat's sneezing.

Coughing, Watery Eyes, And Repeated Sneezing: What These Symptoms Mean

Usually, if a cat keeps sneezing with symptoms such as eye discharge, open-mouth breathing, and coughing, it could mean that your cat is suffering from a common cold or a viral, fungal, or bacterial infection. To get a proper diagnosis of one of these or anything else are the causes of sneezing, a vet visit is compulsory.

Although sneezing with discharge and coughing could be the symptoms of an infection, the most common cause is flu, which means your cat's sneezing will recede in a matter of days after completing the treatment suggested by your vet. In certain situations, your vet may detect an infection that will require further observation to identify whether it's caused by a virus, bacteria, or fungus. Depending on which one it is, you will be prescribed the required medication.

Why Your Cat Might Sneeze In Your Face

No one decides where to sneeze, even humans. Sneezing is an involuntary reflex caused by some dust or irritation in the nose, sometimes diseases, which no one can control. So, if your cat sneezes on you, it just happened, and they didn't mean to do it on purpose.

However, if you do notice more than a few sneezes on your face over a couple of days, you want to stop worrying about why the cat chose your visage and check for a plausible cause with your local vet. Although fairly normal, sneezing does not always mean a mild tickle. Especially if you notice your cat sneezing too much, it could be a symptom of something more, and you may want to get it checked. Furthermore, if the sneeze is accompanied by other symptoms mentioned above, don't think twice because your cat needs the vet immediately.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why do cats sneeze, then why not take a look at why do cats wag their tails while lying down, or Javanese cat facts?