Why does the cat start sneezing often?

With a common viral illness, a four-legged cat is usually bothered by nasal and eye discharge, increased body temperature, vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to eat, and general weakness.

Do cats react to your sneezing?

There are articles like this that draw the potential reader in with a provocative headline. It's like you don't need to know about it, and you've never paid attention. But still you click and read – what if there's something new and interesting? So, you have a cat. And you, God forbid, caught a cold, or just casually sneezed. Does your pet react somehow to your action? Ever wondered about it? Interested in the topic – then read on!

Why do cats behave strangely? Let's face it, we all sneeze differently. Some of us sneeze in a fist, quietly and inconspicuously. Well, and we all know the real coryphaei of the genre, the giants of "sneezing"! The nightingale rests on the sidelines… Anyway: cats are always frightened by harsh, loud, and hissing noises. When a cat hears a sharp sound, the tiny muscles in the middle ear contract to "muffle" the sound as much as possible and protect its delicate inner ear. But the reflex protection doesn't always kick in quickly and in time! Sometimes the delicate feline body doesn't have time to react: bursts of firecrackers, sounds of fireworks, gunshots, or here's a loud sneeze.

All cats are different – it's an axiom. There are some nervous, sophisticated natures. The sound of the owner's sneeze throws them into shock. It is possible that the animal has once had some negative experience, and it becomes uncomfortable. Experts can't understand why cats can't stand loud sounds . Among the versions are insufficient socialization, genetic predisposition, trauma. Note: if a pet reacts sharply and violently to your sneezing, it is very likely that it suffers from other phobias – one or more. In addition, he probably has a high level of anxiety. There is something to think about! Does your family pet have a "difficult" past? Maybe she has had a serious mental trauma in her life before. Consult a veterinarian or a pet psychologist – the animal can and should be helped!

When you should go to the doctor

So, a seemingly harmless sneezing behavior can often be a sign of serious illness. What should the owner do if the animal keeps sneezing? Undoubtedly, we must quickly go to the doctor. In the following cases, contact the specialist should be immediate:

• If during sneezing there is blood from the nose (what if it is cancer?);
• If the cat has a heavy and constant flow of snot or pus from his nose;
• If the cat is breathing hoarsely with its mouth open;
• If in addition to sneezing there are other symptoms of ill health (temperature, unwillingness to eat, coughing, etc.).

What to do if the cat sneezes

Actually, the treatment of sneezing at home can be only after visiting the doctor. Depending on the cause that caused the sneezing will require:

• In the case of allergies – The cause of the allergy is determined, diet therapy is prescribed and possibly antihistamines;
• If a viral infection – Antibiotics (antibiotic therapy), anti-inflammatory drugs (symptomatic therapy);
• In case of bacterial infection – the use of antibiotics and probiotics, immunotherapy;
• In case of fungal infection – antifungal drugs (antimycotics);
• In case of ingress of foreign bodies into the respiratory tract – Endoscopic removal of the object from the cat's nose, administration of anti-inflammatory drugs if necessary;
• In nasal polyps – Surgical removal of neoplasms;
• In asthma – Cats are prescribed glucocorticosteroids, antibiotics (if the disease is caused by infection), the use of inhalers, placement in an oxygen chamber during the attack;
• For cancer of the nasal cavity. – Chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and surgery (rhinotomy);
• For pulmonary worms. – Deworming drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins.

All of the above measures to eliminate diseases that contribute to sneezing are carried out only after visiting a specialist. At home, unfortunately, even the most vigilant owner will not be able to determine what caused the sneezing in the pet.

Cat sneezing: causes and what to do

For what reasons a cat can start sneezing, when it is worth paying close attention and contacting a veterinarian.

Sneezing is as familiar a physiological phenomenon for cats as it is for humans. Pets can sometimes sneeze for no apparent reason, and this is perfectly normal. But if you notice that your cat sneezes more often than usual – then you should think about it and try to identify the causes of this symptom. About when sneezing is normal and when it may indicate health problems, as well as the necessary preventive measures and the first aid for the animal, you will learn from our article.

Author: Artem Devochkin, co-author: veterinary expert Natalia Kornilova

Causes of sneezing

Sneezing – a protective reflex reaction of the body, which occurs when the mucous membrane of the nose is exposed to dust particles or the smallest foreign objects, as well as viruses, bacteria, allergens and other irritants.

Nerve endings located in the nasal mucosa, when irritated, send a signal to the brain area responsible for breathing. In response, the brain sends a command to the muscles to stretch as much as possible (to take a deep breath), and then – sharply contract (rapid exhalation). This strong, involuntary exhalation is called a sneeze.

Another way animals (and sometimes people) naturally cleanse their airways is by sniffing. It looks similar to sneezing, but differs in that sneezing is involuntary. A sneeze is a controlled attempt to get rid of an irritant or foreign object in the nasal cavity with a sharp exhalation.

Sneezing in itself is not a disease. However, it may indicate the peculiarities of the animal's body structure, errors in its maintenance or be one of the signs of an illness.

If the cat sneezes a lot but you don't notice anything else, there are other risk factors to look for:

• An abundance of dust in the room where the pet is. Sneezing can be caused by an increase in its amount in the air due to a long absence of wet cleaning, rearrangement of furniture, construction work in the house;
• Sharp smells. Cats have a finer sense of smell than humans. Many smells that we are accustomed to are strong irritants for pets (e.g. citrus, onions, garlic, alcohol, vinegar, perfumes and deodorants, aroma diffusers);
• Various chemicals. They are found in cleaning and dishwashing products, insect sprays, air fresheners, and are sometimes emitted by some finishing and building materials used in the interior (paints, varnishes, rubber or plastic elements with a specific smell). They may also irritate the mucous membranes of the nose and sinuses, and as a consequence, sneezing. In addition, cats are often hypersensitive to tobacco smoke as well.

Diagnosis

Only a veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis. A specialist will conduct an interview and visual inspection, prescribe testsThe results of which will determine the cause of the pathology.

Important! Prolonged sneezing is an associated symptom that can be characteristic of many diseases. Some of them are difficult to treat if detected at a late stage.

For this reason, we do not recommend treating the cat yourself but Ask your veterinarian for help..

With allergies, it is necessary to find out what caused the ailment. The allergen is eliminated, the pet is prescribed antihistamines, ointments, a special diet (if food allergies).

If the disease is viral, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, immunomodulators and vitamins are prescribed. Sometimes the pet needs inpatient treatment.

If a foreign body got into the airways, it is removed with an endoscope, then, if necessary, additional therapy is carried out.

Asthmatic cats are prescribed glucocorticosteroids, the use of inhalers, sometimes antibiotics.

In the case of polyps, the neoplasm is removed with further supportive therapy.

If a cat has been diagnosed with cancer, you can't do without chemotherapy and surgery.

Worm infestation is treated with suitable drugs, in severe cases – surgery.

Prevention

Whatever the cause of cat sneezing, it is important to monitor its health – this will reduce the risk of dangerous diseases. For this purpose, it is necessary to observe preventive measures.

Our tips

Make sure that your pet has a complete and balanced diet every day.

Its diet should be based on high-quality meat ingredients, but don't forget vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Pre-prepared holistic, super-premium and premium foods contain the optimum balance of nutrients, proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

The diet should be appropriate for the cat's lifestyle, health and age. Keep in mind that neutered and spayed pets need special foods to prevent obesity and urolithiasis. Follow the feeding recommendations on the package.

Remember that older animals, kittens and pets after surgery or illness have reduced immunity.

They should be protected from hypothermia. If a cat likes to sleep on a cold floor or near a window, provide it with a warm place to rest: a bed or a house.

Do not forget about hygiene of your pet. Examine its eyes and ears daily and clean up any discharge Use special wipes or lotions. Pay special attention to the oral cavity. Teach your cat to brush its teeth from an early age (you will need a toothpaste and a brush made especially for four-legged animals). Once a year, get Ultrasonic cleaning Have your cat's teeth cleaned at a veterinarian. By the way, treats and dry food also help to remove plaque.

Regular exercise is good for your cat's health. Encourage your cat to play by buying her exciting toys.

Infections

A cat, just like a normal person, can get an infection. If we talk about viral, most often the four-legged cat has herpes, calcivirus or leukemia. These diseases need to be treated under the supervision of a veterinarian. Symptoms of infectious diseases do not appear immediately, and the owner can not determine the cause of the deterioration of the pet. If you do not contact a specialist in time, over time the cat may suffer from liver and kidney failure. Many animals die within two weeks after the first symptoms appear, writes Kinpet.ru.

Aspergillosis is one of the most common fungal diseases in cats, a sign of which is nasal discharge. Any touching of the nose and mouth causes severe pain in the four-legged dog, so he will not let himself be handled by his owner. At the first signs and hints of possible infection, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.

Nasal swelling

If a pet begins to have profuse nasal discharge, breathing problems, sneezing, and a deformity of the muzzle, it may have a nasal tumor. Cats 9-10 years old are at risk.

Sometimes people think that a cat starts sneezing and coughing if it chokes on hair or food. But in fact, the cause may be much more serious. If this behavior in the pet is observed frequently, you need to visit the veterinary clinic.

What to do if the kitten often sneezes

Treatment of a whiskered pet will depend on the diagnosis. With their own efforts, the owner can only temporarily extinguish the symptoms. Without addressing the underlying cause, they will eventually recur, so help at home is only effective under the supervision of a veterinarian.

At home.

Place the kitten in a warm, draught-free place. If breathing is difficult, be sure to arrange inhalation with warm and moist air. A bathroom filled with steam after a hot shower is a good place to do this.

Avoid sticking to the eyes because of accumulated fluid. Remove secretions with a cotton pad soaked in plain water or saline. If bleeding occurs, press ice wrapped in a thick cloth against your pet's nose and go to the veterinarian immediately.

Treatment prescribed by the veterinarian

If there is no improvement within a day, the animal will have to be treated with medication. Depending on the diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe the following medications:

In particularly severe cases, surgery or chemotherapy may be required. When dental diseases are detected, dental treatment is always carried out under general anesthesia.

Care for the newborn baby

Newborn babies' habitat is limited. In natural causes, they sneeze from the mother's hair in the nasal passages, or increased dryness. If the spout is free of foreign objects, and there is a humidifier in the room with the kittens – call the vet at home. At such a young age, all dosages are selected individually so as not to harm the growing body.

Simple prevention

To prevent physiological and pathological causes, try to pay attention to your whiskered pet's health and the cleanliness of the room. This is easily accomplished with:

If allergies are detected, try to eliminate all existing irritants in the home or limit your pet's access to them. Also, try not to look for solutions on your own and consult your veterinarian for any issues that arise.

A kitten's body is weak and vulnerable. In the first year of life, the responsibility for its safe growth and development rests entirely on the owner.

If you are afraid of disturbing the doctor with false alarms – contact him by phone. The veterinarian will be sure to give you a consultation after the main visiting hours. This will save you time and prevent you from taking medication without a prescription.

This article is for informational purposes. Contact your veterinarian!

What is sneezing?

Sneezing – is a protective reflex that occurs when mucus, dust particles, foreign objects, viruses, bacteria, allergens and irritants affect the nasal mucous membrane.

Nerve endings located in the nasal mucosa, when irritated, send a signal to the brain area responsible for breathing. In response, the brain sends a command to the muscles to take a deep breath, and then – a sharp exhalation. This violent, involuntary exhalation is called a sneeze.

Snorting also often serves to clear the airways. Externally, it may look very similar to a sneeze. The difference is that sneezing is involuntary, while sniffing is a controlled action on the part of the person or animal.

Why does a cat sneeze?

A cat uses sneezing to clear the upper airways of various irritants. Sneezing itself is not a disease, but it may be due to the characteristics of the cat's body structure, indicate improper housing or be one of the symptoms of a disease.

The cat should definitely be seen by a veterinarian if in addition to sneezing one or more of the following symptoms are observed

• Restlessness, rubbing of the nose with the paws;
• shortness of breath;
• coughing;
• purulent, bloody, profuse mucous nasal discharge;
• lacrimation, purulent discharge from eyes;
• refusal of food;
• increase in body temperature;
• Dry crusts near the nostrils;
• liquid stools.

If the cat sneezes but you do not notice other signs of ill health, pay attention to the following factors:

• The dustiness of the room the cat is in. Sneezing may be caused by an increase in the amount of dust in the air in the long absence of wet cleaning, rearrangement of furniture, construction work in the house.
• Pungent smells. Cats have a very keen sense of smell. Some smells that don't bother people (such as citrus, onions, garlic, alcohol, vinegar, perfumes and deodorants, scented candles) can be unpleasant and irritating to pets.
• Chemicals in cleaning and dishwashing products, paint thinners, bug sprays, and air fresheners can also irritate the mucous membranes of the nose and sinuses and result in sneezing. In addition, cats can also exhibit hypersensitivity to tobacco smoke.

• Brachycephalic syndrome. Some cats that belong to breeds with shortened muzzles have congenital features of the muzzle structure that lead to breathing difficulties: narrowing of the nasal passages, hyperplasia of the soft palate, hyperplasia and eversion of the laryngeal antecubital folds. Such animals sneeze and snort more often than others, trying to get rid of nasal congestion. Respiratory disorders As the cat ages, its condition may worsen, so it is advisable to show the cat to a veterinarian at the first sign of difficulty breathing.
• Allergies. One of the manifestations of allergic reactions in cats may be sneezing. The most frequent allergens are dust, pollen of house and garden plants, products from ectoparasites, household chemicals, and components of food. To eliminate sneezing attacks, you must first identify the allergen and limit the contact of the animal with it.
• Foreign body in the nasal cavity. Cats, especially young cats, are naturally curious and eager to sniff objects around them. During such investigations crumbs, hairs, threads, particles of cat litter etc. may get into the cat's nostrils. Nasal passages in cats are quite narrow and very sensitive, even a small foreign object strongly irritates their mucous membrane. To get rid of the irritant, the cat begins to rub its nose with its paws, sneezing. In this case, sneezing may be accompanied by a small amount of transparent mucus from the nasal passages. As a result, small particles are removed from the nostrils by the cat itself, and larger ones have to be extracted by the veterinarian.
• Helminth infestation. Many worm infestations can be accompanied by sneezing. For example, with pulmonary capillariasis, the adult worms parasitize in the trachea, bronchi, less often the nasal cavity and frontal sinuses of the cat, causing their irritation and, consequently, sneezing and coughing. In young, weakened cats with toxoplasmosis, in addition to fever, lethargy, weakness, loss of appetite, coughing, sneezing, nasal and eye discharge may be observed.
• Overcooling. Sometimes sneezing occurs with a sudden change in temperature (for example, the cat jumped out of a warm room onto the balcony in the cold). Such sneezing – a protective reaction of the body to the intake of large amounts of cold air into the nasal passages. It is not dangerous on its own.
• Respiratory infections are a common cause of sneezing in cats. These include herpesvirus infection in cats, calicivirosis, chlamydia, and mycoplasmosis. Less common in cats are fungal infections, which can also cause inflammation in the nasal cavity and frontal sinuses. Respiratory infections are usually accompanied by a worsening of the animal's general condition, an increase in body temperature, profuse discharge from the nose and eyes, sneezing and coughing. Many infectious diseases are life-threatening, so if you suspect one of them is infecting your pet, you should go to the veterinarian immediately.
• Diseases of the gums and teeth. Stomatitis, gingivitis, and dental diseases may also sometimes be accompanied by sneezing. In these cases, however, sneezing is not the primary symptom. Problems in the cat's mouth are indicated by the appearance of foul odor, increased salivation, and problems with eating dry food.
• Feline asthma is a chronic disease suspected to be allergic in nature. It is manifested by recurrent, sudden bouts of sneezing, dry coughing, and shortness of breath. In severe cases, during an attack there may be blueness of the mucous membranes, wheezing, breathing with the mouth open. To relieve the cat's condition and prevent new attacks, you should go to a veterinarian and use medications recommended by your veterinarian.
• Polyps and neoplasms in the nasopharynx can also cause sneezing, nasal discharge. Symptoms are similar to those of infectious diseases or allergies, so it is usually possible to make an accurate diagnosis with a veterinarian's examination. Polyps and neoplasms are usually removed surgically.

What symptoms may accompany sneezing

Along with sneezing, animals sometimes exhibit other symptoms . These include:

• Apathy, lethargy, depression ;
• discharge from the eyes, sores and swelling;
• difficulty or rapid breathing;
• fever;
• nasal discharge, including clear, yellow or bloody discharge;
• Poor coat condition and loss of hair;
• increased salivation;
• Loss of appetite, refusal to eat and weight loss;
• wheezing and coughing.

If sneezing is accompanied by any of these signs, be sure to go to the vet for a consultation.

Do not delay a visit, any delay may be dangerous for your pet.

What to do if the cat sneezes

If the cat sneezed only a couple of times and there are no other symptoms, monitor it for a few days. During this time, carefully monitor any changes in her behavior and condition, and try to keep her away from other pets. If there are no warning signs and the sneezing does not recur, there is probably no reason to worry.

If the cat is sneezing persistently and is secreting blood or showing any of the other signs listed above, the vet should be seen without delay.

Treatment will depend on the cause of the sneezing. In some cases simple measures will be enough to make the cat feel more comfortable, such as eliminating allergens. In others, the specialist will prescribe a course of antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs. If the body of the animal does not respond to drug therapy, surgery may be required.