Why the cat keeps sneezing

Culling internal parasites from the cat's body occurs when treated with anthelmintic drugs in the exact dosage.

Why a cat sneezes

Infections

They are the main cause of sneezing. These infections include:

• Feline herpes virus – causes the respiratory disease rhinotracheitis and is transmitted by contact with other animals.
• Calcivirosis – Transmitted by direct contact or through shared items such as a litter box or bowls. Mouth ulcers are the most common problem with infection, but the infection can affect the respiratory tract and even cause pneumonia.
• Infectious peritonitis – Sneezing is not one of the main signs of this disease, but can nevertheless be seen in infected animals. It is mainly transmitted by contact with infected feces.
• Viral immunodeficiency – the disease develops slowly, but noticeably affects the pet's immunity and makes it vulnerable to other infections. It is spread with the saliva of a sick cat by bites and during fights between animals, so it is most often seen in outdoor cats.
• Chlamydia – spreads by contact, airborne droplets and is transmitted from the cat to the kittens.
• Bordetellosis – transmitted by contact and airborne droplets, affects the upper respiratory tract, can also lead to pneumonia.
• Mycoplasmosis – the animal is infected by contact with a sick cat, by airborne droplets and at the time of delivery.

Because of infections, a weakened cat's body is more susceptible to other diseases. For example, an animal with herpes can also develop a secondary bacterial infection.

Inhaled irritants and allergens

Sneezing can be caused by allergies or contact with airborne irritants. These include cigarette smoke, scented candles, perfumes, dust, plant pollen, cleaning products, insect sprays, air fresheners, and litter box fillers.

If this is the cause, there are usually no other symptoms: the cat has no discharge from its eyes and nose, it eats with appetite and behaves as usual. But to exclude all doubts, it is better to visit the veterinarian.

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 call the vet for a consultation.

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

Possible causes

Causes of prolonged sneezing can be both non-dangerous and carry a threat to the health of the pet.

Allergies .

Cats are no less susceptible to it than people. As allergens act:

It is important to remember that sneezing is not the only symptom of allergies: usually the pet has a rash on the skin, shortness of breath, discharge from the eyes.

Infectious diseases

Viral and bacterial infections are another possible cause of sneezing. The risk group includes animals with reduced immunity: kittens, elderly quadrupeds, as well as pets suffering from chronic diseases and those who have undergone surgery.

A common viral illness is usually accompanied by nasal and eye discharge, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to eat, and general weakness.

However, there are more dangerous infectious diseases for which sneezing is an accompanying symptom.

Rhinotracheitis

A disease affecting the respiratory organs. Transmitted by contact with an infected animal, as well as through household items touched by the carrier. During rhinotracheitis the cat suffers from discharge from the nose and eyes, the eyelids are swollen, there is a cough, and sometimes vomiting.

Calicivirosis

Conjunctivitis, increased body temperature, the appearance of ulcers on the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth, apathetic condition, increased salivation – signs that suspect a pet of this dangerous disease.

Panleukopenia

The disease is most often fatal. In addition to sneezing, it is indicated by: vomiting, coughing, runny nose, rapid breathing, dehydration, lack of interest in food, weight loss, loss of fur, its dulling.

Chlamydia .

The main symptoms are conjunctivitis, discharge from the nose and eyes, and swollen eyelids. Chlamydia is treated, but the therapy is quite lengthy.

When to go to the vet?

So, if the cat sneezes for a long time, and this condition is observed for several days, it is necessary See a veterinarian to determine the causes.

Be sure to pay attention to the presence of accompanying symptoms:

• Blood when sneezing;
• Nasal discharge (purulent or bloody);
• Tearfulness;
• rapid breathing;
• wheezing;
• shortness of breath;
• gastrointestinal disturbances;
• decreased appetite;
• general weakness, lethargy.

What to do if the cat sneezes

Actually, sneezing can be treated at home only after a visit to the doctor. Depending on the cause of the sneezing, it will require:

• In 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;
• For asthma – cats are prescribed glucocorticosteroids, antibiotics (if the disease is caused by infection), the use of inhalers, placement in an oxygen chamber during an attack;
• For cancer of the nasal cavity. – Chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and surgery (rhinotomy);
• For pulmonary worms. – Deworming medications, anti-inflammatory medications, vitamins.

All of the above measures to eliminate diseases that contribute to sneezing are taken only after a visit to a specialist. At home, unfortunately, even the most vigilant owner will not be able to determine what caused a cat's sneezing.

How to prevent cat sneezes

As we have found out, sneezing is only a symptom of an ailment. To prevent a cat from suffering from constant "Ughhhh," you need to:

1. If the pet is sneezing due to allergies, it is important to determine what is causing the pathological reaction. Once the allergen is identified, it will be necessary to exclude or minimize its presence in the room where the pet lives;
2. Infection can not always be avoided, but it is better to exclude the contact of the cat with stray animals. Cats are vaccinated against some diseases (for example, rhinotracheitis), which contributes to the development of immunity to pathogens;
3. The apartment where the asthmatic cat lives should be crystal clear and regularly aired. Tobacco smoke should be excluded;
4. Worms poison not only the respiratory organs, but also the intestines, stomach, heart and other important organs. Cats are wormed once a quarter (twice at 14-day intervals), even if there are no signs of worms at all;
5. In order not to miss serious illness at an early stage, it is important to show the cat to a veterinarian at least once a year. And if any alarming symptoms are noticed, you need to run to the clinic immediately.

How to help a kitten at home

All diseases require timely diagnosis and professional treatment. But mostly owners are limited to home methods of combating the disease for 1-2 days. After that, the kitten often goes on the mend, if the disease is not severe and does not require surgical intervention.

If the kitten has the most common cold, you need to provide warmth, plenty of warm liquids and your favorite foods. You can also buy vitamins or cat herbs at the drugstore. A light massage of the shoulder blades is good, it will speed up blood flow.

It will also be useful to wipe the kitten's eyes and nose with a weak solution of manganese or chlorhexedine.

If the nose is stuffy, you can flush it with any of the solutions listed below:

If nasal irrigation does not help, and the situation has only worsened, you need to switch to antibiotics Tobrex or Ciprofloxacin.

The use of Tetracycline ointment or Mastiet Forte oil suspension has proven good. These products are dabbed into the pet's nose 2-3 times a day.

As a rule, these measures are enough to help your kitten overcome the cold at home.

Do not give kitten Paracetamol, as for these animals, this drug is toxic and can cause internal bleeding.

Prevention

To eliminate the possibility of constant sneezing of the kitten, you must first conduct frequent wet cleaning of the room. Only safe products that will not cause allergies in the cat should be used.

To prevent dangerous and hard-to-cure diseases, the kitten should be vaccinated in a timely manner.

Also, you should not forget about preventive appointments at the veterinarian at least once every 3-4 months. It is necessary, because some diseases develop secretly, without any apparent reason, and visiting a specialist will help to detect problems in time and even save the pet's life.

And most importantly – do not forget to examine your pet and observe his behavior, to notice the strange behavior in time. Only a caring and attentive owner will have a healthy and happy pet.

Related symptoms

Do not delay to show the animal to the doctor if along with sneezing he has the following clinical manifestations:

• Disturbed breathing;
• The appearance of discharge of various types, nasal bleeding;
• Inflammation, swelling and discharge from the eyes;
• demonstration of aggression, anxiety, lethargy, previously uncharacteristic of the cat;
• refusal of food, water;
• dry mucous membrane of the mouth; unpleasant odor.

Immediately take the animal to the veterinarian if he is drooling profusely, breathing heavily, trying to hide in a nook.

Diagnosis and treatment

Upon detection of alarming manifestations, you should not try to diagnose the cat on your own. It is necessary to show her to a specialist. Remember that self-treatment can cause the animal unnecessary suffering and not achieve recovery. The dosages of human drugs are often such that they are completely inappropriate for our little brothers, and giving them to a cat can cause serious harm to its health.

The pet must be treated at home, strictly following the recommendations of the veterinarian.

If the cat has allergies, the doctor will prescribe antihistamines, as well as advise to exclude contact with agents that provoke allergic reactions.

With infectious diseases, antibiotics, antiviral, antifungal agents are prescribed. Runny nose can be treated with nasal passages. The doctor may also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, immunomodulators, probiotics.

If the sneezing is provoked by the penetration of a foreign body into the airways, and the cat cannot free itself from it, the veterinarian will perform an endoscopic intervention in order to extract the foreign object.

Polyps and other neoplasms in the nasal passages are removed by surgery. The surgery is not complicated, but it is necessary.

Cats with asthma are prescribed GCS inhalation to stop attacks, basic therapy. Cancer is treated, as in humans, with radiation therapy, strong chemical agents. often require surgical intervention. Parasitic infestations – with the use of anthelmintics.

Cause 9: Chronic diseases

In diseases of the oral cavity can develop an abscess. Fluid after its opening enters the nose, then comes out in the form of snot. A veterinarian is consulted for treatment. In chronic diseases, the sinuses are flushed with saline or furacilin. The liquid is poured into the nostrils with an eyedropper. The procedure is repeated 3-4 times a day. The main therapy is carried out by the veterinarian – the treatment of the disease.

It is not recommended to give pets medications without consulting a veterinarian. Therapy is chosen depending on the form of otitis, the degree of the disease. Until the veterinarian's help, the pet's ears should be treated daily (3-4 times) with gauze tampons soaked in a solution of boric acid (3%), chlorhexedine, furacilin.

If the eardrum is damaged, drops should not be administered. If it is not traumatized, the drug Othibiovet can be used. It is effective against various fungi, bacteria, reduces itching. Of herbal solutions for earwashing and ear-drop, infusions of birch leaves, St. John's wort and chamomile are used.

Cause 11: Tumors and other neoplasms

If if the cat has neoplasms, snot with pus flows – it is necessary to do daily rinses with a solution of furacilin. Relieve breathing helps "Xylometazolin. Additionally use "Anandin". The drug stimulates the immune system, which will fight the runny nose.

When you have a cold, nasal congestion appears. To eliminate it, take physiological solution – injected three times a day, 3 drops. The treatment stops as soon as the snot and runny nose disappear. Additionally at night you can drop "Glasolin" (1 drop, not longer than 5 days). With profuse secretions you can use children's "Naphtisin. It narrows blood vessels and relieves tissue swelling. Into each nostril infuse 1 drop/day. The course of treatment should not exceed 5 days.

If a cold caused by hypothermia, well helps warming with warm sea salt wrapped in cloth. Bag placed on the cat's nose (without affecting the lobe) and hold for a few minutes. The procedure is carried out 5-7 times a day. But the method is effective if the cold is not of a bacterial nature. Another method of treatment is to put aloe juice into the animal's sinuses. To do this, it is squeezed from the lower leaf of the plant. Then, using a pipette, one drop is injected twice a day. The duration of treatment is not more than a week.

If your pet has a runny nose and snot, you should contact your veterinarian. Only he will be able to correctly determine the cause of your pet's ailment – what form of infection, type of worms. Sometimes surgery is required to remove the foreign body. Without consulting a veterinarian, you can not treat viral and bacterial runny nose in a cat on your own, otherwise you can cause serious complications.

Published: 2020-09-21
Added: 2021-07-19
Timur Talikbaev

Why the cat often sneezes

There are several reasons for this behavior of the cat: from quite harmless, to quite serious, posing a threat to the cat's life.

• An increased content of dust particles – Lack of cleaning for a long time, or low quality of cleaning, may cause cats to sneeze. Cats also sneeze from construction dust during renovations or from particles of dry mixes floating in the air.
• Allergic reaction.. Certain allergens in the air provoke sneezing. The most common are: household chemicals, cat litter, pollen, liquids with a pungent odor (fresheners, fragrances, perfumes). Strong allergens are disinfectants, cigarette smoke. Associated symptoms are lacrimation, itching, rash.
• Entry of an object into the respiratory tract. This cause is life-threatening for the animal. Small particles are removed from the nasal passages on their own by sneezing. If the cat cannot get rid of the foreign body, you should immediately contact the veterinarian. The trapped object can block the airways and lead to the death of the pet.
• The presence of internal parasites. A cause that requires treatment under the supervision of a veterinarian. Toxoplasmosis (mite-borne) is expressed in cats by sneezing, fever, rhinitis. Another disease, dirofilariosis (carried by mosquitoes), affects the heart muscle. The course of the disease is similar to asthma.
• Asthma. Always characterized by additional multiple symptoms. In addition to constant sneezing, the cat experiences difficulty breathing, choking, and wheezing.
• Infectious disease .. The lethargy of the pet, an increase in its body temperature, lacrimation and the appearance of purulent discharge in the eyes are symptoms of mycoplasmosis, bordetellosis, chlamydia and other serious diseases. Calcivirus – the formation of ulcers in the mouth, joint damage – can also cause sneezing. Herpes virus, which causes rhinotracheitis, affects the mucous membranes, causing discomfort, resulting in sneezing. All of these diseases are dangerous for the animal.
• Diseases of the mouth and nasopharynx. Cavities, gum disease, polyps lead to sneezing as an adverse reaction of the body. The pet loses weight, its appetite decreases with oral disease. With polyps – growths in the airways – the pet has problems with nasal breathing, it breathes through its mouth.

What to do if the cat sneezes at home

Depending on the accompanying sneezing symptoms, it is possible to help the animal yourself.

For example, ingestion of dust is the most innocuous cause of a defensive reaction. Quality cleaning or removing the pet from the dusty room can solve the problem. Keeping the house in order will prevent the foreign body from getting into the airways.

If allergies occur, removing the allergen from the pet should be the first aid. You can change the cleaning agent, choose a different type of filler. If there is a reaction to pollen – remove the flowering plant from the cat's access, or remove the stamens in a timely manner. Usually these actions are enough to eliminate the negative effects.

As a preventive measure against colds that cause sneezing, you should give your cat a multivitamin and a balanced diet.

Any self-treatment is dangerous for the cat, you should not delay a visit to a specialist so as not to aggravate his condition.

Reason 2: Dry indoor air

Dry air dries out the pet's nasal mucosa. Even a newborn kitten can sneeze for this reason. From dryness of the mucous membrane, the protective barrier is lost and the likelihood of colds or infections increases. The lack of moisture is determined by a special device, a hygrometer. The optimal value of relative humidity in the room is 40-60%. If the air is dry, the kitten begins to sneeze and cough frequently. To correct the situationYou can ventilate the room more often, place buckets of water around the house, spray the air with a sprayer, hang wet sheets or towels or buy an automatic humidifier (this method is preferable, since it allows you to control the humidity).

The pet may sometimes sneeze because of the anatomical features of the snout, which is characteristic of exotic breeds – Persian, Himalayan and British cats, Scottish cats. They were bred artificially. This provoked the appearance of a flattened snout and a small nose.

To avoid problems, you need to monitor the health of the kitten, especially take care of his respiratory system, exclude factors that can provoke the development of colds.

Cause 4: Foreign bodies in the nose

For cats, the sense of smell is of great importance. While a kitten is getting to know its surroundings, it may accidentally inhale a small object. From what the pet will start sneezing and scratching its nose, trying to get rid of the foreign body.

If the object is small and visible to the naked eye, you can try to take it out of the nose with tweezers. But if the sneezing associated with a foreign object is accompanied by the appearance of a nosebleed, it is better to take the animal to the veterinarian.

Why does the cat sneeze?

A cat uses sneezing to clear the upper airways of various irritants. Sneezing in itself is not a disease, but it may be due to the structure of the cat's body, indicate incorrect handling 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 nostrils;
• liquid stools.

If the cat sneezes but you do not notice any other signs of illness, 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, insect 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 belonging to breeds with a shortened snout have congenital features of the snout 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 can be done at home?

First of all, a cat that has begun to sneeze frequently should be isolated from other animals. It is better to postpone its bathing and anti-parasite treatment, and exclude walks outside the house. Also, do not overload the pet with active games.

If you have the opportunity, it is worth measuring the cat's body temperature. A temperature of 38.0 to 39.3°C is normal for an adult cat. If your cat has a higher fever, go to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

In cases where the cat's sneezing is not accompanied by other signs of illness, you can try to help the cat yourself. Careful observation of the cat will provide enough information to determine the cause of the sneezing. If it occurs in certain places in the apartment or under the same circumstances, the owner will be able to understand what exactly is causing changes in his cat's condition.

Often it is sufficient to reduce the amount of dust in the air that the cat breathes in: give the house a wet cleaning or take the cat out of the dusty room. It is also a good idea to remove all strong odors and contact with irritants.

If the cat starts sneezing when visiting places where household chemicals or aerosol air fresheners have been used recently, after using insect sprays, when feeding, when using the litter box, when near flowering plants, it is reasonable to assume that the sneezing is caused by allergies. In this case it is recommended to remove the source of the allergen in the air: buy other household chemicals, change the brand of litter for the cat's litter box, choose hypoallergenic food.

If sneezing in a cat is caused by pollen from a flowering indoor plant, it is often sufficient to remove the stamens with pollen from the flower to eliminate the unpleasant symptom.