Why is My Cat Sneezing a Lot?

Did you know ? Cat owners are generally happier than people without pets. Another reason, if you needed one, to keep your furry friends as healthy as possible! Today, we are going to focus on sneezing behaviour and how to spot when to get your cat to the cat clinic in Scarborough and when there is no need for concern.

Causes of Sneezing

Just as humans sometimes sneeze, so do cats. A sneeze here or there usually does not cause concern. If the sneezing continues or your cat sneezes repeatedly, it may be suffering from something more serious.

You might want to visit the vet if you notice your cat sneezing, accompanied by other symptoms like a runny nose or eyes. Here are a few potential causes of excessive sneezing in cats.

Feline Herpes

Feline herpes is not transmissible to humans even though a similar type of virus causes both feline herpes and human herpes. So don't worry about catching anything from your cat.

If your cat has herpes, the virus can cause flare-ups from time to time. A flare up might be caused by your cat being stressed or other illnesses. If your otherwise healthy cat begins sneezing a lot, it may be going through a feline herpes flare-up.

Your vet should be able to diagnose feline herpes and prescribe a helpful antiviral.

Respiratory Infection

Cats can get colds too. In fact, respiratory infections are common in cats. A virus, pathogen, allergen, or bacteria can cause a respiratory infection. Symptoms of respiratory infection in cats include:

• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Runny nose
• Congestion
• Nasal and eye discharge
• Gagging or drooling
• Fever
• Loss of or decreased appetite

If your cat is suffering from two or more of these symptoms, it could have a respiratory infection. Luckily, this kind of infection is treatable with a round of antibiotics. 

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, or FIV, is the cat version of HIV, but as with feline herpes, you don't need to worry about catching anything from your cat. 

FIV will likely present with symptoms other than just sneezing, like lethargy, poor appetite, or weight loss. An FIV diagnosis requires a blood test administered by a veterinarian. 

Obstruction of the Airway

Sometimes cats might inhale a foreign object. If something gets stuck in your cat's nose, they will sneeze and paw at their nose to try to remove it.

If your cat seems distressed, look in its nose. If you find something in your cat's nose, take them to the vet immediately.

Our Cat Clinic in Scarborough Can Help

If your cat starts sneezing more than a few times a day, it may have a virus or an infection or something in its airway. 

Your Scarborough veterinarian can help diagnose excessive sneezing in your cat and get them back to tip-top shape. For all your veterinary needs, contact Bellamy-Lawrence Animal Hospital to book an appointment.