Why Do Cats Sneeze?

Sneezing in cats can happen because of a variety of different things, from environmental factors to infections. If you are the owner of a cat who has a tendency to sneeze on a regular basis, you are probably curious to know why. Finding the source of the sneezing requires a basic understanding of the various sneezing triggers.

Bacteria

Bacteria is a common cause of sneezing in cats. Pseudomonad, pasteurella, streptococci and bordatella are all examples of bacteria that can cause respiratory infections in cats. These bacteria can be transmitted from animals to humans as well, even if the animal appears to be healthy. So, if your cat is sneezing and has watery eyes, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before and after handing the cat, and take your cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

The Rhinotracheitis Virus

While sneezing is a common symptom of the rhinotracheitis virus, the cat usually will also have a low-grade fever and a case of conjunctivitis. After exposure of the rhinotracheitis virus, the virus incubates within the body of the cat for two to six days. Although there might be times that the virus remains dormant thanks to various medications, in most cases the cat usually harbors this virus for the rest of its life.

Litter

Litter is something that a cat uses everyday. So, if you happen to notice that your cat sneezes on a daily basis, the litter might actually be the cause. When a cat paws at its litter, the litter often emits a fine dust. When the cat inhales this dust it can aggravate the fine hairs in the nose, thus causing the sneezing.

Household Products

Various products that are use within the household can also irritate the nose of a cat to such a degree that it starts sneezing. These household products include things like perfume, deodorants, cleaning solutions and bug spray.

Allergies and Persians

Usually, cats that have an allergy to something will mainly exhibit itching. However, if the cat is allergic to various substances in the air such as mold or pollen, sneezing can occur.

If you are the owner of a Persian cat, then you might notice the cat sneezing. The pushed-in nose makes the Persian more sensitive to respiratory infections, as well as irritants from household products.

Dental Abscesses

Sneezing, as well as nasal drainage are common signs of an infection in the third upper premolar tooth. This is because that tooth is located quite closely to the nasal passages of the cat.

Treatment

It is very important that the cat be taken to the vet to ascertain the root cause of the sneezing. If the sneezing is caused by a household or airborne allergens, then the cat should be kept away from those household or airborne allergens. If the sneezing is cause by a respiratory infection, then the veterinarian might give the cat saline spray nose drops or antibiotic nose drops.

References

• Sneezing in Dogs and Cats

Resources

• Why Cats Sneeze