Why Is My Cat Sneezing?

Though it may sound like a gag from a comic strip, “my cat is sneezing” is actually a medical emergency that requires veterinary attention.
Funny as it may sound in a cartoon, “my cat is sneezing,” your feline friend may be unwell and need veterinarian care. Many things can set off a sneezing fit in a cat. Keep an eye on your cat if it starts sneezing, as there may be an underlying cause.

What’s causing my cat to sneeze?

 

Different animals, not just cats and dogs, have been recorded to sneeze, which is a helpful and common behaviour.

The sneeze of fowl is well-documented (especially chickens). I bet you didn’t know that lizards, too, suffer from the occasional sneeze.

When you sneeze, you release irritants from your upper respiratory system before they can do any more harm. When a cat sneezes, it is most likely because something has irritated the animal’s nasal passages. If a cat catches a whiff of something it doesn’t like, it can sneeze just like a person.

Sneezing in cats can be hard to pinpoint, it’s true. In many cases, a veterinarian will need to observe the cat in motion in order to pinpoint the root of the involuntary reaction.

Cats are capable of a wide variety of involuntary reactions involving the nose and mouth, such as gagging, sneezing backwards, retching, wheezing, and even hiccupping. Some pet owners might even mistake the sound of any of these other reactions for a sneeze.

The best line of action is to record the reflex on film if possible and present it to the vet when you take your cat in for an examination. Without a veterinary diagnostic, you won’t know for sure what’s causing your cat’s sneezing fits.

If my cat suddenly started sneezing a lot, what could be the

cause?

 

Upper respiratory virus infections are the most prevalent reason for a cat to sneeze. Cat herpes virus is the most typical agent responsible for this condition. The feline herpes virus is extremely common, with an estimated 90% infection rate among cats.

Sneezing and eye discharge are common symptoms of upper respiratory discomfort in a cat infected with this virus. Just like with people infected with the common cold, your cat’s symptoms will worsen if it’s under a lot of stress.

Even though there are medications in development for this condition, conventional veterinary knowledge suggests that once a cat contracts the virus, they may suffer from the effects for the rest of their lives. Only when the cat’s immune system is strong will the infection begin to subside. The calicivirus is just one example of a disease that can produce comparable symptoms.

In addition to wreaking havoc on cats’ respiratory systems, feline calicivirus also makes them sick in the mouth. This disease spreads rapidly among cat colonies and is quite dangerous. This illness is also widespread in shelters for animals, where cats must live in close quarters with many other cats of many backgrounds.

The feline calicivirus (FCV) is a member of a vast family of viruses that cause disease in a wide variety of vertebrate animals, including those kept as pets or used as livestock.

The Accipitridae family includes the human nanovirus. Humans infected with the nano virus may have some gastrointestinal distress, but the effects of this virus are short-lived and do not pose a significant risk of death.

Your vet can advise you on the best course of action for vaccinating your cat against FCV.

However, it is important to remember that FCV, like many other viruses, is prone to mutation and the development of new strains. This is primarily why FCV outbreaks persist even now, decades after the first FCV vaccine was created for veterinary use.

In multi-cat settings, unfortunately, FCV can spread rapidly. It is estimated that at least 25% of stray and other cats are FCV carriers, and that even brief contact is enough to spread the virus.

 

Discharges from the eyes and nose are common routes of transmission of the FCV. A deeper dive into the origins of the virus reveals FCV fragments can also spread through a cat’s blood, faeces, and urine.

Cats infected with FCV will continually shed the virus for up to three weeks during the initial, main infection. After that, the individual’s symptoms should subside, although they may continue to be a carrier (on and off) for months. In addition to sharing food and water bowls, cats can spread the virus simply by socialising with one another.

When Does My Cat’s Sneezing Mean Something Serious?

 

If your cat starts sneezing excessively or can’t seem to stop, it’s time to panic. Keep an eye out for additional symptoms that may indicate an upper respiratory infection, including facial secretions.

Behavioral abnormalities may also be indicative of a bacterial or viral infection. It’s important to remember that feline infections can last for weeks or months, and that they can spread even after the initial signs of illness have subsided.

If you have multiple cats, it is imperative that you have them tested quickly.

Infectious disease spreading from one sick cat to others in the family is something we’d like to avoid. In particular, if your cats are kept in a small, confined area, maintaining infection control might be difficult.

 

How Do You Help a Cat Who Is Coughing? Can You Take a Cat’s Sneezing Seriously?

 

If your cat sneezes for no apparent reason, it may be cleansing its airways and nose. If a cat wakes up in a dusty or unclean surroundings, it may sneeze.

Cats, like humans, have a negative reaction to noxious substances in the environment. However, you should call your vet to be sure if your cat’s sneeze persists and causes it to become lethargic.

Keep in mind that your cat can pick up infections readily since it explores the world with its paws, nose, and mouth, and that viruses and bacteria are prevalent in the natural world.