Why cats sneeze

Why cats sneeze is a question that has many answers. I will review the leading causes of sneezing cats.

Unfortunately, the reasons that a cat may sneeze range from the extremely minor, all the way up to a sign of a serious medical condition.

I will start with the worst-case scenarios and work down to the minor reasons that your cat may be sneezing.

After discussing this common cat health issue with my veterinarian, I feel confident that I understand the causes quite clearly.

My vet states that the most common cause of sneezing in cats is complications from a feline herpes ailment.

If a cat contracts this disease it is very similar to the human form of the incurable virus.

In that cats would experience flare-ups and breakouts just like humans.

The good news is also like the people form of the virus, a cat will have long periods of remission.

When the herpes virus flares up, the cat can develop sinus problems and nasal polyps that can become infected and irritated.

When the sneezing is caused by this flare-up, you will find extremely frequent sneezing for about a three-week period. After the flare-ups subside, your cat's nasal passages should return too normal.

Remember your cat can live a long healthy life with this herpes virus with long stretches of remission so don't be discouraged.

The sneezing cat

Another common cause of why cats sneeze is the feline leukemia virus. This is another feline ailment that cats are vaccinated against.

If a cat develops this disease, it has a tendency to weaken the animal’s immune system.

When the cats own natural abilities for fighting infections and irritants becomes weakened, they are more susceptible to respiratory ailments such as sinus infections and asthma.

Your veterinarian can do some blood work to determine whether your cat has this disease and recommend the best course of treatment.

So if your cat develops a sinus infection, this condition is highly treatable. Even many homeopathic treatments are available for our feline friends(example below).

Now that we have the two worst reasons why cats sneeze out of the way, we can talk about other common and not so serious causes.

Sneezing cats

A cat that is sneezing, intermittently may have simply inhaled an irritant into their nasal passages during the investigation of something in their environment.

Inhalation of dust and pollen can cause rapid sneezing in cats, just as it does in humans. Cats can also have allergies to things like mold and food.

Mold is a common reason why your cat may be sneezing. Microscopic mold spores are very irritating to both human and the kitty cats nasal passages.

If you suspect your cat is investigating a moldy area you can remove the mold or restrict the cats access to this area and see if the sneezing goes away.

An inspection of your cat’s gum's and teeth would be in order. You can look for redness and swelling, and also signs of tooth pain from your cat's eating behavior.

Also if your cat grabs a tooth brush and starts brushing his own teeth he may have a dental problem. Many vets offer services that include dental hygiene that can turn this condition around.

Cleaning supplies can also cause cat sneezing along with air fresheners, cat liter dust, perfume or cologne and many other aromatic common house hold items.

Why my cat sneezes

You should take the time to investigate the situation and discover the root cause just in case it is a sign of a serious condition.

Out of all of the reasons mentioned about why cats sneeze in the above article only two are not completely curable.

Also keep in mind that even the ones that are incurable do not mean the end of your cat's life.

With your vet's assistance, you can treat secondary infections that will improve symptoms, sooth sinus passages and improve the over all quality of your cats life.


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