Why Is My Cat Sneezing?
It's undeniable that cat sneezes are simply adorable! But, when should you be worried? Just like humans, cats can experience sneezing spells, but the reasons for their sneezing can be quite diverse. Let's investigate the various factors that might be causing your cat to sneeze.
Why Is My Cat Sneezing?
Your cat might be sneezing because of a tickle in their nose, just like we experience. If your cat sneezes occasionally, this is most likely the answer, however, if your cat is sneezing much more than normal, it probably needs investigating.
7 Causes of Cat Sneezing
Reasons your cat might be sneezing include:
- Tickly nose
- Foreign material in the nose
- A strong smell
- Allergies
- Infection
- Dental disease
- Cancer
1. Tickly Nose
Similarly to when we have a tickle in our nose that makes us sneeze, cats can experience the same thing.
2. Foreign Material
Cats are naturally curious creatures who like to sniff everything, so it's possible for them to get foreign material stuck in their noses, such as grass or lint.
If you're think they've sneezed in reponse to something stuck in their nose and you're concerned that it's still stuck, it's best to contact your vet.
3. Strong Smell
As cats have a fantastic sense of smell, it's easy for strong smelling things like chemicals to irritate their noses.
Air fresheners and cats aren't a good combination because the chemicals they contain can irritate cat noses, throats, and eyes, as well as causing more health problems.
Household activities such as cooking and cleaning can also produce strong smells that cause your cat to sneeze, for example of you're using bleach to clean or adding spices to a recipe.
4. Allergies
4 common cat allergies are:
- Insect allergy (fleas) - the most commen.
- Food allergies.
- Atopic dermatitis (house dust, pollen, mold).
- Contact allergies - the least commen.
Sneezing can be a symptom of allergies. There are various other allergy symptoms your cat may display, which include:
- Itching skin
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Nasal discharge
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Your vet can help to help to diagnose and treat cat allergies.
5. Infection
Infections, whether viral or bacterial, can also lead to sneezing in cats. Upper respiratory infections (URIs) can be caused by viruses such as Feline Herpesvirus type-1 (FHV-1) and Feline Calicivirus. Many cats are carriers of FHV-1, which can re-emerge at a later date.
Chlamydophila felis and Bordetella are bacteria that can cause URIs.
In addition to sneezing, symptoms of URIs include:
- Nasal discharge
- Eye discharge
- Conjunctivitis
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
Vaccines help to prevent the severity of many infections, should they affect your cat in the future.
6. Dental Disease
Surprisingly, dental issues can also play a role in your cat's sneezing. A dental abscess or a tooth root infection can result in nasal discharge and, subsequently, sneezing.
Regular dental check-ups for your cat can help identify and prevent dental problems that might be causing sneezing and other health issues.
7. Cancer
Excessive sneezing can be a symptom of nasal cancer in cats. Other symptoms include:
- Loss of appetite
- Seizures
- Runny nose
- Nasal discharge
- Lethargy
Should I Be Worried About My Cat Sneezing?
Usually, the odd sneeze is absolutely nothing to worry about, but if your cat is having lots of sneezing spells, it's always worth taking your cat for a check-up with your vet, particularly if they're displaying other unusual symptoms.
These are some of the reasons why your cat might be sneezing. Usually it's just something that's tickled their nose, and their sneezing certainly tickles us with how adorable it is! Whilst we're talking about all things adorable and cat-related, check out our Cat Collection, full of funny cat graphic tees, cat portrait apparel, cat totes, and more.
