- Cats sneeze occasionally, and you usually don't need to worry about a stray sneeze or two.
- Respiratory infections, vaccines, allergies, and nasal blockages may cause more frequent sneezing.
As a cat owner, you likely pay close attention to any sign that your feline friend feels less than purr-fect — like sneezing.
A solitary sneeze is typically nothing to fret over — your cat is probably dislodging some stray dust in their nose.
However, sneezing could pose a cause for concern if it happens:
- Frequently, or at least $4
- $4, aka paroxysmal sneezes
- Backwards, aka $4 — where your cat compulsively snorts in air
Excessive sneezing is often a sign of an issue with your cat's airways. Some of the causes have an easy at-home fix, while others require medical attention.
Here are four reasons why your cat keeps sneezing, and what you can do to help.
1. Allergens
"There are several household allergens and irritants that can cause sneezing or coughing in cats," says $4, head veterinarian at $4.
According to Holmboe, the most common allergens include:
- Dust
- Mold
- Cigarette smoke
- Cleaning products
- Perfumes
These allergens can also cause $4. However, because cats rely so much on their noses for hunting and communication, they're likely to show symptoms before you do.
Cats are like a canary in a coal mine, so to speak, according to $4, veterinarian at $4. "If the family cat is having trouble breathing, over time whatever is causing it may lead to health problems among human family members, as well," Wolf says.
Cats are especially susceptible to smoke. In fact, Wolf says cats commonly have breathing problems in homes where a family member $4. "While they have the strongest reaction to cigarette smoke, the same applies to vaping and cannabis," Wolf says.
What to do next: "Whenever a kitty has a breathing problem, the first step is to eliminate everything in the home with an odor," Wolf says.
You can clear out the air by:
- Smoking or vaping outside the home
- Vacuuming carpets regularly
- Cracking open windows on nice days — just make sure your cat can't sneak out
- Putting an $4 in your cat's favorite room
According to Wolf, you may want to schedule a vet appointment if your cat:
- Sneezes every day or multiple times a day
- Frequently hacks or wheezes
- Breathes rapidly when $4 or relaxing
- Snores loudly
Cats with $4 may benefit from $4, like corticosteroids to reduce inflammation or bronchodilators to open up their airways. A vet can prescribe these drugs as an injection, a tablet, or a $4.
Important: These medications can be effective, but keep in mind they can't erase the effects of an unhealthy environment. "No amount of medications will treat a kitty's breathing problems until the air is clean and fresh," Wolf says.
2. Upper respiratory infections (URIs)
While allergies might be a culprit, your cat's sneezing is much more likely a symptom of an upper respiratory infection (URI), says Holmboe.
URIs happen when viruses and bacteria attack your cat's upper airways around their mouth and nose. Many people refer to URIs as "cat flu," although strictly speaking, the $4 is rarely behind these infections.
Note: Two viruses — feline herpes virus (FHV) and feline calicivirus (FCV) — account for $4 of URIs. $4 (COVID-19) can also infect cats, although it rarely causes severe disease for them.
According to Holmboe, most cases of the so-called cat "flu" are mild. Your cat will likely be as active and hungry as ever. Along with sneezing, you may notice they have a runny nose and teary eyes.
Severe URIs, though less common, may be more likely to affect $4. Pay attention to symptoms like:
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Sores around the eyes or in the mouth
- Drooling
- Green, yellow, or bloody discharge coming out of the eyes and nose — this points to a bacteria infection
What to do next: Mild URIs generally clear on their own without treatment. You won't need to take your cat to the vet unless they continue sneezing for $4.
Stress can cause symptoms to $4. To minimize $4:
- Ensure they have a quiet area to be alone
- Provide $4 and $4 to relieve stress
- Keep their $4 extra clean, scooping at least $4
Quick tip: You can encourage your cat to eat by warming up wet food and cutting it into smaller, easy-to-swallow chunks. Consider leaving small quantities of dry food on a separate plate, only offering $4. You can also try moistening dry food so it's easier to eat.
Any symptom of a severe URI, however, warrants prompt medical attention. Regardless of what virus caused the symptoms, the $4 will generally include medications like:
- Antibiotics for bacterial infections
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for fever and mouth pain
- Vaporizers, saline nose drops, and mucus thinners for congested noses
Important: Contact a vet asap if your cat refuses to eat for more than a day or two. $4 without food can be deadly for cats, so they may need a dose of IV fluids or, in some cases, a brief hospital stay.
3. Vaccines
Vaccines for pets can cause mild side effects, so you may notice some mild sneezing and coughing $4 after your cat's vaccinations.
Respiratory symptoms are particularly likely if they got an intranasal vaccine — a vaccine sprayed up their nose.
What to do next: If your pet develops side effects, just keep an eye on them to make sure the side effects don't get worse.
Some pets do have severe allergic reactions to vaccines, though this is fairly rare. Symptoms of a severe reaction may include:
- Severe coughing or trouble breathing
- Swelling around the face, neck, or eyes
- Itchy red bumps on the skin, called hives
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhea
You'll want to take your cat to the vet immediately if they have any of these symptoms shortly after a vaccine — symptoms of a serious allergic reaction usually show up $4.
4. Nasal blockages
Curiosity usually doesn't kill the cat — but it can get some interesting objects stuck up your feline friend's nose.
According to a $4, the most common foreign objects that appear in a cat's nose are plant materials: blades of grass, seeds, sticks, and sometimes even chunks of pine cone. So, if your $4 suddenly starts sneezing, you can often thank these natural materials
Nasal polyps can also clog up your cat's airways. These fleshy growths aren't cancerous, but they can spread and become large enough to $4 out of the nasal passages. Bacteria in the trapped mucus then have the chance to multiply into a full-blown infection — and your cat may start sneezing in an attempt to expel the germs.
What to do next: Nasal blockages can cause many of the same symptoms as URIs, like wheezing and teary eyes. You can tell if your cat has a blockage by checking their nose — or having your vet perform this (dubious) honor.
A foreign object will only block the nostril it was inhaled into. Polyps also tend to $4 — they often start in the middle ear and spread downward into the airways. Thus, you'll likely see discharge leaving $4. Air will come out of the dry, open side, but you won't be able to feel much air coming out the congested half.
If an object or polyps are blocking your cat's airways, you'll need to take them to the vet — as the object probably won't come out on its own.
Important: Found a blockage in your cat's nose? It's unwise to try fishing it out yourself. Cats don't take kindly to tweezers in their nostrils, and you could easily end up hurting a squirming feline. Even professionals usually need to sedate a cat before poking around their nose.
The typical treatment for nasal blockages is a $4. After sedating your pet, the vet will put a flexible tube, called an endoscope, up their nose. The tube has a fiber optic cable that shows your vet what's inside — though they may need to do a CT scan or MRI to find a deep blockage.
Once they find the trapped object or polyp, they may use a tiny hook or forceps to pluck it out. If it's a large or complex blockage, though, your cat may need surgery. After removing the object, your vet may prescribe some $4 to prevent infection.
Insider's takeaway
Feline URIs are the $4 of excessive sneezing and other upper airway concerns. However, your cat's sniffles could also stem from allergies, polyps, vaccine side effects, or simply something stuck up their nose.
If your cat's only symptoms are sneezing and a runny nose, you can likely care for them at home. But if your cat also wheezes, has bloody discharge leaking from their nose, or refuses to eat, you'll want to contact your vet right away. These symptoms could signal a serious problem that needs medical attention.