Why Does My Cat Keep Sneezing? (Causes, When to Worry, and How to Help)

Cats have a talent for making even a small sneeze look dramatic, pinning their ears back, flinching their whole body and then probably giving you a look that suggests you were responsible for the whole thing. And while one sneeze after a nosedive into the litter tray is nothing to think twice about, if your cat keeps sneezing, meal after meal, day after day, then it might be worth paying closer attention to what might be causing it.

We’ll go through what usually causes a sneezing fit, the signs that mean a trip to the vet can’t wait, and what helps once you’re home with a diagnosis in hand. One sneeze on its own rarely means much, but when it comes with a runny nose, puffy eyes or a cat that’s gone off its food, something more is usually going on and you deserve to know what to look for.

Cats sneeze suddenly and explosively, and it often sounds like a short and sharp burst of air through the nose that’s over in a second and sometimes it comes with a wonderful fine spray of droplets. Some other behaviours can look a lot like sneezing from across the room though, so they’re worth being aware of in case your feline friend is doing something different.

• Coughing: It comes from deeper in the chest and often sounds harsh or forced.
• Retching or bringing up a hairball: The neck stretches out with a hacking sound that can end in vomiting.
• Wheezing: A whistling sound on the breath out, usually a sign of a lower airway issue.

You can record a short video of your cat’s episodes over a day or two, especially if it happens at night or when you’re not around. That way, your vet can use it to work out what’s behind it rather than you hoping your cat will do it on command at the appointment.

Sneezing in cats can range from harmless nose tickles to infections, allergies, dental issues or even tumours. The usual suspects behind a sneezing fit include:

• Viral upper respiratory infections (feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus)
• Bacterial and fungal infections
• Environmental and seasonal allergies
• Chemical irritants
• Foreign objects in the nasal cavity
• Dental disease
• Nasal polyps and nasal tumours

One sneeze after poking its nose into a guest’s handbag means nothing on its own but when it comes with fever, eye irritation, green nasal discharge or weight loss, it’s something that deserves a closer look. Even indoor cats pick up on dust, mould spores, cleaning products and fresh paint that drift in through an open window or hitch a ride on your coat. On top of that, new arrivals in the house, like a kitten, a visitor staying over or even a Christmas tree, can set off sneezing just as easily as anything outdoors.

Cats pick up upper respiratory infections easily, and they’re the single biggest infectious reason a cat ends up sneezing frequently, especially kittens, cats fresh from a shelter and cats living in multi-cat households.

These infections can be viral, bacterial or fungal, though viral causes typically dominate with feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus behind around 90% of cases between them. You’ll usually see sneezing alongside nasal discharge, a runny nose, watery eyes, mouth ulcers and general lethargy, and most cases need treatment from a vet to clear up fully.

Any cat sneezing frequently alongside open-mouth breathing, blue gums or extreme fatigue needs same-day veterinary attention.

Feline herpesvirus is one of the biggest drivers of upper respiratory infections in cats worldwide. Once a cat’s infected, around 80% go on to become lifelong, latent carriers, meaning the virus never fully leaves their system. It just goes quiet instead, until something stressful, like moving house or another big change at home, wakes it back up and brings the sneezing back with it. There’s no outright cure, but a few things help keep flare-ups milder and further apart, including antiviral medication, good nutrition, lower stress levels and core vaccinations.

Bacterial infections usually ride in on the back of a viral illness but once they take hold, they can make a sneezing cat feel a lot worse. You’ll often notice thick yellow or green nasal discharge, a nasty smell from the nose, a fever, or pus around the eyes. These infections sometimes need antibiotics, but only ones a vet has prescribed specifically for a cat. If left untreated, a bacterial infection can tip over into chronic rhinitis which leaves the nasal passages permanently inflamed and sensitive.

Environmental allergies are an easy one to miss as a cause of sneezing, but they can trigger allergic rhinitis just like they would in a person with hay fever. And like humans, cats can develop allergies to dust mites, pollen and mould too. Even indoor cats aren’t safe from them, since these allergens hitch a ride in through open windows or cling to your clothes after a day outside. Seasonal allergies in particular can cause sneezing that comes and goes with the time of year, or flares up alongside itchy skin.

Chemical irritants like cleaning products, scented candles, essential oils, cigarette smoke and plug-in air fresheners can all set off a cat’s nose and bring on a sneezing fit. None of this needs an underlying illness behind it but strong smells alone are often enough. With cases like this, the sneezing usually settles down once the irritant’s gone.

And similarly, food allergies can sometimes cause sneezing alongside gastrointestinal symptoms, though they show up far more often as chronic itchy skin, ear infections or vomiting. If a vet suspects a food allergy, a strict elimination diet under veterinary guidance is usually how they’ll confirm it.

Here’s what helps cut down exposure at home:

• Switching to a low-dust and unscented litter cuts down on what’s floating around the house, and a litter mat by the tray catches the rest before it gets trodden further through the house.
• You can swap in fragrance-free and pet-safe cleaning products instead of anything heavily scented.
• Cat bedding benefits from a weekly wash at 60°C, hot enough to kill dust mites instead of just spreading them around.
• You can run a HEPA air purifier in the main living area to help clear the air between cleans.
• On high-pollen days, closed windows help reduce seasonal sneezing.

A little like a toddler shoving crayons up their nose, our cats can sometimes end up with something stuck up there without you ever seeing it happen. Grass blades are the most common culprit, though litter granules, seeds and other tiny bits of debris can get lodged there too. When that happens, the sneezing usually turns sudden and violent and may come from just one nostril and sometimes bring on blood or frantic pawing at the face.

Please be aware that cotton swabs and tools should never go anywhere near your cat’s nostrils. Instead, get your vet involved as your cat may need sedation for a foreign object to come out safely.

Our cats’ upper tooth roots sit weirdly close to the nasal passages, so a dodgy tooth can actually end up causing a sneezing fit almost by accident. Once an infection takes hold up there, it can break straight through into the nose and bring on sneezing and discharge from just one side.

The usual culprits are gingivitis, periodontitis and tooth resorption, since all three let bacteria creep from the gums into the nasal cavity. You might also spot bad breath, drooling, or a cat favouring one side of its mouth when it eats. Left alone, that infection can eat into bone and leave your cat with foul-smelling discharge or a swollen face so it’s why regular dental check-ups are necessary for catching dental problems before they affect the nose.

Nasal polyps are another possible culprit which are odd little non-cancerous growths that can bring on sneezing and discharge all by themselves. They can also make a cat snore like a trooper or throw its balance off completely. Either a polyp or a tumour can grow big enough to block the airway and set off sneezing on its own. One UK study looked at 405 feline nasal biopsy samples taken between 2006 and 2013, and rhinitis turned out to be the most common diagnosis by far, well ahead of tumours and polyps.

Tumours showed up in roughly a third of cases and polyps in about one in five, with lymphoma the single most common tumour type. Most of what they found was malignant rather than benign. Working out which one a cat has usually means a CT scan, rhinoscopy or biopsy. And surgery is sometimes needed too to remove it.

And if the sneezing keeps coming from just one nostril, especially with blood or a lopsided-looking face? That always needs imaging to find out what’s going on.

One or two sneezes from an otherwise healthy, happy cat is nothing to worry about at home but sneezing alongside laboured breathing needs veterinary attention, and so do a few other warning signs. You'll want to book a vet visit should your cat keep sneezing and you spot any of the following:

• Thick, coloured or bloody discharge from the nose or eyes
• Difficulty breathing or open-mouth breathing
• Coughing, wheezing or a fever
• Appetite loss, weight loss or ongoing lethargy
• Sudden bad breath or obvious dental pain
• Any change in nasal or eye discharge

Your vet visit will usually include a detailed history, a vaccination review, a full physical exam (oral and nasal checks included) and a listen to the chest for any unusual sounds. From there, tests might include nasal swabs to check for viral or bacterial infection, blood work, dental X-rays, imaging of the skull, or in more serious cases a CT scan or rhinoscopy with biopsy.

Treatment depends entirely on what’s causing the sneezing and can range from antivirals for feline herpesvirus to antibiotics for a bacterial infection, antifungals for a fungal one, dental work for dental disease, or surgery for a polyp or tumour. Some infections take weeks of medication before they fully clear but your vet will also advise you on what’s expected.

Most cats with an infection or an allergy behind their sneezing make a full recovery. Cats with chronic rhinitis or herpesvirus usually get better too, though some carry on having the odd mild sneezing episode for life.

There are plenty of ways to help a sneezy cat feel more comfortable at home, but just remember that none of it replaces a vet visit once the sneezing won’t quit or your cat’s clearly not feeling like themselves.

• Environment: Keeping the home smoke-free, devoid of sprays and essential oils, and free of built-up dust through regular vacuuming and the odd pass with a deshedding brush all helps a sneezing cat breathe easier.
• Humidity: Running a humidifier or just sitting with your cat in a steamy bathroom for 10 to 15 minutes can sometimes ease congestion.
• Hydration and nutrition: You can leave fresh water out in a few spots, using a couple of extra cat bowls dotted around the house, and warm wet food slightly to bring back some of the smell when congestion blocks their nose.
• What to avoid: Cats can’t safely take human cold medications, decongestants or leftover antibiotics because many are toxic so never give your cat anything that hasn’t been prescribed by a vet.

Preventive tips:

• Staying on top of vaccinations keeps your cat’s immune system ready to fight off infection.
• New cats benefit from about two weeks of quarantine before meeting the resident pets.
• Stable routines and a few safe hiding spots go a long way towards keeping a cat’s stress down.
• Regular wellness and dental checks catch illness signs early, often before sneezing even starts.

That dramatic little sneeze your cat does every now and then is usually nothing more than a fuss over a speck of dust. But cats hide it well when something’s wrong, and a single sneeze tells you nothing next to a cat sneezing every single day for a week. Once you know what’s normal for your cat and what isn’t, you’ll know when to reach for a low-dust litter and a HEPA filter, and when it’s time to pick up the phone and book a vet appointment instead.

If you want to make the home itself a little easier on a sneezy nose, a couple of small swaps help, like a litter tray and scoop that are easier to keep clean so mess doesn’t build up day to day, or running a deshedding brush through your cat’s coat now and then to clear the loose fur and dust floating around the house.

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