Almost anything that tickles or irritates a cat’s nose may trigger a sneeze. However, if you cat sneezes a lot, you may begin to worry that something is really wrong. In case sneezing is the sole symptom your cat has, for instance, there is no discharge from the nose or eyes, great appetite, no change in the behavior, then something that’s as simple as an allergy or a contact with irritants, just like air fresheners or cigarette smoke might be the one to blame. Nevertheless, in case sneezing in cats come with a runny eyes and nose, they might have some upper respiratory infection. Read more about this in in this article!
Sneezing in Cats: Is this normal?

Have you ever caught your cat sneezing? However, worry less; the occasional sneezing in cats is not actually a big deal. In the actual fact, when a cat sneezes, it is just releasing the high-pressure air that comes from its nose and mouth.
Nonetheless, when your cat’s disproportionately sneezing or sneezes more than a several times in each day or several days in a row, a vet visit might be essential. Furthermore, this is particularly important when you notice some extra clinical signs, apart from the sneezing, just like:
- Swelling all over the nose or a disproportionate nose
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Dehydration
- Difficulty or increased breathing
- Noisy breathing
- Mouth ulcers
- Pink eye symptoms
- Anorexia or inappetance
- Bloody release from the nose
- Drooling die to mouth or tongue ulcers
- Difficulty in chewing food
- Lethargy
- Nasal discharge
- Squinting of the eyes
- Runny eyes
Causes of Cat Sneezing
Here are the most common causes of sneezing in cats:
- Cancer, often the squamous cell carcinoma
- Infections foundations, just like the fungal infections, upper respiratory infections, etc.
- Infection in the lungs, like pneumonia, secondary to some upper respiratory infection
- Inflammation on the upper respiratory tree, like rhinitis
- Upper respiratory viral infection, like herpes virus and calici virus
- Foreign matters, like small pieces of plant seeds, grass, etc.
- Allergens like fur, pollen, as well as dust
Medical Causes of Sneezing in Cats: How bad are these?
So what is the diagnosis?
When the symptom of your cat include squinting of the eyes, running eyes, sneezing, drooling, as well as the fact that you have just adopted a new kitten from an animal shelter, the cause may typically be an upper respiratory infection or URI. Furthermore, this particular infection is due to herpes virus or calici virus. Moreover, fortunately, the diagnosis is fair-good with this infection.
Additionally, as these viruses are so contagious to some other cats, you may want to ensure to keep the affected cats remote. As well as make sure that your cat is up to date on its vaccines. Moreover, bear in mind that just like herpes virus may hide in the body for a long period of time, the viruses may also hide in cats, as well as recrudesce when being stressed. Furthermore, all-time, occasional sneezing in cats may be identified as a stressful situation.
Moreover, some other infections, which may immunosuppress a cat like feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency may also predispose a cat to bacterial or viral infections. In addition, this may result in sneezing.

Lesser commonly, some other types of fungal or bacterial infections may also result in sneezing. Infrequently, sneezing may be due to cancer, most commonly an aggressive kind known as squamous cell carcinoma. Furthermore, unluckily, the diagnosis for cancer in the upper respiratory tract or nose is so poor, even with cancer treatments and surgery.
When you are doubtful, you can check with your vet for some examination. Additionally, they might be able to give some medications to help in hydrating your cat. Furthermore, your vet might also offer some tasty prescription cans of food. Moreover, with moderate to severe causes of the URI, various medications might be essential. Furthermore, in case there are several clinical signs that do not resolve, an in-depth oral exam in sedation, together with CT scan or x-ray of the head and nose region may be necessary.
Reasons for Cat Sneezing
Whether you are curious or just concerned, read through the following possible reasons why cats might sneeze:
Intranasal vaccines.
Vaccines, which fight against respiratory infections cause sneezing for several days. This may last for a few days and vanishes on its own, thus requiring no symptoms.
Pollen allergies.
This are much less common in cats than in human, yet are heard as well.
Dental issue.
Dental disease may cause sneezing, specifically involving the root infections.
Foreign bodies.
The nasal foreign bodies, like grass blades or grass awns may find their own way in the nasal cavity.
Chemical irritants.
Occasionally, a noxious smell or chemical vapors that comes with solvents may produce inflammation of the sinuses and nose.
Respiratory infections.
Cats may get colds. This may affect and cause sneezing in cats. Moreover, alike infectious diseases include:
- Bacterial infections
- Chlamydia infections
- Calci virus
- Herpes virus
Benign tickle.
This might be the most obvious among all the causes of sneezing. A benign tickle on a cat’s nose may cause reflexive sneeze.
When your cat only sneezes occasionally, there is no treatment needed. Nonetheless, when your cat has some other symptoms, like discharge from eyes and nose, the appearance of mucus or blood in the nose, reduced activity, as well as loss of appetite, you need your cat to pay a visit to a veterinarian. It is a must for you to pay your vet a visit because he will be the one to help you the most, more than anybody else.