2. Bacterial Infections
Bacterial infections almost always play a secondary role in upper respiratory symptoms in cats. If you see yellow or green snot emerging from your sneezing cat’s nose or eyes, this abnormally colored discharge is a sign of a bacterial infection.
Bordetella, mycoplasma, and chlamydia are all common culprits of bacterial infections in a cat’s nose. Treatment with antibiotics can dramatically reduce a cat’s sneezing and other symptoms, allowing them to breathe more comfortably.
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3. Inflammation and Irritation
If your cat’s sneezing a lot, it could be because of inflammation and irritation in the nose. Inflammation can be secondary to many different conditions and infections.
Inflammation itself can cause a cat to sneeze, creating a feedback loop where cats continue to sneeze long after the initial problem is addressed. This is typically referred to as chronic rhinitis.
Other than a nasal biopsy that must be done under anesthesia, there’s no good test for diagnosing an inflammatory condition as the sole cause of sneezing in cats. Typically, inflammation is identified as the cause only after all other causes are ruled out.
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Your veterinarian will determine the best course of treatment for your pet, which may include oral steroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) to help with inflammation.
4. Foreign Material
Inhaling a foreign material, such as blades of grass, can of course cause irritation in the nasal passages. When these intruders are inhaled by a cat, the body’s response is to sneeze to expel the foreign debris. While this approach might work for smaller particles like dust, larger objects are difficult for a cat to remove through sneezing.
These situations can be diagnosed with:
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Rhinoscopy: A camera is inserted into the nose of an anesthetized cat
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Nasal flush: Sterile saline is forced through the nasal passages under anesthesia to remove the material that the cat is unable to sneeze away
5. Dental Disease
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Dental disease can also contribute to cat sneezing.
Teeth roots on the upper jaw are located right next to the nasal passages. When teeth become infected or when severe inflammation exists, the barrier between the tooth socket and the nose can be penetrated. So, when the cat eats, food material can enter the nose and trigger a sneeze.
Treating the dental disease will typically alleviate your cat’s sneezing.
6. Neoplasia (Tumors)
In older cats especially, tumors can grow inside the nasal passage, creating irritation and inflammation that causes the cat to sneeze, often producing nasal discharge and blood. These tumors are typically detected visually via rhinoscopy or a nasal biopsy.
7. Fungal Infections
Although less common than viral or bacterial infections, fungal infections are a known cause of sneezing in cats. A fungus called Cryptococcus is the usual suspect.
A physical exam alone isn’t enough to distinguish a fungal infection from other causes of cat sneezing, so rhinoscopy or a biopsy are usually required for a diagnosis. Treatment options may include a combination of oral anti-fungal medications, nasal infusions of anti-fungal medications, and/or surgery.
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Category: WHY
