21/08/2025
The occasional sneeze is normal in cats, just as it is with us humans. Sneezing is a very effective way for the body to remove any irritants from the nose, and there are many possible agents in our pet’s everyday environment that will trigger a good sneeze.
Frequent sneezing can have many possible origins but the most common cause is upper respiratory tract infection. The agents directly responsible for these infections are in most cases the feline herpesvirus and calicivirus, although some types of bacteria can also be a primary cause of what is often known as ´cat flu`. Some cats are more severely affected than others, presenting thick nose discharge, depression, fever and lack of appetite.
Young cats and cats with outdoor access are most commonly affected as these viral infections spread quickly and easily among cats. They are able to survive for several days in the environment, being carried in all sorts of objects as well as being carried by their caregiver’s hands.
Sneezing can also be due to non-infectious causes such as nasal obstruction, nasopharyngeal polyps, inhaling foreign bodies such as grass seeds or blades of grass, trauma, chronic rhinitis, neoplasia (usually in older animals) and even due to dental disease.
There is much you can do to protect your cat from these conditions like vaccinating your feline four-legged friend, providing good dental care and veterinary assistance if you notice your kitty is feeling a bit under the weather. Vaccines are of great value to protect from herpes and calicivirus. They may not always prevent infection but they will dramatically reduce the severity of the illness!
