The infections mentioned above can certainly cause inflammation, but so can almost all other causes of cat sneezing. Inflammation and IrritationĪ very broad category of disease that contributes to cat sneezing is one that creates inflammation and irritation in the nose. Research into the efficacy of newer antibiotics may allow your vet to more easily treat these infections in the future. Although these infections are rarely the sole issue, treatment with antibiotics such as doxycycline or azithromycin will dramatically reduce sneezing and other symptoms, allowing your cat to breathe more comfortably. However, in cats, these bacterial infections almost never act alone after a respiratory virus or other disease process causes damage to the nasal passages, bacteria seize the opportunity to take advantage of the diminished barriers that usually protect the cat from such attacks.īordetella, mycoplasma, and chlamydia are all common culprits of bacterial infections in a cat’s nose. If you see yellow or green snot emerging from your cat’s nose or eyes, this abnormally colored discharge is a sure sign of a bacterial infection. Bacterial Infectionsīacterial infections almost always play a secondary role in upper respiratory symptoms in cats. Other viral infections that can contribute to cat sneezing include calicivirus (which the FVRCP combo vaccine provides protection against) and influenza.

As in people, the symptoms of feline herpesvirus are exacerbated by stress.Īlthough there is emerging research to suggest that existing drugs could improve outcomes for cats infected with herpesvirus, there is currently no cure, and infections are lifelong. Unlike people, herpesvirus in cats causes primarily upper respiratory signs, including sneezing and discharge from the eyes and nose. Some researchers have estimated that as many as 80-90% of cats are infected with herpesvirus.

The most prevalent infection is feline herpesvirus. In sneezing cats, viral upper respiratory infections are, as a general rule, the original problem. Here are some of the possible causes for sneezing in cats. Infections, chronic inflammation, dental disease, cancer, and inhalation of foreign material can all cause a cat to sneeze.įurther complicating matters is the fact that in cats, more than one of these causes is usually going on at the same time.

Take a video of your cat during an episode to help your vet confirm whether it really is a sneeze.Īnother obstacle in diagnosing cat sneezing is the plethora of underlying causes. First, your veterinarian will need to confirm that your cat is actually sneezing.Ĭoughing, gagging, reverse sneezing, hiccupping, retching, and wheezing can all be misidentified as a sneeze, and each of these symptoms come with a separate list of possible causes. Cat sneezing can be surprisingly difficult to diagnose, for several reasons.

Cat sounds stuffy