Is your cat keeping you awake at night sneezing ? Sneezing cats can be worrisome for pet owners. If you find that your feline friend is having uncontrollable fits of sneezing, it may be time to see the veterinarian.
Common Causes of Sneezing in Cats
Here are a few possible causes of your cat’s irritated nasal passages:
Cat Flu
Many people are confused by the term “ flu ” when it comes to animals. Companion animals rarely get true influenza. Instead, they get illnesses that mimic the symptoms that we typically see in humans with the flu. Though cats and kittens can catch the flu, your cat’s sneezing is most likely caused by something else.
Feline Herpes Virus
Feline Herpes Virus does not mimic the human herpes virus. Your cat will not develop blisters on its genitals or cold sores along its mouth. Instead, your cat may experience boughts of sneezing, watery eyes and even nasal discharge. Feline Herpes can be difficult to diagnose. If your cat has recurrent boughts of an upper respiratory infection, your veterinarian may suspect Herpes and advise a course of L- lysine for cats.
Calicivirus in Cats
The Calicivirus is a viral disease that can cause a serious upper respiratory infection in cats. Acute calicivirus can cause fever, nasal discharge, sneezing, and ulceration of the mouth and tongue. Virulent systematic feline calicivirus ( FCV ) can be particularly dangerous to cats and has a 67 percent mortality rate. If your cat is the only feline n the household, the chance of sneezing being cause by FCV is rare. If your cat has been boarded recently or has been adopted from a shelter, the chance of FCV is dramatically increased. FCV can run rampant among a group of cats. If you have more than one cat in your household and suspect FCV, your cat should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
Kennel Cough
Commonly referred to as Kennel Cough, bronchitis is typically seen in cats that have been exposed to other cats in a boarding facility or shelter. Similar to human bronchitis, your cat may be lethargic, have watery eyes, exhibit a hacking cough and have fits of sneezing. Tracheobronchitis is fairly easy to diagnose. A course of antibiotics will typically clear the infection and provide relief to your feline friend. If your cat is sneezing, make an appointment with your veterinarian. While allergies could be the culprit, your cat may have something much more serious. Sneezing that lasts for more than a day or two shouldn’t be ignored. With proper diagnosis, your cat can be on the road to recovery quicker.