why is my cat sneezing

Your cat sneezes, once, then goes about its day as if nothing happened. Usually that is exactly what it is, nothing. An occasional sneeze is as normal in a cat as it is in you. But sneezing that keeps going, or that comes with other signs, can point to something that needs attention. Here is how to tell an ordinary sneeze from one worth acting on.

A single sneeze, or the odd one now and then, is completely normal and rarely means anything is wrong. Like us, cats sneeze to clear the nose of something irritating, a bit of dust, a stray hair, a tickle, a puff of a strong smell. If your cat sneezes occasionally and is otherwise its normal self, eating well, playing, bright-eyed, there is usually nothing to do but say bless you. The question is only what to make of sneezing that becomes a pattern.

the common, minor causes

Most everyday sneezing comes from simple irritants in the air. Dust, especially when you are cleaning or moving things around, can set a cat off, as can strong scents such as perfume, cleaning products, air fresheners, smoke, or a freshly lit candle. Some cats are sensitive to particular litters, especially heavily scented or dusty ones, and sneeze around the tray. A cat may also sneeze more in a dry or dusty environment. In all of these cases the sneezing is a passing response to something in the air, and it settles once the irritant is gone. If you can link the sneezing to a trigger, removing or reducing it, switching to a low-dust litter, avoiding sprays near the cat, keeping the air a little more humid, often solves it.

when sneezing means something more

Persistent or repeated sneezing, or sneezing that arrives with other symptoms, is a different matter and deserves a closer look. The most common culprit is an upper respiratory infection, often called cat flu, which is very common, especially in kittens, in cats from shelters or multi-cat homes, and in the unvaccinated. It typically brings more than the odd sneeze: frequent sneezing along with discharge from the nose or eyes, watery or runny eyes, a reduced appetite, and a generally under-the-weather cat. Allergies can also cause ongoing sneezing, sometimes with itchy skin or watery eyes. Occasionally a sneezing cat has something lodged in its nose, a blade of grass or a seed, or a dental problem near the nasal area, both of which need veterinary attention.

So watch for the warning signs alongside the sneezing. Coloured discharge from the nose or eyes, thick, yellow, or green rather than clear, is a clear reason to see a vet, as is any blood. So is a cat that has gone off its food, become lethargic, is running a fever, is breathing with difficulty, or is sneezing frequently and persistently rather than now and then. Sneezing paired with any of those, or sneezing that simply will not stop over a few days, is your cue to book a vet visit rather than wait it out. Kittens and older cats warrant a lower threshold, since infections hit them harder.

The reassuring bottom line is that the occasional sneeze from an otherwise happy, healthy cat is just a cat clearing its nose, and no cause for worry. It is the company the sneeze keeps that matters. A bright, hungry, playful cat with an occasional sneeze is fine. A sneezing cat with runny eyes, a snotty nose, and no interest in dinner is a cat to have checked. Read the whole animal, not just the sneeze.

Related reading from my desk: how long do cats live, on the value of routine vet care, and why does my cat sleep so much, on reading changes in a cat.

Persistent sneezing, coloured or bloody discharge, watery eyes, loss of appetite, or a lethargic cat all warrant a vet visit, sooner for kittens and seniors. I am a cat with opinions, not a veterinarian.