Just like adults, cats and kittens sneeze for a variety of reasons. Regular sneezing, especially if it is accompanied by nasal discharge, weariness, or loss of appetite, may be a symptom of a sickness. Frequent sneezing, however, is not a sign of a serious condition.
If your cat begins to sneeze, you might worry that there is a serious problem. The good news is that there are a variety of modest explanations for a kitten who is only moderately sniffling. Whenever sneezing is abundant, moderate, or severe, a veterinarian should always be consulted.
Why Do Kittens Sneeze?
If you occasionally notice your kitten sneezing, there’s a good chance that it’s only reacting to some dust or fur that has tickled its nose. If the animal displays any additional symptoms of an upper respiratory infection, such as wet eyes, sniffling, coughing, or if the sneezing continues after you’ve checked out environmental sources, you should take it to the vet as soon as possible. To fix this issue, simply increase how frequently you vacuum and dust your floors.
Your kitten may sneeze violently due to allergies, nasal obstructions, or upper respiratory conditions. There could be foreign objects in your pet’s nose that are unknown. A veterinarian can safely discover and remove foreign objects. Anesthesia, nasal flushing, and/or endoscopy can be required to do this.
Allergy to cats
Certain cats and kittens do have allergies. Mold, dust, odors, smoking, pesticides, and cleaning supplies can all cause sneezing. If you think your cat may have allergies, it’s possible that your cat is reacting to anything in the air. If your cat’s sneezing becomes more intense, you must urgently take them to the vet. In your home, you might try to reduce allergies, especially in places where the kitten spends a lot of time. There are many treatments that are appropriate for cat allergies.
Conditions of Lower Respiration
Persistent sneezing may be a sign of an upper respiratory infection, particularly if it is accompanied by other symptoms including exhaustion, an appetite loss, eye or nasal discharge, diarrhea, coughing, or breathing difficulties.
Your kitten may have an illness like feline herpes or feline immunodeficiency virus if you see these symptoms (FIV). If you observe more than just the occasional sneeze, you must immediately take your cat to the vet to be examined.
Upper respiratory diseases in cats are typically extremely contagious and easily transmitted from cat to cat. You can make a safe disinfectant for cleaning a litter box by mixing a gallon of water with roughly 3/4 cup of ordinary bleach. Other surfaces, such sinks and kitchen countertops, respond well to this treatment as well.
Calicivirus
The infection known as feline calicivirus, which is both common and extremely contagious and can cause sneezing and respiratory issues, can cause these symptoms. Although the majority of veterinarians immunize kittens against this illness, the illness can range from mild to severe even if it is.
It’s critical to have your cat evaluated and treated if any symptoms manifest because a number of dangerous calicivirus types can infect your cat.
Treatment
If your kitten sneezes blood or the symptoms worsen, take them to the clinic as soon as you can. She may suggest an antibiotic, nasal decongestant, or antiviral drug depending on what is causing the sneeze. A humidifier placed close to the cat’s sleeping area may be useful for minor breathing issues.
When all other options for treatment have been exhausted, the vet may occasionally advise steroid medication, but in more extreme cases, your cat may need surgery to remove whatever is obstructing its capacity to breathe.
How to Quit Sleeping
If your kitten is only sometimes sneezing and has no other symptoms, you should start by cleaning up its habitat. You can change a few things quite easily:
- Give up using air fresheners, scented laundry detergents, perfumes, and indoor smoking to see whether it makes a difference.
- Apply disinfectants with caution, especially if the cat wanders on the area after you’ve sprayed it, then licks its paw pads. Many cleaning supplies contain substances that could be harmful to cats. Therefore, if a new cat arrived at the shelter with symptoms of an upper respiratory infection or another illness, it is imperative that you keep them away from the healthy kittens until the vet has cleared them and their symptoms have subsided. It leaves behind a lovely, fresh aroma, so there shouldn’t be a need for more air fresheners.
- Use plain water to thoroughly cleanse your cat’s litter box and other surfaces after using bleach solutions or other cleaning agents.
- Check the litter box for your cat as well. When a cat scratches in the litter box, some types of litter (especially the clay version) create a lot of dust, aggravating both cat and human allergies.
You should keep an eye on your cat for a few days. As kittens’ noses are only a few inches off the ground, you might hear a lot of sneezing if your floor is unclean.
READ NEXT: Understanding and Preventing Fading Kitten Syndrome
If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your family pet, know the pet’s health history, and can make the best recommendations for your dog.
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