Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Irritants
Smoke, cleaning products and even a cat's own hair can irritate the nasal
passages and cause sneezing. To determine if an irritant is causing the
sneezing, it must be removed from the environment and then the
sneezing must cease.
Cigarette smoke can be very irritating to cats, and cats are suscep-
tible to all of the problems of secondhand smoke that humans are.These
include sneezing, bronchitis and even lung cancer. If you smoke, try to
keep the smoke away from your cat.
Foreign Bodies
Cats are like small children; they are subject to accidents, and objects
can become lodged in their noses. The most common object to get
stuck in a cat's nose is a blade of grass. If you have a cat who sneezes 8
to 10 times in a row, it might be due to a foreign object stuck in her
nose.
It can be difficult for a veterinarian to find something in a cat's nose
without sedating the animal. Most cats are not thrilled with the idea of
having a scope put up their nostril or keeping their mouth open while
a veterinarian probes the back of the mouth. In some cases a special
fiber optic scope is needed to look into the rear nasal passages. This is
called rhinoscopy .
How You Can Help Alleviate Sneezing
Wiping a cat's nose and keeping it free of discharge will help improve
the animal's comfort. If the cat sounds congested, you may try putting
her in a steamy bathroom or in a small room with a vaporizer to help
open up the airways. Seek veterinary advice if the sneezing persists or
if the cat is showing signs of discomfort.
CATS DO CATCH COLDS
Upper respiratory infections are common in cats, and they can be
caused by viral, bacterial or fungal infections. These kitty colds can
range from mild to severe, with kittens being the most susceptible to
infection. Cats are routinely vaccinated against some of the agents that
cause upper respiratory infections. However, vaccines only decrease the
severity of the clinical signs and do not completely prevent infection.
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