Dr. Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC, DABT, Veterinary Specialist on behalf of Pumpkin Pet Insurance 

Why is my cat sneezing… does my cat have a cold?

June 5, 2020

While cat sneezes are cute to hear, it's not normal. Causes of sneezing in cats may be acute or chronic - sometimes it's due to (such as chemicals, , /fragrances, perfumed , etc.), , a rare (e.g., a blade of grass) or even a parasitic infection (e.g., Cuterebra) in the nose. Chronic may be due to inflammation (called rhinitis), , or even cancer, and needs appropriate work-up and long term management. But most of the time, is due to an ()... and it's quite common in cats... especially if you  adopted or purchased a cat from an animal rescue or breeder. Here, what you need to know about these (or what I call “cat colds!”).  

What exactly is a URI?
  Feline upper respiratory infections (URIs) are a of , runny eyes, discharge from the nose, and even “pink eye” in cats. Some cases of “cat colds” can be mild – from the sneeze – to more severe, which may manifest as (to not eating at all!), lethargy, fever, and acting aloof or hiding. Feline is similar to a “common cold” in a human (although the viruses causing it are different). In humans, common colds are typically due to , and are typically seen more in the winter. That’s different from “cat colds,” which can be seen all year-long. (As a veterinarian, I usually see more sneezing in the spring and summer, which likely coincides with “kitten” season, when shelters are overwhelmed by pet overpopulation.)

In cats, URIs can be caused by:1

• Feline herpesvirus (FHV-1), a virus

• Feline calicivirus (FCV), a virus

URIs are transmitted by exposure to certain bodily fluids (such as the saliva spray of fluid coming out of your cat’s sneeze or !). And chances are, your cat may have caught their before you adopted or purchased him or her! When cats are exposed to a , they can develop clinical signs in as short as 2-5 days. Then, when you bring this new cat into your household, your other cats may be directly exposed… and now everyone’s ! Thankfully, typically aren’t contagious to you (With causes such as and , that’s important to know!), but these feline can be extremely infectious and contagious to other cats. (That’s why I’m such an advocate of separating and quarantining a new pet in your household from other pets for at least 5-7 days to be safe). 

The most common signs of a “cat cold” are:

• Sneezing

• Nasal discharge

Just like your (human) cold, there’s no “cure” or antidote or medication for a feline URI. Treatment for a cat cold is really just tender loving care at home! Most of the time, this will go away in approximately a week.2 That said, if it doesn’t, or if your cat isn’t eating for more than 2-3 days, get to a veterinarian as some cats may need to be hospitalized for more intensive care.

1. Kuehn NF. Feline respiratory disease complex. Merck Manual Veterinary Manual. Accessed June 9, 2020 at: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/respiratory-system/respiratory-diseases-of-small-animals/feline-respiratory-disease-complex

2. Feline Upper Respiratory Infection. Accessed June 9, 2020 at https://www.sheltermedicine.com/library/resources/?r=feline-upper-respiratory-infection-aka-uri