Sneezing/allergies in cats?

[cinnamonfrenchtoast]

Does anyone have any experience of this and know anything that could help?

Our 13 week old kitten is very sneezy. He's had his first round of jabs and is due for the second next week.

He's seen the vets several times and has been treated for a suspected URI but he has no other symptoms except sneezing. His breathing is fine, there's no nasal or eye discharge, he's super active, loves his food and pees/poos as normal. He's gaining weight and is up to date with flea/worm medication.

The vets really aren't concerned due to all the above, and it doesn't seem to bother him. He just has a few sneezing fits (5-6 little sneezes) and then it can be nothing for hours/days. I can't seem to figure out what triggers it but it seems to be when he's on the carpet or on a blanket so it could be dust mites I guess?

Any insight would be fab - photo of Simba for tax

I hate to sound all 2020 but any chance there’s been covid in the house recently? Our cat came over all sneezy when we all had covid, back in 2021 so still testing, and the vet reckoned it was likely he had caught it too!

Also, said cat also had an allergy attack this year and no sneezing whatsoever with that. Poor thing was scratching himself raw and had to have a series of steroid injections but thankfully recovered. No idea what it was, DH suspects a specific tree that was shedding at the time. I suspected food so he’s now on a premium veterinary diet.

No COVID but interestingly I've been sneezing more than usual over the past few weeks - maybe we're allergic to each other

I've had this in previous cats but this one isn't itchy at all - fur is healthy and skin is fine - literally no other sign of any issues except for sneezing

Sneezing in Cats can be caused by several factors. Most commonly, it is a result of upper respiratory infections, which can be either viral or bacterial. Common viral causes include the Feline Herpesvirus and Calicivirus, while bacteria such as Chlamydia and Mycoplasma can also cause sneezing.
Allergies in cats can also lead to sneezing. Cats can be allergic to a variety of things in their environment, such as dust, pollen, mold, certain foods, and even some types of cat litter. Exposure to these allergens can cause a range of symptoms, including sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and coughing.
If your cat is sneezing frequently, it's important to monitor their symptoms closely. If the sneezing is accompanied by other signs of illness, such as loss of appetite, nasal discharge, coughing, or eye discharge, it's recommended to seek veterinary care as soon as possible. Your vet will be able to diagnose the cause of the sneezing and recommend appropriate treatment.
It's also important to note that some cats can have a chronic sneezing condition due to a compromised immune system or other health issues. Therefore, regular check-ups with a veterinarian are crucial for the overall health of your feline friend.

Do you use Febreze, carpet or floor cleaner with allergens in, like limonene? Zoflora, air fresheners, anything that pongs? Synthetic perfumes can cause problems in pets. Scented candles?

So can corn based litter or scented litter and the dust from some litters, clay or silica especially, and some of the pine ones if they smell piney.

I stopped using any laundry or cleaning products with perfume some years ago due to having a cat that seemed to have breathing problems.

My cat was non-stop sneezing and it was an upper respiratory infection. Treated with antibiotics and steroid injection times two each.

Then two months later started again, just mad sneezing and drippy nose with it

Cat is from rescue, so Vet says she has likely had the first infection for a long time, untreated, and it will be recurrent now 😞

Good advice already but just to add that one of mine sometimes gets sneezing fits before big hairballs 😳 freaks me out every time and she's ten now 😂

Thanks @MonumentalLentil I have thought it might be the litter but we have two older boys who are really fussy about what they'll use 🙄I might have to experiment when we run out of current bag. We currently use Greenwoods which I believe is corn/plant based. He had a couple of sneezing fits today near a feather pillow then when I removed it there was nothing for hours - can cats even be allergic to feathers? lol.

@whatsinanameeh he has been treated for a URI but he has no other symptoms except sneezing. That was the vets first thought as he was a farm cat but other than sneezing he is 100% healthy and happy. He's had three vet checks so far and no issues. Breathing fine, no eye/nasal discharge, healthy heart etc.

Thanks @hilariousnamehere - he hasn't had a hairball yet so I have that to look forward to 😂

My cat has hay fever (diagnosed by blood test) along with some food allergies.

Interesting! Did he have any other symptoms or was it just sneezing?

Just a quick update!

We've removed the feather pillows from the sofa and have vacuumed up all the remaining bits of feather and we've had absolutely no sneezing since 🤞

She used to overgroom and cause injury to herself. We thought it was fleas for ages, but hay fever coincides with when fleas are at their worst.

This is good news!