Sneeze Cat....what could it be?

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SammyM

SammyM

Member Since 2014
This isn't the first time my 14 year old has had these symptoms, and they usually go away in a few days, but it's been almost a week now. It's odd because he has no other symptoms except occasional sneezing during the day, and sometimes 4 or 5 fast ones right in a row.

He's eating and drinking fine and normal, same with bathroom habits; his eyes are clear and not teary, and nose isn't runny and not cold or warm. He's not lethargic and also has a healthy purr when sitting on my lap. He's playing in his usual manner isn't hiding.

Taking him to the vet is the very very last option as he freaks out too much and the both of us are a wreck for two days after. Other than this sneezing, I see nothing that alarms me to take him.

Anyone have any ideas what this might be and any home remedy suggestions? Thank you.
 
It could be allergies, it could be an URI, it could be something else like a serious illness.

You can give your cat calming chews or gel (check the ingredients) available at pet stores and online. Rescue Remedy for pets or children (alcohol-free) is also good.
I always give my cat something to calm her before a vet visit.

Lysine is excellent for URIs and sneezing. I give it to my cats daily. You can buy Now L-Lysine powder from Amazon and there's a thread in this forum that discusses dose. Your pet store may carry lysine gel or powder too. Just be sure to check the ingredients.
 
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But when I look up the symptoms for a URI.....he has none of them except sneezing.....

Sneezing
Congestion
Runny nose
Cough
Clear to colored nasal discharge
Gagging
Drooling
Fever
Loss of or decreased appetite
Nasal and oral ulcers
Squinting or rubbing eyes
Depression
 
I'd be thinking allergy.
And it might be a good idea to start systematic desensitization for traveling. This is where you break down a process into tiny, tiny steps, then do 1 step each week or so, with positive reinforcement, so that traveling becomes much less stressful. Step 1 is just leaving the carrier out all the time, with a comfortable towel, toy, and maybe a pinch of catnip or Feliway in it.
 
So what does one do for an allergy? Not sure I understand what the info on "traveling" is for....unless you're suggesting that he must go to the vet. I don't see anything changing him on that and it's what I'm trying to avoid. I have Lysine chews but he hates and will have nothing to do with them, and he's totally non compliant to getting anything in his mouth. Is it possible a vet would give me a subcutaneous allergy shot I could administer at home? He had no problems with me giving him his insulin shots a year ago.
 
Try the Now L-Lysine powder. You mix it in his food. There's a good thread for it somewhere here and a lot of members have success with it.

For allergies, Chlorpheniramine, Benadryl and other allergy meds are good but often make the cat drowsy. My cat hated liquid Benadryl and would drool and foam at the mouth like crazy. So I give her a Cholorpheniramine tablet as directed by the vet, crush it up and mix it in wet food. If you do give your cat allergy meds, be prepared for drowsiness and dry mouth. It works great in curbing the sneezing. I often just have to give it to my cat once and the sneezing clears up quickly. But she's usually lethargic for a few days and won't eat while on the allergy med so if that happens, I force feed her canned food with a syringe and get fluids down, either water or unflavored pedialyte.

I don't know about giving allergy shots at home.

I think BJM means by "traveling", going to the vet. Good suggestions for calming a cat. Some people take Rescue Remedy themselves before visiting the vet. It's a nice calming aid.
 
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Systematic desensitization is a slow process. Applied to the traveling to the vet issue, it might, over the long haul, reduce his stress with that considerably... not to mention yours when taking him.
 
Thank you Cat Ma and BJM....I too think this is more allergy related. I'll try the L-Lysine powder, but will it work with dry cat food? Elvis will not eat anything but, which is why he is now on Young Again Mature; thankfully his insulin-free glucose #s have been perfect now for over a year now.

As purrfect as this cat is to me in every possible way, he is a bear to try and give anything to orally. When I had a roommate it was easier because I would hold him tight and she would pop it down his throat, but since I'm alone it's impossible. He's 14.5 pounds and strong as an ox. No matter what I try it never gets down his throat and he somehow always manages to regurgitate it from his mouth, liquid or pill....doesn't matter. Have tried pill pockets but he won't take the bait.

Actually....I was just thinking...about a month ago I put one of those in-the-wall Airwick airfresheners....is it possible he's allergic to that????? I'm going to remove it for awhile and see if that helps.
 
I don't know if the powder will work with dry food but you could try it. It does have a bit of a smell. Not a bad smell but you know how cats are if they smell something different and new. There is also a Lysine powder for cats that might smell better for your cat since it has added ingredients: Tomlyn Scientifics L-Lysine Health Supplement Powder for Cats, 100 gm (on Amazon and other places). Lysine is used for feline URIs but it doesn't hurt to give it to your cats to prevent an URI outbreak or recurrence.

I know you have a bear of a cat but try the "burrito wrap" where you wrap your cat in a towel to restrict movement. Someone here posted photos or videos on how to do that.

YES! the Airwick air freshener could be an allergy trigger in your cat. And if you're using scented litter, get unscented litter and don't add any scented stuff in it. Cleaning products are another allergy trigger. When you clean, put your cat in another room.
 
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Cat Ma said:
YES! the Airwick air freshener could be an allergy trigger in your cat. And if you're using scented litter, get unscented litter and don't add any scented stuff in it. Cleaning products are another allergy trigger. So are seasonal changes.
Click to expand...

I totally second this point. Anything that has an odour (scent) can be irritating to a kitty's much more sensitive nose. Even burning scented candles can cause allergy reactions.
 
Another allergy trigger: scented laundry detergent and fabric softeners.
To control litter box odors, I use True Air Febreze carbon filters and plug it in an outlet nearby. You can use any brand. Just make sure it's not scented.
 
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You've all been so kind and helpful, hopefully the Airwick is the culprit.

I always use unscented Everclean litter which never presented a problem before and I will also try the True Air Febreze carbon filters, even though I don't have much of a problem with odor....Everclean is amazing---heavy as hell, but the most absorbent litter out there.

I have tried the "burrito wrap" which was great when I had help, but he clearly is stronger than I one-on-one. You have no idea, it's like he summons an inner Hercules.

I will try the other L-Lysine products....have even tried grounding one of my own 200 mg. pills and liquefying it and putting it into a syringe; I have a little luck with that, but again, most of the liquid winds up squirted across the room and I'm concerned about, in my haste, getting it into his airways as well. As I mentioned, I have L-Lysine chews (Optixcare), but can't get it passed just his smell, so if any of these products smell anything like these, he won't take it.

Thanks again everyone!
 
Does he like Pill Pockets? You can take the powdered l-lysine and mix it with about half a pocket, then wrap it with the remaining half.
 
No, I've tried pill pockets and he gags. Anyone know if I can get the chlorpheniramine over the counter, and if so, what dosage should I give him? I ordered an L-Lysine gel....hopefully he will like that. If I could only get him to eat wet food. <sigh>
 
Chlorpheniramine is the generic ingredient in Chlortrimeton. Please check with your vet before giving it to your cat.
 
Eureka!!!! He stopped sneezing, two days after I removed the Airwick freshener.

Thanks again folks....I will get some of that chlorpheniramine to keep on hand.
 
Glad the Airwick was the culprit. As BJM says, check with your vet before ever giving chlorpheniramine to your cat.
 
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