Sneezing

[Allie & Myrtle (GA)]

I guess this is quite a minor thing to most people here - but I have never had a cat that sneezed. Maisie seems to have an URTI, but it is confined to occasional fits of sneezing and nose-licking. She is eating normally, not quite as energetic as usual but not acting sick. No discharge from eyes or nose (except that she is probably licking any discharge!). She has plenty of water but not sure that she is drinking.
I've always had my cats vaccinated against "cat flu" but because Maisie has had such problems with an allergy and been to the vet several times in the quest to get to the bottom of this and relieve symptoms, I forgot about getting her usual shots. I think she may have picked up a virus last week when visiting a different vet clinic to have a blood draw for an allergy test. She had to be sedated for that and stay on for a few hours to recover, and maybe was in a cage that had bugs.
It's late summer here, by the way.
This sneezing is not an allergy thing, I'm quite sure. She has never sneezed before, just been itchy (and I have done 2 long term food trials with no relief, so still exploring....). She is having one oral steroid pill (Prednil) every 3 days to relieve the itching.

After all that preamble (boy, am I long-winded...!), I guess I am asking for your experience. Will Maisie just get over this by herself? She is no worse after 3 days and I wouldn't say she is in a miserable state. If it's a virus, I guess antibiotics can't help. I'd like to spare her the stress of another vet visit so soon after the trauma of having a blood draw. (When she gets better though, I'll have her vaccinated).
Thanks in anticipation! (I'm off to bed..)

 

[BJM]

There is no way to tell.

Weather/seasonal changes can release different allergens into the air. Late summer is good for grass pollens. Rainy seasons can grow molds. Spring can be accomapied by tree and flower pollens.

 

[Maggies Mom Debby]

When one of my cats was sneezing from a upper respiratory infection, my vet suggested using steam therapy to help her. I would bring her into the bathroom while I took a hot, steamy shower for maybe 5-10 minutes. (No she didn't have to get wet! She just had to breath the steamy air.)

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

Hi Allie,

This may sound like an odd question but...is there any chance that Maisie has something stuck up her nose...?

This has happened to 2 of my cats. And I'm wondering, since you are not in the US, whether you let your cat's outside like we do in the UK?

Many years ago one of our cats had sneezing fits and it transpired she had a piece of grass stuck up her nose.
Then, a couple of years ago (I think - I lose track of time...) Bertie had similar symptoms and - it transpired - had a piece of grass stuck between the back of his nose and the back of his throat.

Given that it's late summer in NZ I'm also wondering about seeds that may have got trapped and be causing irritation...

Just a long shot, I know, but thought I'd ask....

Here's hoping Maisie feels better soon.

Big hug to you, and cuddles to Maisie,

Eliz x

 

[Allie & Myrtle (GA)]

Hi and thanks, Elizabeth!

Hmmmmm, that's a very good question, and quite possible when I think of how she is acting, shaking her head, etc.
And yes, like in the UK, our cats are indoor-outdoor, by and large. (Only if one lived in an apartment, and we don't go in for apartment-living much, or on a busy road. In these circumstances, people tend not to own cats)

Well, I think in this case it calls for a vet visit? What will a vet do???

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

Sorry I agree.. I am thinking a vet visit is in order again... but call the vet first and explain - maybe he will try some antibiotics before you need to bring her in.

Wendy

 

[Allie & Myrtle (GA)]

I'm fairly convinced it may be something stuck, and so she's going to the vet in a few hours.... if I can get her into the darned cage. She is an absolute nightmare to trap :sad: I am currently at work but leaving a bit early.
The more I thought about it the more likely it seemed that she has something lodged in her throat/nasal passages. She doesn't have other cold symptoms, she is shaking her head and making some retching-like movements as if trying hard to swallow something. Thankfully she is not really distressed and it has not been going on for too long.

Poor little girl. She has been back and forth to vets and specialists, and only last week was sedated for a big blood draw. It's quite possible this will call for sedation again.

The vet bills are a bit eye-watering (the blood test - for possible allergy detection - had to go off to Australia to be analysed!!) but obviously I don't begrudge it.

If only they could talk, a lot of guesswork and experimentation could be avoided! And added to that, they are stoic and cagey critters, and hide things from you. :YMSIGH:

 

[Allie & Myrtle (GA)]

The end of this saga :roll: - vet checked her thoroughly. Nothing lodged in her nasal pasages or throat, thankfully. She says it is a mild "cold" and will get better in a few days, but to watch for any discharges, disinterest in eating, etc.

In fact, she is already sneezing a lot less tonight than she was 2 days ago.

Sigh - I am a born worrier. I shouldn't own an animal, probably! :smile: Maybe I MAKE them sick.

Thanks for input in helping me with my mini-crisis! :smile:

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

Oh, phew! Allie, what a relief!

Here's hoping Maisie gets over her cold really quickly.

I'm so pleased there was nothing up her nose. (In both cases with my cats it meant a general anaesthetic was needed in order to find and remove the grass.... :-| )

I bet you're feeling much better about things now.
Cats eh? They really know how to make us suffer!!! ;-)

Eliz x

 

[Rachel]

You're not alone there! I'm a huge worrier too.

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

It's ok to worry as long as you can do something about it. It's good it's nothing serious but it's good to always be observant, many people will ignore or not notice issues and then they turn out to be more serious. Always best to err on the safe side..

Tip to get cat into carrier.. Tip carrier on its side so door is facing the sky. Pick up cat. Drop gently into open door, gravity will work in your favour.

 

[Allie & Myrtle (GA)]

Tip to get cat into carrier.. Tip carrier on its side so door is facing the sky. Pick up cat. Drop gently into open door, gravity will work in your favour.

Haha!!!!! Excuse my cynical laughter!

But that's the very type of carrier I've got - one with a top opening lid and see-through bars all around.

Gravity is not enough for this cat! My other two would plop in resignedly and I'd shut the lid down. Maisie is fighting her way out so vigorously that I have to be careful not to hurt her paws, locked over the edge, and as fast as I unhook them and try and stuff her down, her head has come over the edge and she's out again as quick as lightning. She is a real squirmy struggler.
I've tried the wrapping up technique and even that isn't always successful. I have to have all doors leading off the room shut so that she doesn't vanish under a bed... and one person finds it hard to get a cat out from there... don't we all know!

 

[KPassa]

Not sure what type of carrier you have, but if it's one of those that come in two halves, I discovered a trick from my vet a few years ago when I had my part-feral Patrick (a 22 lb orinch kitty) who hated being put in carriers to the point where he'd meow "Noooooooooooooooooooooo!" and sprawl all 4 legs out against the door frame. He'd only be cooperative when he wasn't feeling well, but other than that, I could not get him to ever be happy with the carrier, not even with all the tips and tricks about getting your cat to "accept" them. :roll:

Simply take off the top half, put cat in, put top half back on. Only way I could get him in at all! It was also really helpful for the vet because once we got there, all the vet had to do is unscrew the top and check on Patrick while he remained petrified in the carrier (he hated the vet more than the carrier).

Now, with Henry and Mikey, I've bought a new carrier that has a door both on the side and the top and the top half also unscrews. From the very start with these two, however, I've left it out for them to sleep in and put one of their most favorite cat beds in there and sprayed the whole thing with feliway so when I do have to take them to the vet, I don't have to go to the extremes I used to go to with Patrick (before I figured out the top-removal trick).

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

In the UK we used to have these cardboard cat boxes. Cat would go into those of own volition. Close top. Done.

As for my technique - maybe you aren't dropping her from high enough.. Lol.. joking.