Occasional sneezing is usually normal for cats. Repeated, frequent or persistent sneezing can be a sign of irritation, infection, dental disease, allergies, cat flu or another health issue.

Sneezing is a reflex that helps clear the nose of irritants like dust or pollen. You don't usually need to be concerned about a few occasional sneezes, but if it is persistent for more than a couple of days then you might want to get it checked by a vet.

In this guide, we discuss potential causes of frequent sneezing in cats and offer some practical advice on what to do as the owner.

Is It Normal for Cats to Sneeze?

Just like humans, there are many harmless reasons a cat might sneeze. Normal sneezing may happen after inhaling dust, around pollen or when exposed to inorganic particles in the air like perfume, air fresheners or cleaning sprays.

It's important to distinguish between different types of sneezing:

• Occasional sneezing: Usually nothing to worry about.
• Frequent sneezing: Worth keeping an eye on.
• Sneezing with other symptoms: May need veterinary attention.

Indoor cats can still sneeze due to house dust, mould, scented products, cleaning chemicals or litter dust. If your cat sneezes once or twice but is eating, drinking and breathing normally, it is usually safe to monitor them at home.

Common Reasons Why Your Cat Keeps Sneezing

There are several possible causes for cat sneezing, ranging from simple irritants to infections. Irritants in the air can be a common cause, or there might be something in the cat litter. If you are concerned that something in the environment might be the cause, identifying patterns helps.

Ask yourself:

• Does your cat sneeze after using the litter tray?
• Does it usually happen in a certain room?
• Did it start after changing litter, cleaning products, or air fresheners?
• Has your cat recently been in a cattery, rescue centre, vet practice or other multi-cat environment?

Digging deeper into these things could help you identify what is causing your cat to sneeze.

Dust, Smoke, Scented Products and Other Irritants

Cats have a very sensitive sense of smell. This means that strong odours and airborne particles can easily irritate their nasal passages. Common household triggers of cat sneezing include:

• Dust
• Cigarette smoke or vape residue
• Perfume
• Air fresheners
• Scented candles
• Essential oils
• Cleaning sprays
• Bleach or vinegar-based cleaners
• Mould
• Pollen

Essential oils can be a particular risk around cats and should be used with caution in your home. If you want to minimise the risk of cat sneezing, ventilate rooms after cleaning and avoid spraying products near your cat. Choose unscented household products and keep your cat away from strong fragrances.

Cat Litter and Litter Tray Irritation

Certain types of cat litter, like clay-based litters, can contribute to sneezing. When you pour them into the tray, they contain a lot of dust, which your cat inhales as it sniffs the litter tray. Litter can contribute to sneezing if it is:

• Dusty
• Heavily fragranced
• Recently changed to a new type
• Too fine or powdery
• Not cleaned regularly enough

Sometimes, cats will sneeze immediately after digging into the litter tray because dust is stirred into the air. Ammonia smells from urine build-up can also irritate a cat's nose and airways. Consider a low-dust, unscented cat litter like silica crystals.

Good practices include scooping the litter tray daily, fully cleaning it regularly and placing the tray somewhere well-ventilated, away from anything that emits a strong smell. Monitor any changes in litter tray habits to spot signs of a broader health issue.

If you are very preoccupied with protecting your cat's health, Litter Sense cat litter can help. The silica crystals are low-dust and highly absorbent, and they also contain colour-changing agents that cause the litter to change colour if a cat's urine contains blood or an abnormal pH level.

This is not a replacement for a diagnosis, but it can give you an early warning sign that something may be wrong — a symptom that would otherwise be missed until much further down the line.

Could Sneezing Be a Sign of Cat Flu?

In some cases, frequent sneezing might be a symptom of an upper respiratory infection, which we often refer to as cat flu. This is a common respiratory illness in cats, often caused by feline herpesvirus or feline calicivirus.

Sneezing alone is not usually a symptom of cat flu, however. It would usually appear alongside other things like:

• Runny nose
• Watery or sticky eyes
• Coughing
• Drooling
• Fever
• Reduced appetite
• Lethargy
• Mouth ulcers, especially with calicivirus

Kittens, older cats and unvaccinated cats are more at risk when it comes to cat flu. It is also more likely to spread in catteries, shelters or multi-cat households. Some cats can become carriers, meaning symptoms may return when the cat is stressed or unwell.

Vaccination is a key part of controlling cat flu. It helps reduce the severity and spread of the viruses. Contact a vet if your cat is sneezing a lot and showing signs of eye discharge, nasal discharge, fever, appetite loss or lethargy.

Other Medical Causes of Frequent Cat Sneezing

If you can't identify any obvious environmental cause, and your cat isn't showing other symptoms of cat flu, there may be another health issue involved. Dental disease, a nasal obstruction, allergies, or some kind of growth could be the underlying cause.

Dental Disease

Tooth root infections, gum disease or abscesses can affect the nasal passages. This is because the upper teeth sit very close to the nose and sinuses in cats. Things to look out for as possible symptoms include:

• Bad breath
• Drooling
• Difficulty eating
• Pawing at the mouth
• Swelling around the face
• Sneezing or nasal discharge

Something Stuck in the Nose

Cats are very curious animals, and they can sometimes inhale or sniff foreign material such as grass seeds, plant matter, dust, hair or small litter particles. When this happens, you may notice signs like:

• Sudden sneezing fits
• Pawing at the nose
• One-sided nasal discharge
• Distress or repeated attempts to clear the nose

As the owner, it is not recommended that you try to remove anything from deep inside the nose yourself. Instead, contact your vet and get the cat checked out as soon as possible.

Allergies

Allergies can affect cats, but sneezing is not as commonly the main sign as it is in humans. When allergies are the cause, there are a number of possible triggers, such as:

• Pollen
• Dust mites
• Fleas
• Food
• Cleaning products
• Scented litter

If allergies are the culprit, they may also cause issues like itchy skin, overgrooming, ear irritation or digestive upset.

Growths, Polyps or Tumours

These are less common but they are more serious issues if they happen. Persistent sneezing is one potential symptom, but you should also look out for:

• Noisy breathing
• One-sided discharge
• Bloody discharge
• Facial swelling
• Symptoms that get worse over time

If you notice any of these issues, we recommend swift veterinary assessment, especially if your cat is older in age.

When Should I Worry About My Cat Sneezing?

Sneezing alone can be a simple involuntary reaction to irritants in the environment. But it can also be a symptom of something more serious with your cat's health. Causes for concern include:

• Sneezing that lasts more than a couple of days
• Sneezing that becomes frequent or severe
• Thick yellow, green or brown nasal discharge
• Eye discharge or sticky eyes
• Coughing
• Wheezing or noisy breathing
• Open-mouth breathing
• Loss of appetite
• Not drinking
• Lethargy or hiding
• Fever
• Drooling
• Weight loss
• Swelling around the face or nose
• Pawing at the mouth or nose
• Symptoms in kittens, elderly cats, or cats with existing illness

If you notice occasional sneezing with no other symptoms and the cat is otherwise bright and happy, monitor at home. If the sneezing persists or you notice other mild symptoms, book a vet appointment. Seek urgent veterinary help if the cat has difficulty breathing or bloody discharge, or if it refuses to eat, becomes extremely lethargic or collapses.

What Can I Do at Home If My Cat Is Sneezing?

Home care is only a suitable solution if the cat is otherwise well. The main goal is to try to remove the cause of the sneezing from your environment. Remove any strong fragrances and scented products like air fresheners, scented candles, essential oils or aerosols.

If this doesn't help, switch to a low-dust, unscented litter and keep the tray clean and well-ventilated. Other things that might help include:

• Hoovering and dusting regularly
• Washing bedding frequently
• Keeping your cat away from smoke

Use a humidifier if the air is very dry — you could even take your cat into a humid environment like the bathroom after a hot shower to help soothe the airways. Gently wipe nasal discharge with a clean, damp cotton pad and encourage eating with slightly warmed wet food if your cat is congested.

Don't give your cat human cold medicine or any antihistamines unless prescribed by a vet. Essential oils are never a safe remedy for cats, and you should not make any attempts to flush or probe your cat's nose. If symptoms worsen, seek veterinary help right away.

How Will a Vet Diagnose the Cause?

When you take your cat to the vet for persistent sneezing, they will usually start with a physical examination and questions about the sneezing pattern. You should expect to be asked a few questions by the vet, such as:

• How long has your cat been sneezing?
• Is there nasal or eye discharge?
• Has the litter, food, cleaning routine or home environment changed?
• Is your cat vaccinated?
• Has your cat recently been in contact with other cats?
• Is your cat eating and drinking normally?

From here, there are various checks the vet could make. They might take the cat's temperature, carry out a mouth and dental examination and listen to the cat's chest. They may also examine the eyes and nose, take swabs for infection, and even try blood tests or imaging.

Possible treatments the vet might prescribe can vary from supportive care to a prescription for eye or nose drops, antibiotics, dental treatment or removal of foreign material under sedation. Your vet will talk you through everything at your appointment.

Can I Prevent My Cat from Sneezing So Much?

Not all sneezing can be prevented, but owners can take responsibility for reducing potential triggers and infection risks. Keep vaccinations up to date, keep the litter tray clean, and dust your home regularly with good ventilation.

Other things you can do include:

• Choosing low-dust, unscented cat litter
• Avoiding smoke, aerosols, perfumes, air fresheners and essential oils
• Using parasite prevention as advised by your vet
• Reducing stress, especially in multi-cat households
• Keeping new cats separate until they have had a health check
• Scheduling regular dental checks

Again, for any cat owner with a predisposition to worry about their cat's health, Litter Sense cat litter can be an effective tool for spotting potential signs of a problem with your cat's health very early on.

Frequently Asked Questions About Why Cats Sneeze So Much

Why does my indoor cat keep sneezing?

Indoor cats can sneeze because of dust, mould, scented candles, cleaning sprays, air fresheners, dusty cat litter and more.

Can cat litter make my cat sneeze?

Yes. Dusty, scented or newly changed cat litter can irritate a cat's nose, especially when your cat digs or covers waste.

Can cats catch human colds?

Cats don't usually catch ordinary human colds, but they can get feline respiratory infections like cat flu that look similar to a human cold.

Should I take my cat to the vet for sneezing?

If the sneezing goes on for more than a couple of days then it might be worth contacting a vet. Also, look out for things like discharge, appetite loss, lethargy, coughing, fever or breathing issues.

Why is my cat sneezing blood?

Blood can be seen as a result of irritation, injury, infection, a foreign object, dental disease or a nasal growth. Bloody discharge should always be discussed with a vet.

Can I give my cat medicine for sneezing?

No human medicine should be given unless a vet has prescribed it specifically. Some human cold and allergy medicines can actually be dangerous for cats.