Sneezing cat

[akacharlotte]

Our cat sneezes a lot. We rescued him from a parking lot so we don't know his history. About a month ago he was sneezing blood. My FSIL used to work in a vet office and suggested a small dose of Benadryl. We did that once and he got better...no more blood.

This weekend we opened our windows and he sneezed a lot all weekend. No blood thank goodness. Does our cat have pollen or dust allergies? Is that possible?

[maplekitty]

yup, cats can get allergies!

He might also have a little cold.
My cat was sneezing like crazy after visiting the vet...and I was sure he picked up something from another animal there. It eventually went away.

[Toonces]

One of our cats sneezes when we dust or dry Swiffer and dust gets stirred up. I have awful allergies too so I tell her that she fits right into our family. :) If it turns into more than a few sneezes, then I'd take your kitty to the vet. I had one cat who sneezed and then started coughing (it sounded awful!) and she had "kennel cough" from the place where we adopted her.

[tlew12778]

Yes cats can have hay fever. My parents had a cat that had that and they gave it benedryl.

One of our cats has a nose problem. I think he has a deviated septum. The vet said he also probably got a cold when he was still with his litter (we adopted him at 4 weeks and he wasn't sick at the time). He has to lie propped up on something or his nose whistles. Anyway he has also sneezed blood. The vet said it was due to broken capillaries from sneezing so much.

[KrissyCat7]

If it continues take your kitty to the vet. My cat recently developed a sneezing problem, we took her the vet and they tried different meds but it didnt seem to help. The vet couldnt determine what was causing the sneezing.

[akacharlotte]

Thanks ladies. I'm glad I'm not the only one with a sneezing kitty. He's a large cat. He has huge paws! He breathes heavy and sometimes if I'm alone I hear him and swear there is another human in the house.

I wonder if he could possibly have a deviated septum. We need to make a vet appt. for him anyway along with the dog. I'll ask about the breathing/deviated septum issue and she if perhaps that is contributing to the sneezing.

I was hoping that the blood was from the force of the sneezing because he was doing so often and with a lot of force.

[tlew12778]

My vet said that they don't really do anything for deviated septums in cats bc well, it's a cat, not a human. He suggested getting a nebulizer for the cat if the cat was really bothered by it (to use with just regular water) but I cannot see us trying to get the cat to hold still for 20 minutes while we hold a pediatric mask in front of his face. He just makes do and props himself on stuff when he needs to.

[greenbunny]

If there is blood coming out of any orifice in your pet's body, you should be running, not walking, to the vet. I'm amazed you haven't taken him in previously. Self-diagnosis is a no-no.

[kam]

I agree with greenbunny here. What you could be doing is masking the problem. If anything, a regular checkup wouldn't hurt, especially if you don't know the cat's history.

[akacharlotte]

Thank you. I made an appointment for both animals yesterday after posting but the earliest we could get an appointment was Sept 22nd. I told the woman I spoke to about his sneezing blood a few weeks back and she told me if it has stopped not to worry until the vet can see him and as others stated it was likely caused by the force of his sneeze.

[greenbunny]

Honestly, I'd consider getting a new vet, because that's a very long time to wait. I would not be comfortable going to a vet who was so jam-packed that they couldn't get me in for three weeks. I'd worry that they wouldn't come through in an urgent situation. Even if they are kind and wonderful vets, it does you no good if you can't get an appointment.

[akacharlotte]

I have not met this vet so I'll have to see how I feel about him at the appointment. SO's family uses this same vet for all of their animals. They all like the vet and the office. It is only two weeks to wait.

[akacharlotte]

I talked to my SO about the vet and he called. We are going this Saturday. Any tips on taking both your cat and dog to the vet at the same time? Kitty hates his carrier but does well in the car.

[vwinkel]

I'm glad to hear you are taking him to the vet. When my kitten started sneezing, after bringing her to the vet, we found that she had distemper and could have died.

Some tips - usually our vet wants a stool sample from each cat as a check up. Gross yes, but necessary. Lock your cat in a room separately with their own litter box for the day before you go to the vet. Gather the sample and bring it to your vet. If you only have one cat, you obviously don't have to separate from other cats.

Honestly, the cat carrier thing is trial and error. (greenbunny - I just had a flashback to your story!) My Sassy hates the carrier and I no longer use it. I mean in the claustrophobia sort of way - bashing her head and face against the metal grate, meowing as if someone is trying to kill her, foaming at the mouth, and pacing frantically while shoving her paws out of every hole. Once she is out of the crate, happy as a lark. However, this is very dangerous and I do not recommend it. Cats can get under your seats and under your legs as you drive. They can even get behind your pedals. Not to mention what a pain it is to catch them once you park at the vet and try to get them into the office. Keep kitty in your carrier if you can.

[greenbunny]

Long-term, some cats can get used to their carriers if you leave them accessible and take the door off. They may play or sleep in it and become less afraid of it.

My Bella is hard to get into the carrier, but once she's in, she just whines. DH and I turn the carrier on its end and lower her into it, so gravity lends a hand.

For now, if you absolutely can't get her to ride in the carrier without her having fits, you might be able to get her to wear one of those harnesses that fasten to the back seat safety belts. They are usually made for dogs, but they might have one small enough. However, to be safe, I'd have someone in the back seat with her.

[akacharlotte]

They did not mention a stool sample. I'll have to call them back. This is my first cat and while I've been around them and my parents had one their care was not my domain.

He's going to have to go in the carrier no matter how much he meows.

When we brought him home he refused to go in the carrier. Because he was already traumatized enough from the hellish day he had when his owner let him go along with being traumatized and tormented by some stupid men, we opted to carry him to the car. My SO held him but he squirmed away at one point and crawled onto me while I was driving. I had to pull over because he was under my arms. He finally settled into the rear window and stayed there until we got home.

This will be an adventure with the two of them in the car. The dog loves car rides so he won't be a problem getting him in the car it will be more keeping him under control in the parking lot and the vets office.

Thanks!

[akacharlotte]

Long-term, some cats can get used to their carriers if you leave them accessible and take the door off. They may play or sleep in it and become less afraid of it.

My Bella is hard to get into the carrier, but once she's in, she just whines. DH and I turn the carrier on its end and lower her into it, so gravity lends a hand.


That's a good idea. I've never thought of letting gravity help out. When we tried to put him in before he sprawled his legs out so it was next to impossible to get him in there plus the meowing so pitifully. He was breaking my heart.

I'm going to put the carrier out tonight so he can see it, smell it and get used to it before Saturday. Maybe a few cat treats will entice him.

I hope he does not have distemper. Are there other signs besides sneezing? Is there anything the vet can do if they do have distemper?

[vwinkel]

I hope he does not have distemper. Are there other signs besides sneezing? Is there anything the vet can do if they do have distemper?
Did you have him vaccinated when you got him? The distemper is one of the shots normally given to kittens and a booster is given each year. The other symptoms was that she was lethargic and she had some snot after a while. My vet prescribed pills and Sassy bounced back right away.

[jnettie]

yup, cats can get allergies!

He might also have a little cold.
My cat was sneezing like crazy after visiting the vet...and I was sure he picked up something from another animal there. It eventually went away.
Sissy, without fail, gets a little cold every time we go to the vet. Usually lasts only a few days. We also think she has food allergies.

I have not met this vet so I'll have to see how I feel about him at the appointment. SO's family uses this same vet for all of their animals. They all like the vet and the office. It is only two weeks to wait.
In Brooklyn, I've never had to wait more than a day from the time I make an appointment to the appointment. My parents in Illinois way out in the boonies can do the same. Waiting two weeks for an appointment is really weird.

About the carriers. It helps tons to keep them out, if only because the become part of the environment and they have the smells of home on them. To get the girls in, we hold them by the scruff like you would a kitten and put them in backwards, too. Works even for Sissy, who hates to be held or picked up.

Most likely, your cat will have to remain in it's carrier at the vet office, too, because other dogs could be there at the same time and might try to lunge at your cat.

[akacharlotte]

Did you have him vaccinated when you got him? The distemper is one of the shots normally given to kittens and a booster is given each year. The other symptoms was that she was lethargic and she had some snot after a while. My vet prescribed pills and Sassy bounced back right away.

No, this will be his first vet visit with us. He was abandoned. Before we got him in June my boyfriend's sister's husband had taken him to the shelter to leave there but they would not accept him because they were full. They examined him at the shelter and said he was healthy. To be honest I do not know how thoroughly he was examined. I'm really kicking myself now for not taking him to a vet sooner but everyone assured me he was fine and not to worry.

He is definitely not lethargic or snotty. He's been a maniac running through the house and being playful.

[jajacobsen]

Dh and I use teh gravity method for putting cats in the carrier, and it really works. We also leave it open in a favorite room, with a nice soft blanket it in and at times they will go it in it. THis does not help when we're trying to put them it it, as they are smart enough to know they are going to the vet and will put up a fight, but they do seem calmer in a familiar surrounding once we get them in it. It makes the ride less noisy, as they don't yowl so much.

My father once had to take our cat to the vet. He asked my sister to go with him hold it. Thsi ws 30+ years ago, when we were children and there were no seat belt laws.The cat got away from her and under his feet. End result, he had to slam on the brakes and sister went into the front windscreen. She went to the hospital and the cat never made it to the vet that day.. New family rule: cats go to the vet in a carrier or at the very least, a firmly taped box!

Our dogs are fine in the back of the SUV (they have been triane dto be stil when riding in the car) and even LIKE going to the vet, They walk in - tails wagging. Go figure.

[akacharlotte]

The vet visit went well. We were there for about an hour. The place was packed! Both of our animals got a clean bill of health and Kitty was given a round of antibiotics for 10 days to see if it helps his sneezing. My SO went with me and after an aggravating 15 minutes of trying to get Kitty into his carrier we opted not to use the carrier. I held him on my lap while SO drove. He hated the car ride. He shook the entire time. He was much better on the way home.

Giving him his medicine was difficult but after about 4 tries I managed to pop the pill down his throat. We took him to his water bowl to make sure he drank afterward and gave him numerous kitty treats because I felt guilty for being mean. My SO had to hold him by the scruff of his neck while I tried to work his mouth open enough to get the popper in the side of his mouth. I'm not looking forward to traumitizing him this much for the next 9 days.

Otherwise both animals were healthy and Kitty tested negative for feline leukemia.