Mysterious sneezing.

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

Oh that does sound strange like you say.  But as our seasons are getting earlier it could be allergies:

In the UK, cats can experience seasonal allergies, particularly during spring and summer, due to pollen from trees, grasses, and flowers, as well as increased mold spores from humidity. Common symptoms include excessive scratching, sneezing, watery eyes, and skin irritation.
Here's a more detailed breakdown of cat allergies in the UK:
Common Allergens:

    Pollen:
    Tree, grass, and flower pollens are major culprits during spring and summer.

Mold and Spores:
Increased humidity in spring can lead to a rise in mold spores, which some cats may react to.

Dust Mites:
While not strictly seasonal, dust mites can exacerbate allergies year-round.

Flea Saliva:
Flea infestations, more common in warmer months, can also trigger allergic reactions.

Food:
Food allergies can also cause similar symptoms to environmental allergies

Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies in Cats:

    Skin Irritation: Excessive scratching, licking, and biting, potentially leading to bald patches, especially around the lower back, groin, tail, or paws.
    Respiratory Issues: Sneezing, coughing, and wheezing.
    Eye Problems: Watery, red, or itchy eyes.
    Ear Problems: Ear infections, causing cats to scratch their ears, shake their heads, or have discharge.
    Behavioral Changes: Irritability or anxiety.

Managing Cat Allergies:

    Identify the Allergen:
    Consult with your vet to determine the specific allergen causing the reaction.

Reduce Exposure:
Keep your cat indoors during peak pollen seasons, and clean your home regularly to minimize dust mites and mold.

Grooming:
Regularly groom your cat to remove loose fur and allergens.

Medications:
Your vet may recommend antihistamines, corticosteroids, or other medications to alleviate symptoms.

Dietary Changes:
In some cases, a special hypoallergenic diet may help reduce food allergies.

Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy:
For severe cases, your vet may recommend allergy shots to desensitize your cat to specific allergens.


Good luck, fingers crossed it's just a passing thing and they get over it soon

[CatDaddy63]

it may be hayfever.  If this is there first spring they may not be used to our pollens yet. 

For cats experiencing hayfever-like symptoms (like itchy skin, sneezing, or watery eyes), consult your veterinarian before giving any human antihistamines, as dosages and potential side effects can vary significantly in cats.
Here's a more detailed explanation:

    Consult Your Veterinarian:
    It's crucial to seek professional advice before administering any medication, including over-the-counter antihistamines, to your cat.

Commonly Used Antihistamines:
Your vet might recommend over-the-counter antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Zyrtec (cetirizine), or Claritin (loratadine).

Dosage:
The correct dosage for cats will be different from human dosages, and your vet will be able to provide the appropriate amount for your cat's size and condition.

Formulation:
Ensure you use the correct formulation of the medication, as some versions contain decongestants or pain relievers that can be harmful to cats.

Other Treatments:
In addition to antihistamines, your vet might recommend other treatments, such as steroids, fatty acid supplements, or other immune-modulating drugs, depending on the underlying cause and severity of the allergies.

Side Effects:
While generally safe, some cats might experience side effects from antihistamines, such as depression, dry mouth, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Preventative Measures:
Antihistamines are often better used as a preventative measure before the allergy season starts, rather than for addressing flare-ups.

Long-Term Management:
If your cat has chronic allergies, your vet may recommend long-term management strategies, such as immunotherapy (allergy shots) or immunosuppressive medications.

Thanks for the tips. Is it possible for creatures (including us) to suffer from hayfever during the winter? Both cats started sneezing 2 months after arrival - the first at Xmas and the second in late January.

I recently took both to the vet and they didn't know what it was. Their theory was "something that just flares up now and again like humans can get spells of sinus trouble for no obvious reason." Both cats though??

I was given a week's worth of an anti-inflammatory liquid and antibiotic tablets for both. No change. All it did was to make one of the cats throw up and me £200 lighter.

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

it may be hayfever.  If this is there first spring they may not be used to our pollens yet. 

For cats experiencing hayfever-like symptoms (like itchy skin, sneezing, or watery eyes), consult your veterinarian before giving any human antihistamines, as dosages and potential side effects can vary significantly in cats.
Here's a more detailed explanation:

    Consult Your Veterinarian:
    It's crucial to seek professional advice before administering any medication, including over-the-counter antihistamines, to your cat.

Commonly Used Antihistamines:
Your vet might recommend over-the-counter antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Zyrtec (cetirizine), or Claritin (loratadine).

Dosage:
The correct dosage for cats will be different from human dosages, and your vet will be able to provide the appropriate amount for your cat's size and condition.

Formulation:
Ensure you use the correct formulation of the medication, as some versions contain decongestants or pain relievers that can be harmful to cats.

Other Treatments:
In addition to antihistamines, your vet might recommend other treatments, such as steroids, fatty acid supplements, or other immune-modulating drugs, depending on the underlying cause and severity of the allergies.

Side Effects:
While generally safe, some cats might experience side effects from antihistamines, such as depression, dry mouth, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Preventative Measures:
Antihistamines are often better used as a preventative measure before the allergy season starts, rather than for addressing flare-ups.

Long-Term Management:
If your cat has chronic allergies, your vet may recommend long-term management strategies, such as immunotherapy (allergy shots) or immunosuppressive medications.

[Tan]

Hi
I haven’t personally heard of cats adopted from hotter countries sneezing in uk.

There will definitely be be a reason for it. A good clue is that both of them are doing it so
If all illnesses like cat flu, respiratory illness etc are all cleared by your vet for them both, it has to be something in the house causing it.
Try and work out what was about when they started sneezing. Have they food been changed? Any smalls or vapour about before?
Do they sneeze all the time or in certain rooms etc etc
Not heard of smoke causing excessive sneezing but it may be, try for a few days not smoking near them and see if it stops.

Common Causes of Cat Sneezing:
Allergies:
Cats can be allergic to things like dust, pollen, mold, or even certain foods.
Irritants:
Noxious odors, household chemicals, dust, or smoke can irritate a cat's nasal passages.

It’s trial and error to see what the cause can be.

X

[CatDaddy63]

Hi
Firstly thank you so much for adopting from Greece, so many poor street cats there 

Good that you have seen your vet and I would suggest another visit for both to be safe.
However I am wondering if you have any air fresheners or sprays, plugins? Many of these are not good for cats and some dangerous.
https://www.thecatbutler.co.uk/cat-care-guides/are-air-fresheners-and-reed-diffusers-safe-for-cats-what-you-need-to-know/#:~:text=Many%20air%20fresheners%2C%20especially%20the,mild%20irritation%20to%20severe%20toxicity.

Give Henry and Hettie hugs from us

Thanks for the reply.

No, I don't use any plug-in fresheners at all. I sometimes use a spray if they have been, ahem, 'busy' but not with any great volume or frequency. Other than that, I light an occasional scented candle and that's about it.

I'm puzzled why both were perfectly fine for the first 2 months here. If it were an allergic reaction or an intolerance of something, I would have expected the problem to have started sooner.

I just wondered if anyone here had any experience of bringing a cat over to the UK from a warmer and maybe less varied climate. Puzzling! 

[Tan]

 Hi
Firstly thank you so much for adopting from Greece, so many poor street cats there 

Good that you have seen your vet and I would suggest another visit for both to be safe.
However I am wondering if you have any air fresheners or sprays, plugins? Many of these are not good for cats and some dangerous.
https://www.thecatbutler.co.uk/cat-care-guides/are-air-fresheners-and-reed-diffusers-safe-for-cats-what-you-need-to-know/#:~:text=Many%20air%20fresheners%2C%20especially%20the,mild%20irritation%20to%20severe%20toxicity.

Give Henry and Hettie hugs from us

[CatDaddy63]

I adopted 2 cats at the end of last year that had been rescued from the streets of Crete and shipped to the UK.

Henry is nearly 2 years old and arrived in late October. Hetty is 1 year old and unrelated to Henry. She arrived in early December. It was all done legally and they were neutered and had their jabs over there before travelling.

Two months after arriving, Henry started to have fits of sneezing. It's not continuous but more than one would normally expect and bits of snot fly out all over the house.

The vet gave him a jab of antibiotics that was to last for 2 weeks and it seemed to do the trick. However, exactly 2 weeks to the day after he had the jab, he started sneezing again.

I mentioned to the vet that I smoke but I've had cats around me all my adult life and none have ever reacted to it in any way.

Then, two months after she arrived Hetty also started having similar sneezing fits.

The weird thing is that there are no other symptoms at all and they appear to be otherwise perfectly fit and well. Their eyes are clear and there is no other discharge or suspect contents in their litter trays. Their appetites are very good, they are full of beans, they have bonded very well, they play-wrestle and chase each other around the house like a pair of loons regularly.

I don't let them roam the streets but I've had a nice catio built on to the back of my house for them so they can get fresh air and stimulation.

To my mind, as both do it then it's probably not any kind of growth or obstruction of the nasal passages.

I've not adopted cats from abroad before and I'm wondering if the change from a warm dry climate to the colder damp UK climate might be a factor? Or maybe the jabs they had over in Crete aren't as good as UK jabs? If it's an allergy to something e.g. house dust, plant spores etc. then would 2 cats be allergic at the same time? I'm a bit baffled.

If I take them to the vet again I see umpteen expensive tests being done with no guarantee of an actual diagnosis and treatment thereof; just a guarantee of a nice profit.