If you are a cat owner, you know that these animals can communicate much with their body language. In order to learn whether or not your cat is ill, you will need to watch carefully and look for uncharacteristic symptoms. When it comes to sneezing, there are a variety of reasons that your cat may develop a habit. Like humans, some sneezing can be perfectly harmless and natural, while other sneezing can indicate a cold or another illness. If your cat merely sneezes but does not show any other alarming symptoms, then the feline is probably fine.

If your cat has an ocular or nasal discharge in addition to sneezing, or has an odd change in behavior, then the animal may have a cold or an upper respiratory infection that needs to be treated. Upper respiratory infections in cats are difficult to get rid of, and can develop into a fatal ailment if untreated. According to PetsMD, an upper respiratory infection in a cat is similar to influenza in people.

If your cat sneezes in spasms over the course of a few hours, and has a discharge from the eyes or nose, you may want to take your cat in to a local vet. The discharge may be watery, thick, clear, yellow, green or even bloody in some cases. Also, if your pet is coughing or swallowing excessively, this may indicate blockage in the respiratory system. Your cat may also develop a loss of appetite from an infection as well as a fever, dehydration, or lethargy.

Also, cats may sneeze because of polyps and foreign objects like grass awns that can cause symptoms similar to a cold. Some cats may develop fungal infections that trigger these symptoms such as aspergilosis.

You will want to provide your cat with warmed canned food if you suspect that he or she has an upper respiratory infection, and will need to provide your pet with plenty of water. In addition, keep your pet's eyes and nose free of a discharge using cotton that is moistened with warm water.

Your vet can confirm or deny respiratory infection after a thorough exam. Your vet may still want to do blood tests and X-rays, especially if your cat has not been eating as a result of the illness.

If your pet does have a respiratory infection, the vet may decide to use a vaporizer that can help clear the nasal passages and encourage sinuses to drain. In addition to this, you the vet will prescribe antibiotics which can get rid of a viral infection. If your cat is not eating or is dehydrated, the animal may need to be hospitalized and fed by intravenous fluids.

If you want more information, don't hesitate to contact the local vet using this directory today to learn more!