My cat is having sneezing/snorting fits help?

Question

this is hard to explain, he'll just be minding his business when all the sudden he start snorting very rapidly breathing in and out (he just did this and it almost made me think of someone who has been smoking a long time weezing) It is very loud, and it seems to scare him when it happens. If any one else has ever had this problem let me know what it is and if its serious. he's getting to be very old and I don't know how well he would handle going to the vet.

thanks for the help

Answer 1

There could be a number of different reasons. Take a look at this article. It might help answer your questions.

http://www.2ndchance.info/sneezing.htm

Answer 2

It could be hairballs, or even just hair in the throat from grooming:not exactly at the hairball stage yet, but something similar to a popcorn husk caught at the back of a human throat at the quietest part of a movie. My cat is supremely repulsed by the rare hairballs that she actually does. And will often run from them after they've been expelled, so it's not unusual for a cat to act "scared" during or immediately after a hairball attack.

Of course there could be other reasons as well. Sneezing attacks and such, could be signs of allergies or something else and your vet will be able to provide you with more complete answers. Chances are, if you normally take your cat in to the vet for routine checkups, booster shots and things like that, it should probably not be a big problem for your cat to deal with.

Answer 3

First I would recommend the vet because this might be more serious than the problem my cats have. They have the herpes virus which causes them to sneeze.
I use 250 milligrams of lysine crushed in about half a teaspoon of pumpkin, put into a syringe and squirted into their mouths every day. Syringes are a great way to medicate cats. You put the mixture into the back of the syringe after taking the plunger out, and then reinsert the plunger until the mixture is at the head of the syringe.
My cats got herpes at the shelter before I had them.
It did away with the sneezing in about two days. You have to keep it up indefinitely or the herpes will come back again.
Your cat could also have an sinus infection, which older cats are prone to, and that would require vet care and anti biotics. Good luck.

Answer 4

sounds like a form of psychosis. is she fixed? my cat goes nuts and pulls her fur out til she's nekkid everywhere but the tip of her tail and her face (the only spot she can't reach). she's settled down a bit now. if you can keep a watch, and make a note of anything that might be happening right before the behaviour occurs, you might be able to eliminate it. is she eating something? is there a certain noise? is a particular someone or animal around at the time? there maybe something external doing it. i like your idea of distracting her from the fits. and she is getting lots of exercise. so that's all good. if none of the above works, try changing her diet, by switching the food gradually (adding more of the new food to the old), it might be digestional. cats can also hear sounds that we can't, and feel storms comming on. does it storm the next day after she does this? ours runs all over the house boucing off the walls right before. but they are not 100% accurate, so i still have to listen to the weather. good luck with your cat;)

Answer 5

This is something that you should not ignore. The people that tell you otherwise don't know what they are talking about.
The cat could have an URI(upper Respiratory infection) or severe allergies. Whether or not he like to go to the Vet doesn't matter, if you love your cat--take him.
If he has an URI he might show other signs of runny eyes, raspy breathing, he may seem like he has a head cold. Same way with the allergies. Please take your cat to the Vet.

Answer 6

sounds like allergies. But i dont know about cats, but i know small dogs, typically chihuahuas have a "collapsing trechea". this condition isnt bad at all, and is virtually harmless to the animal, they will just have these strange breathing habits. But take him to a vet, I had two cats that were around 15-16 yrs old, and they would go crazy in the car ride, but were fine when they got back home. ^_^

Answer 7

I would say hairballs or an allergy. Our neighbors cat sneezed and had dripping out of his nose. Occasionally blood also came out. He is on allergy meds now and only sneezed once in a while. no more blood.

Answer 8

Sounds like your cat has a hair-ball. It's nothing to worry about. Now if your cat has a runny nose, or other cold-like symptoms you might want to stop by your local vets office to have him checked.

Answer 9

Cats get dust in their noses and sneeze just as humans and other animals do, but their sneezes tend to come in "fits," as you've observed. If it becomes a chronic problem--i.e., he just keeps sneezing,--there may be something wrong. But your situation sounds normal to me.

Answer 10

hey

ask his vet to check to see if he might have allergies. some cats,though, just have troubles with some perfumes or smells. my cat has troubles swallowing. if it ever sounds like he is choking or something that may be the reason that he is snorting. ask the vet about that too.