What is a Reverse Sneeze in Cats?

Introduction

t was a quiet Saturday morning when Lisa first heard the peculiar sound coming from her Siamese cat, Whiskers. She rushed over, concerned that something was seriously wrong. Whiskers seemed to be caught in a strange snorting fit. After a quick trip to the vet, Lisa learned that her beloved cat was experiencing a reverse sneeze.

Reverse sneeze in cats is an unusual condition. This happens when a cat sneezes backward. Reverse sneezing is different from regular sneezing. This is because cats’ nasal passages are located at the back of their heads, not at the front.

So when a cat sneezed forward, its nose would hit its mouth instead of its throat. It may seem strange, but reverse sneezing is quite common among cats.

Cats are prone to allergies due to their unique anatomy. Their nasal passages are located behind their eyes instead of next to their ears. As a result, they breathe through their mouths rather than their noses.

Any foreign substances inhaled through the nose pass directly into the bloodstream. If these substances contain allergens, the immune system produces antibodies against them.

These antibodies travel to the lymph nodes, triggering an allergic reaction. The resulting swelling causes the airways to narrow, leading to coughing and sneezing.

In most cases, reverse sneezing goes away within 24 hours. However, it can last longer in severe cases.

What Causes Feline Reverse Sneezing?

The cause of reverse sneezing in cats is dry air entering their nasal passages through their nose. This happens when they inhale too much dust, pollen, mold spores, etc., which irritates their eyes and sinuses. The cat’s body then produces mucus from its glands to clear out these particles and prevent them from getting into the lungs. However, if this process goes too far, the cat will start to cough and produce excess amounts of mucus, causing the cat to sneeze.

Various factors can trigger reverse sneezing in a cat. Some of these include Allergies, Asthma, Dust, Food, Foreign objects, Pollens, and Sinusitis.

Diagnosis for Feline Reverse Sneezing

To properly diagnose reverse sneezing in cats, a veterinarian would start with a physical exam to evaluate the severity of the cat’s signs and symptoms. This includes listening to their chest with a stethoscope and palpating different areas of their throat or chest to identify abnormalities such as foreign bodies or inflammation. Chest x-rays may be taken if required.

The vet may then perform diagnostic tests such as blood work, urinalysis and other laboratory tests like PCV/TS or fecal analysis to identify if there’s an underlying cause for the reverse sneezing episode. Additionally, an allergy test may be performed if it’s suspected that allergies are causing the episodes.

Depending on their exam and testing findings, vets can prescribe medications to help reduce symptoms and treat infections, such as antibiotics for bacterial infections or antihistamines for allergies. They may also recommend lifestyle changes if environmental stimuli are suspected, such as keeping dust levels low in your home or avoiding certain foods allergies that might trigger a reaction in your cat’s body.

In some cases where triggers cannot be identified, or treatments do not help reduce episodes of reverse sneezing, surgery may be required to remove any physical obstructions causing airway blockages or correct congenital disabilities in the upper respiratory tract.

Treatment for Reverse Sneezing in Cat

Inhalers containing drugs that open airways, such as albuterol, may also be prescribed if inflammation persists after other treatments have failed. Have your veterinarian demonstrate how to administer these medications properly, as they work best when delivered directly into the nostrils rather than mouth-administered like most oral medications prescribed for cats would be.

Finally, endoscopic surgery may be necessary if nasty allergies are involved or if tissue needs to be removed inside your cat’s throat or nasal cavity to recover from this condition entirely. This procedure does not require general anesthesia, so recovery time should be much shorter.

Prevention for a Cat Reverse Sneeze

To prevent reverse sneezing in your cat, you can follow these tips:

• Make sure your cat gets plenty of fresh air.
• Avoid giving your dusty cat toys.
• Don’t let your cat eat anything that contains allergens.
• Be careful about what you feed your cat.
• Give your cat regular veterinary visits.
• Clean out your cat’s litter box regularly.
• Try to avoid exposing your cat to smoke.
• Keep your cat indoors during cold weather.
• Keep your house clean.
• Use a humidifier to keep your cat comfortable.
• Always supervise your cat when playing outdoors.

Frequently Asked Questions