Sneezing is an important bodily function that kittens, cats, humans and pretty much all mammals rely on to get unwanted things out of their nose! The inside of the nose is very sensitive and acts as a filter to avoid potentially hazardous things getting into the windpipe and lungs. So, sneezing, like many things in life, is good in moderation! However, there are times that excessive sneezing may be a sign of ill health or other problems, such as a foreign object lodged in the nose. Let’s take a look at the main causes of sneezing and when you should get help.

What is making my kitten sneeze?

Cats are incredibly sensitive to smell and use this sense much more than we humans do. The sense of smell in cats is also very strongly linked to appetite. Kittens love to explore and will be constantly sniffing their environment and all the nooks and crannies they can get into. This means they’ll come into contact with lots of things that can make them sneeze, such as:

• Dust. No matter how clean your house is, small kittens will find dusty places.

• Cat litter. Some brands of cat litter are very dusty and this can be quite overwhelming for a sensitive little nose.

• Perfume, scented candles and cleaning products. Smells that we find pleasant and use on a daily basis can be very overpowering for animals that are as sensitive to smell as kittens. Try to avoid these powerful odours if possible.

   

• Cigarette smoke. Secondhand smoking is as harmful for our pets as it is for the other humans around you. Please don’t smoke around your pets.

• Pollen and mould. 

• Foreign bodies. Cats, especially kittens, have very small noses but things can still get lodged in there. One of the most common problems is a blade of grass that gets accidentally inhaled while exploring the garden or grazing, as cats like to do occasionally. This is very irritating and will usually cause very sudden, frequent sneezing. Your kitten may also paw at their face or shake their head.