My cat Sophie is about 4 years old and has a history of what appears
to be "catching colds", although i suspect it is more serious than
that (feline herpes?). Most of the time, the vet doesn't find any
indication of an upper respiratory infection (if i remember correctly,
she's never presented with a low-grade fever), but we put her on an
antibiotic as a precautionary. These outbreaks happen about twice a
year. She seems to recover after a couple of weeks. Last time she had
it was December 2003, and it was quite bad. she was so stuffed up I
had to give her a decongestant ("little noses" nose drops). Again, it
resolved after a week or two. I don't think the antibiotics help since
there isn't any infection, so i think it's viral. During these bouts,
she loses her appetite (probably because she can't smell the food) and
it not as frisky as usual.

As i said, she seemingly recovered from the last bout in december, but
sometime in late January she started in again with symptoms. Realizing
that antibiotics aren't the answer (and if i keep giving them to her,
she will develop immunity, right?), i decided to wait and see if she
would recover on her own. This time isn't as bad as the last, but
everyday she sneezes and has runny nose. Her activity level is fine,
and only in the past few days have a noticed a decrease in appetite.
Bottom line - it's been about a month, and the symptoms continue to
persist.

Ok - so the vet has discussed Feline Herpes with me, but I am
skeptical because she never has any eye symptoms - no conjunctivitis,
etc. She only does the sneezing and running nose. However, I adopted her
from an animal shelter, and interestingly when I got her she was being
treated with antibiotics and eye drops for a supposed upper
respiratory and eye infection. That was the only time she had an eye
problem. Her Felv/FIV test results were negative.
 
I don't know what to do. I'm not sure if i should spend the money to
have her officially tested for feline herpes unless it's absolutely
necessary (and i was told it's a very expensive test). At the same time, I can't
stand to see her like this. It's weird, because unlike the last time
when she appeared very sick, this time she is acting fine, but the
sneezing and runny nose is pretty consistent each day (and seems to
be getting worse these past couple of days).

Oh, one other weird symtoms that happens - I've heard it's called
"reverse sneezing" (she's doing it right now) - sounds like she's
sneezing and inhaling at the same time. just great.

Any ideas? If she does have feline herpes, what can i do to help with
her symptoms? I am also planning on getting another cat in the next
few months. Is sophie contagious? Could this be allergies?

Hi robin66,

Please read the disclaimer at the bottom of this page.  I am not a
veterinarian and I can only provide you with links towards information
that might be helpful.  In my opinion I'd go forward with the herpes
testing if it's been advised - but only after getting a second opinion
from a different vet you have found independent from your current vet.
 I am sorry for Sophie and being an animal lover I know how much you
want to have an answer.

Her problems might be simply allergic reactions to anything from
carpet fresheners to her food.  Allergies can come and go if they're
seasonal, and sneezing can be the primary symptom.

Because you obtained her from the pound, and don't have any history on
her - it could possibly be something she picked up there.

I don't know and would never presume to give you an answer.  Before
you bring in another cat - I would advise you find out what's wrong
with Dear Sophie **first**, due to contagions that might infect your
newest member of the family.

With that said, I am providing you with several links to websites
devoted to feline sneezing and what might be the cause and how to
treat the problem.  All about reverse sneezing (the backwards sneeze)
will be the last link provided for you.


Cat Sneezing:
http://mirabye.com/teh/1/cat-sneezing.html

===============================================================================

Feline Herpes
http://www.eattheapple.com/felineherpes.htm

===============================================================================

Why is My Kitty Sneezing?
http://www.doc4pets.com/Sneezing.htm

===============================================================================
Practical Pet Care
http://www.practical-pet-care.com/cat_question.php?ID=1.2003020409365185
Click on the links after Subject

===============================================================================

Just Feline Health Links (Informative Health Information)
http://www.thensome.com/cats.htm

===============================================================================

Health Perspecives
You'll need Adobe Acrobat to view this site.
http://www.barleans.com/literature/misc/113-natural-pet-doctor.pdf

(If you don't wish to install that you can view the page at the following link)

Health Perspectives
http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:mntqFNIEhR0J:www.barleans.com/literature/misc/113-natural-pet-doctor.pdf+reverse+sneezing+felines&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

===============================================================================

Sneezing in Cats
http://www.vetinfo.com/csneeze.html 

Click on the following link words:

Sneezing in Cats 
Sneezings 
Sneezing 
Frequent sneezing

also see Feline Leukemia 
also see Herpes 
also see Respiratory problems 

===============================================================================

FELINE HERPESVIRUS INFECTIONS
http://home.flash.net/~anmleyz/herpes.htm

===============================================================================

Reverse Sneezing - applies to dogs and cats:
http://www.allcreaturesonline.com/showpracfaq.cfm?FAQID=41&Private=0



Google search:

cat sneezing + cause
feline sneezing
feline herpes
feline allergies
cat allergies
animal reverse sneezing cause


I do wish you the best of luck with your Dear Sophie... 

Best regards,
tlspiegel

---

Request for Answer Clarification by robin66-ga on 23 Feb 2004 09:06 PST

Lots of great information. Thanks. I'd also be interested in hearing
from someone who has first hand experience with this issue and how
they personally dealt with it.

---

Clarification of Answer by tlspiegel-ga on 23 Feb 2004 11:13 PST

Hi robin66,

By mistake, I placed an answer to your clarification request in the
comment box. What I posted was:

"I have/had first hand experience with cats and dogs among other
strange critters. :)

The sickly cat I had, also was sneezing and basically very much under
the weather.  The vet who was treating her suggested testing.  I
obtained a second opinion from another vet and the same testing was
suggested.  It turned out she had allergies.

What really matters is not what other people have done in similar
cases because every case is unique and no one but a vet can advise on
proper testing and treatment."

Best regards,
tlspiegel

Thanks for all your great research.

Hi robin66,

I have/had first hand experience with cats and dogs among other
strange critters. :)

The sickly cat I had, also was sneezing and basically very much under
the weather.  The vet who was treating her suggested testing.  I
obtained a second opinion from another vet and the same testing was
suggested.  It turned out she had allergies.

What really matters is not what other people have done in similar
cases because every case is unique and no one but a vet can advise on
proper testing and treatment.

I wish you the best of luck!

Best regards,
tlspiegel