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If your cat is constantly sneezing, with or without discharge, they may be a chronic snuffler.

This condition is also called Chronic Rhinitis, Chronic Upper Respiratory Infection, among other names. Regardless of what it is called, the condition refers to a cat that sneezes excessively. This may be distressing to the owner, not only for what their beloved pet is experiencing, but also because of the potential drudgery of constantly cleaning snot off walls, floors, and furniture.  

The exact cause of chronic rhinitis is unknown. One theory is that when a cat develops an upper respiratory infection, which is a common cause of illness in kittens, often caused by herpes or calici viruses, the infection may lead to a secondary bacterial infection and destruction of the normal anatomy of the inside of the cat’s nose at the little lace-like structures called turbinates. 

Normally, the nasal turbinates allow air to be filtered and moistened by the cells lining the nose each time the cat inhales. This destruction of the turbinates decreases the ability of the cells to do their jobs, allowing for chronic inflammation to develop. This inflammation can cause frequent sneezing, with or without producing discharge that can range from clear to green-yellow in color and occasionally even be blood-tinged. 

Diagnosis

Making a diagnosis for these cats often involves tests to rule out other causes of sneezing, leaving only chronic snuffler as the remaining diagnosis. Along with the usual physical examination and blood tests, your veterinarian may recommend additional testing. These other tests could include diagnostic imaging such as X-rays, CT (CAT) scans, or MRIs, depending on what is available.

Often, while the cat is under anesthesia for imaging, the veterinarian will examine the inside of the nose and flush it with saline. Samples of discharge or tissue may also be collected to test for:

• histopathology (examining the tissue under a microscope)
• cytology (examining a slide that has had some of the discharge smeared on it)
• cultures to see what organisms are involved and whether or not they could be treated with certain antibiotics
• PCR testing, another way to determine which organisms may be involved. 

All of this is to rule out potential diseases such as cancer, fungal infections, parasites, and tooth root abscesses; to look for foreign bodies such as plant awns; and to better target any antibiotics that may be prescribed. Additionally, nasal flushing can provide temporary relief for many cats.

Unfortunately, as the name indicates, this is a chronic condition. These cats never fully recover from their upper respiratory infections. The best that can be hoped for is to manage the situation to decrease the sneezing and keep the cat as comfortable as possible.

One of the best ways to help is to decrease stress in your cat’s life. This may be stress due to other pets or people in the home, other cats in the neighborhood visiting your cat’s yard, changes in routines, and more. The Ohio State University and the International Cat Care websites have good information about stress and cats.

Environmental irritants such as air fresheners, incense and potpourri, and smoke from fireplaces, wildfires, smoking, and vaping can be reduced by using home air filters, which may relieve some of the signs.

No single medication has been shown to be consistently successful with chronic snuffler cats, so you and your veterinarian may try a variety of treatments to see what seems most helpful for your cat. Antibiotics may be used if a bacterial infection is suspected. Remember that antibiotics have no effect on signs caused by viruses alone. 

A variety of antibiotics have been recommended for chronic snufflers with different treatment durations. Antivirals are another drug option. Famciclovir is a commonly used antiviral administered orally. If there are signs of conjunctivitis or eye discharge along with the sneezing, then antibiotic and/or antiviral eye medications may be tried.

Probiotics, saline nasal drops, and even steroids have been useful for some cats.

If your veterinarian suspects the cause of the sneezing may be allergies, they may suggest trying different diets to test for food allergies or doing blood or skin testing for environmental allergies. Humidifiers may be used in locations with low humidity.

While having a snuffler cat can be challenging for an owner, there are ways to make both your lives a little more comfortable.