My cat got a hairball up his nose and is sneezing. Is he okay?

Hello there, thanks for choosing Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Goodness! That certainly does sound like a scary experience for Persyk. Hairballs shouldn't cause this much trouble coming up, though I can't be certain why it was such an issue this time. However, based on your description of Persyk after the event, it sounds like she has some vomitus in her nasal passages. A small amount of liquid should resolve on it's own within a day or two, but if there was any solid material, it could have become trapped and would continue to cause the nasal pain, sneezing, running nose, etc. I would say that if she isn't back to normal in a day or so, she needs to be checked out by a vet. After physical examination, the vet may recommend sedation to flush the nasal passage and do a more thorough exam.

Hello. I am sorry that Tigger does not feel well. This sounds like one of the common respiratory viruses that kitties can get. If he is eating & drinking well, the virus may run its course in a week or so. Most times, though, we do start these guys on either an antibacterial or anti-viral medication, sometimes also starting a medication to help the irritated eyes. If Tigger is feeling pretty miserable, not eating well or is in danger of becoming dehydrated, he needs to see a veterinarian for care. Hopefully he will be feeling better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It sounds like Tigger may have an upper respiratory infection - this is a common cause of sneezing in cats, and may also cause them to breathe with an open mouth for short periods because their nose is congested. I would recommend having him examined by a vet when you are able to - he may need antibiotics to treat the infection. You could also try supplementing him with an L-lysine product such as Viralys - these supplements are available over the counter and can help respiratory infections resolve more quickly in cats.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Bandit! His nose should improve over the next day or two. The vomit likely caused some inflammation. Continue to monitor and clear any discharge from his nose. If he continues to vomit, doesn’t eat or the congestion doesn’t clear he should see a Vet. I hope this helps and I wish Bandit the best!

Xerxes's symptoms are a little confusing. It could just be hairballs. He is a long cat and in keeping himself groomed, he will ingest hairs. Sometimes the hairs form a ball and they vomit them up since it isn't good for the GI tract and can't be digested. Sometimes after vomiting, some of the fluid gets into the nasal cavity. But my concern is since he is a short-nosed cat breed, he may have some issues with his oronasal cavity that cause it to happen more often. He could also have reflux. If he has seen a vet in the last year, call and see if they can do a video consultation so you don't have to get out of the house. If he hasn't been to the vet recently, you may have to go in for an examination.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sneezing in cats may be due to an upper respiratory infection (URI), rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal passages), a foreign body stuck in the nostril(s), or even something like a tumor or mass in the nasal cavity. Common URI's in cats include herpesvirus and calicivirus, which are often treated supportively with either anti-viral medications and/or antibiotics in case a secondary bacterial infection is present. Sometimes, steroids such as prednisolone are recommended when cats are sneezing to see if they can help reduce inflammation in the nasal passages. Iggie may benefit from steam therapy, which is as simple as keeping him in the bathroom with the door closed when you shower, to allow the steamy air to help moisten his nasal passages. If he continues to sneeze for more than a day or so, I recommend having him seen by your veterinarian, who can perform an exam and treat accordingly. If you can, try to get a video of his sneezing episodes to show your veterinarian when you go. I hope this is helpful - best of luck with Iggie!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Toby should be fine! It is normal for the their noses to get in to the food/fluid when they are learning to drink and eat from a bowl. Either the formula tickled his nose or he sucked a little in to his nose. Sneezing is the natural way to remove the milk. I wouldn't worry too much! Good luck with everything!