My cat has litter stuck in his nose and is sneezing a lot. What to do?

Hello, sorry you are having this issue. You will not be able to prevent him from digging in the litter box. The best option is to prevent him from having access to it. What most people do is put the litter box in a room and use a baby gate to block the doorway. The cat can jump in over the gate but Hercules will not be able to. You can always consult a professional trainer as they may have some training ideas but there are none that I am aware of. Honestly, it is better for the dog not to have access to the litter box for other reasons too. Cats like privacy when they use the box - the cat won't want to use the box if the puppy is bothering him. Then you will end up with him peeing/pooping around the house instead of using the box. Also, litter (if Hercules eats it) can cause a blockage in his intestines which can be deadly. Really, it is best for him not to have access to the box. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Litter box issues can be extremely frustrating! If Luna is both urinating and defecating outside of her litter box, this is more likely a behavioral issue. If she is only urinating outside of the litter box, there is a chance that there is an underlying medical issue, such as a urinary tract infection or bladder stones. Sneezing can be due to a number of issues in cats, including simple irritation to the nasal passages from dust or pollens, nasopharyngeal polyps, upper respiratory infections, among others. I'm glad to hear that Luna has recently been to her vet and seemed to be healthy, but it may be worth going back to the vet for a urinalysis if this was not already done. This urine test will rule out a UTI and crystals in the urine. Your vet will also be able to determine if an upper respiratory infection is suspected. Once medical issues have been ruled out as a cause of Luna's litter box issues, consider several at home strategies. Add an extra litter box to the house, consider changing the litter type to one with less dust (Yesterday's News is one brand), add or remove a hood/cover to one of the litter boxes, and consider using a calming pheromone collar or diffuser (Feliway is one example). If all of these attempts fail, you may need to talk to Luna's vet about anti-anxiety medications. I hope this helps! Good luck! :-)

Hello, thank you for your question about Hercules. When vaccines are administered locally, through the nose, they can sometimes cause development of mild clinical signs such as sneezing. However, I would not expect these signs to last for a month after the vaccine. Cats are also prone to development of viral upper respiratory infections, that often occur after a stressful event (like vaccination). It is possible that Hercules has a mild upper respiratory infection. If Hercules is otherwise acting normal and is having no bouts of respiratory distress I would recommend continuing to monitor him. If the signs progress or he becomes lethargic, inappetant, or has increased effort to his breathing I would recommend having him evaluated by your veterinarian as this could be a sign that he has another underlying condition such as asthma or bronchitis, both chronic (not uncommon) conditions in cats. Hope this helps, good luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Mu I recommend taking her to the Vet. If a blade of grass is still stuck way in her nose doing a nasal flush or using a scope may be needed to remove it. Hopefully she is just sneezing now from irritation from the blades you already removed. Good luck!

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!

Hello! Many respiratory infections in cats are caused by Feline Herpesvirus, which is similar to what causes cold sores on the mouths of people. When it flares up, it cause respiratory signs, including sneezing and congestion. An anti-viral drug called Famciclovir can help control the flare ups when they happen. There are also nasal drops that can help with chronic congestion. If the mucous is thick and green, it could indicate a secondary bacterial infection that may need a course of antibiotics to clear. Sometimes chronic nasal congestion in cats can also be caused by small polyps in the nasal cavity or dental disease, such as an abscessed molar that is spreading infection to the nasal sinus. Getting an accurate diagnosis on what is causing Squirt's nasal congestion can help you get the tools you need to combat flare-ups. For snapping and clawing, I would recommend trying to pinpoint what triggers Squirt to act like this. When he is being too rough, leave him alone for a few minutes so that you are not rewarding the behavior. For any cat dealing with any anxious behavior, I recommend something called Feliway. It's a natural feline pheromone that is calming to cats. It comes in plug ins, sprays, and collar form, so is an easy first thing to try. I also recommend environmental enrichment, such as increasing play time and ensuring there are multiple high places that he can perch- cats find the tops of cat trees, refrigerators, etc very calming. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Unfortunately it’s impossible to say if Carol is sneezing due to allergies, a viral infection or something is stuck in her nostril. You can start her on a cat supplement called Lysine. Carol should take 500mg twice daily. This can help if it is viral. Keep a very close eye on her. Constant sneezing can be the first sign of an upcoming full blown respiratory tract infection. Watch for any nasal or ocular discharge. Watch for lethargy, squinting eyes or not eating well. If you end up needing to go in, there are two companies who may be able to provide financing: Care Credit and Scratch. You can find more information and an application on their websites. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.