Q My kitten, Gus, sneezes a lot. His vet says the reason is probably allergies from outdoors, but Gus doesn’t go outside. What could be the cause?
—Caroline Patterson, Sebring, Florida
A Sneezing is actually a common problem for cats. There are a number of possible causes. While your veterinarian may be correct in diagnosing environmental allergies, another frequent cause of chronic sneezing is feline herpes virus.
This virus is easily transmitted through direct contact with saliva or secretions from infected cats, and kittens can get the infection from their mothers when they are only a few days old. Feline her pes is most com monly diagnosed due to upper-respiratory and ocular symptoms, such as sneezing, nasal congestion, watery eyes, and conjunctivitis. Some cats, however, appear symptom-free for most of…
