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Why is my cat sneezing brown spots? Is it a cold or something serious?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

My cat seems to be sneazing little brown spots. Could this just be a cold? She does have constant eye drainage but that is from a surgery she had in her eye when she was a kitten. Other than that, she seems fine. Eating, drinking, using the bathroom. Could she be in pain? Could this be serious? She is 5 years old.

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1 Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on November 10th, 2018

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about your cat. It could be that she has a respiratory infection, and that could be snot that she is sneezing coming from her nose. It's good that everything else is fine, but if this sneezing continues, I would take her into the vet. Take her into a vet right away if she stops eating, becomes very lethargic, and/or has problems breathing. There are a few things you can try at home for her. First, you can try starting her on an L-lysine supplement - this is an amino acid that has been shown to help the immune system fight off respiratory infections more effectively. Enisyl and Viralys are both good brands, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription - just follow the dosing instructions on the label based on your cat's weight. If she's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing her into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

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