Upper Respiratory Infection (URI): 

Type: Infection

Like the common cold in humans, URIs are a contagious feline illness. If your kitty has recently been adopted from a shelter, boarded while you were on vacation or around other cats that may have been sick, it’s possible that their sneezing could be a sign of a URI. A report from the Chicago Tribune notes that URIs can spread easily from cat to cat, especially if they are in a stressful or unfamiliar environment. Other symptoms of a URI can include coughing, discharge from the eyes or nose, excessive swallowing, lethargy and loss of appetite. Since URIs are contagious among cats, they require diagnosis and treatment by a veterinarian.