What is Coughing?
When it comes to coughing, there are various types that you should listen out for like whether it is dry or wet. Whether it has lasted over time as a chronic cough or has only suddenly occurred yet is causing your cat to have further complications, you may want to contact a professional to determine if there is some other underlying problem.
A cough is something that is common to other animals, but is rare in cats. When your cat does cough, there is either inflammation or irritants within their throat, airway, or lungs. It should not be confused with gagging; the sounds can be somewhat similar, but severe bouts of coughing can sometimes lead to retching. The cough itself though is not necessarily a disease or illness alone, but it may be the sign of one.
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Symptoms of Coughing in Cats
Coughing is an involuntary reflex of the body. It's your cat's way of expelling whatever is irritating the lungs, airways, or throat. If your cat has a cough, they may exhibit some of the signs listed below:
- Moist/wet with mucous
- Dry and hacking
- Retching/vomiting
- Signs of infection/illness (e.g. fever, running nose/eyes)
- Difficulty breathing
Causes of Coughing in Cats
There are several different ailments that can bring about a cough. The causes can range from mild to severe. A few of the causes are listed below:
- Tracheal irritation/collapse (due by excitement, tugging at collar, or drinking water)
- Fluid accumulation (blood, water, or pus in the airways or lungs)
- Upper/lower respiratory tract disease (e.g. Feline Bordetella)
- Asthma
- Hairballs
- Allergies
- Parasitic worms (e.g. heartworm, lungworm, roundworm)
- Chest/lung tumors
- Cold/flu
- Chronic bronchitis
- Nasopharyngeal polyps (benign growths from the mucous membranes in the nose)
- Heart disease (rarely)
Diagnosis of Coughing in Cats
If your cat's cough is severe and an exact cause is undeterminable, your veterinarian may conduct an extensive workup to figure out the underlying problem. They will want a full medical history, which is where you can greatly assist in the diagnosis of the cough. You can keep track of whether there has been a change of environment for your cat, how often your cat has been coughing, whether or not it's dry or wet, and whether it occurs during specific hours of the day, such as at night. The vet will also take into consideration the indication of any other illnesses, and also your cat's age, as younger animals tend to develop coughs due to viral or bacterial infections.
Concerning tests, your vet may order a chest x-ray to examine the lungs for signs such as fluid or asthma. In the search for parasites, a stool sample will be taken. Further tests include blood work and a urinalysis. In order to check your cat's airways, your vet may utilize a bronchoscope or order transtracheal washing, which involves placing a tube down the windpipe to collect cells. To keep your cat calm, it may be sedated during the examination.
Treatment of Coughing in Cats
How your vet treats your cat's cough will be determined upon discovery of its cause.
Parasites
If the tests have yielded positive for parasites, then your cat will be treated based on the particular worm. For heartworms, your vet may want to assist your cat's breathing through the use of bronchodilators, and in severe cases, administer medication to kill the worms. The medication, however, poses risks and should only be a last resort consideration. Lungworms and roundworms are more easily treated with simple parasitic medication.
Antibiotics
Your vet may prescribe antibiotics in the event of infections. They are often given for at least two weeks or more, but even if your cat begins to show signs of improvement, it is recommended to carry on the treatment for as long as your vet prescribed, as symptoms may return otherwise.
Other Medications
In the case of asthma or allergies, anti-inflammatory drugs or antihistamines may be administered. Also, if the cough has lasted long enough to cause permanent damage to the mucous membrane, then your vet may want to give your cat supplements to repair it or even immune stimulants to help the body fight off any recurrent infections.
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Recovery of Coughing in Cats
As coughing is rare in cats, it can be simple to get rid of it once the cause has been determined. If your cat has received treatment, you should still keep a watch in case the cough returns. For coughs caused by simple matters such as hairballs, then fixing your cat's diet should prevent any reoccurrences. As for asthma and allergies, try to keep an eye out in case any other symptoms develop or the coughs become worse. If possible, you may want to consider a change of environment.
In the more severe cases, following up with your veterinarian can only help prevent any worsening of your cat's position. For instance, in the case antibiotics have been prescribed, you should allow your vet to take a look at your cat to be certain the infection has been thoroughly treated.
Coughing Average Cost
From 519 quotes ranging from $200 - $2,000
Average Cost
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Top
Coughing Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
DMH
Gigi
3 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Throws Up
I have a fixed 3 year old female cat. About every month maybe once or twice she will throw up a small amount of clear liquid. She regularly eats dry cat food and doesn't go outside that much. She doesn't seem sick but I was wondering if you had any idea as to what can cause her to vomit clear liquid? Its mostly clear and doesn't seem to have any bugs/worms just clear with some air bubbles almost like foamy. She eats regularly, plays daily and has normal stool. She is the only one out of my cats that thowsup consistently every month.
Aug. 5, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
There are many causes for that type of problem in cats, and if Gigi is otherwise healthy, you may be able to monitor her to make sure that the vomiting doesn't worsen. If she has longer hair, she may have problems with hairballs, and that can cause chronic irritation. Giving her a small amount of hairball laxative (you can buy this in pet stores or from a veterinarian) may help to keep that from happening. If it starts happening more frequently, she may need to see a veterinarian to be examined.
Aug. 5, 2018
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Orange tabby
Wendell
4 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Coughing
Cat was gone for 6 months. We live in the country. He was afraid of a renters dog who just wanted to play. I think he was close by. He was ravenous the first few days. Then developed a hack, without hairballs or anything coming out, which was bad enough that he has accidents out the other end. Wondering if he has something from eating rodents for six months or perhaps the food does not agree with him. Costco green bag food which he was eating before his disappearance. He came to our daughter over a year ago and didn’t come back till the day she returned and she just tried to call him and he called back to her! We thought a coyote got him. We searched often for the six months he was gone.
July 30, 2018
0 Recommendations
You should ensure that a new food bag is opened in case the other one spoiled over the past six months being open. Without examining Wendell I cannot narrow in on a specific cause and we don’t know what he has been eating, if he as a foreign object or what he may have picked up. Given his long absence I would recommend taking him into a Veterinarian for an examination to be on the safe side. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 30, 2018
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American Short Hair
Blondie
8 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Coughing
My cat has a consistant cough, there are days when she doesn't cough at all then she starts again. I have had her to the Vet and she has been treated for toxo twice, given predisone and lasics also a throat exam, we just can't seem to pinpoint whats wrong. Is there anything we are missing?
July 29, 2018
0 Recommendations
It can be difficult to narrow in on a cause for constant coughing since there are many possible causes which may include infections, parasites, allergies, chemical irritation, heart disease, nausea among many other causes. Further examination is required to narrow in on a specific underlying cause. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 30, 2018
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Cat
Simon
12 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
Our Siamese cat has a dry cough and l have never seen him pass a hairball. We took him to the vet and she said it was unusual for a cat to cough. They didn’t do any tests but said it could be cancer.
July 11, 2018
1 Recommendations
Cancer is a possible cause for a dry cough; but hairballs, stray hairs, foreign objects, irritation, nausea among other causes may also lead to a dry cough. Without examining Simon I cannot weigh in and say what the possible cause may be; if they suspected that there may be cancer, an x-ray of the chest should have been taken to check and rule out. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 11, 2018
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dsh
Don
14 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Coughing
My cat has had a wet cough for the better part of 2 years. He got extremely sick in 2015 with what was presumed to be a URI. He developed a wet cough as a result. I have been to 3 vets. He was treated for 6 months with various combinations of antibiotics for pneumonia. The lungs cleared and the antibiotics were stopped. Within 3 months the cough started back up. We have been treating on and off with antibiotics since then but no one can figure out why the cough keeps coming back. I don't know what else to try.
July 6, 2018
0 Recommendations
Some cats may get recurring respiratory tract infections which can be frustrating, was a sample sent for culture and sensitivity in case the antibiotics are just suppressing the infection and not curing it? There is nothing I can add if the cough responds to antibiotics except for trying the culture and sensitivity test to see if there is a more suitable antibiotic. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 7, 2018
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Domestic shorthair
Banana
3 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Coughing
My cat is coughing quite a bit, usually during the day when she's lying down or resting. The coughs sound dry. She is a female shorthair and has had kittens. I don't see anything else wrong with her, and she eats, drinks, and sleeps just fine. She previously had fleas and worms, but we got rid of them. She goes outside and hunts occasionally. What could this be?
Savannah
Chessur
3 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Coughing
My cat Chessur is a Savannah, maybe 3 years old. She has a frequent cough. I take her to the vet and they give her a shot and it clears up for some time but then it comes back after a while for no apparent reason. It sounds wet when she coughs, she has no runny nose or watery eyes, it seems to get worse when it's cold. I plan on talking to the vet when I take her this time to see if they can run some tests to pinpoint why it keeps coming back. I take her almost monthly to get this shot. Currently, she has no other known health problems and this cough and a UTI are the only illnesses she has ever had. I consider it moderate because it always comes back.
Coughing Average Cost
From 519 quotes ranging from $200 - $2,000
Average Cost
$850
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