Why Would A Cat Cough: Common Causes & What To Do

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A cat coughing can be alarming, but it doesn’t always mean a serious problem. Cats cough for various reasons, ranging from simple cat throat irritation and hairballs in cats to more complex feline respiratory issues. If your cat is coughing, it’s important to observe other symptoms and consult a veterinarian if the coughing persists or is accompanied by other cat illness symptoms.

Decoding Your Cat’s Cough: What It Means

When your cat coughs, it’s often a reflex to clear the airways of irritants or foreign objects. This can manifest as a cat hacking motion, sometimes followed by retching, or a dry, hacking sound. Other times, it might sound more like cat gagging, especially if they are trying to dislodge something. It’s crucial to distinguish between a cough and other cat sounds, like sneezing or gagging, as these can indicate different underlying causes.

Is It Just a Hairball? The Ubiquitous Hairball

Hairballs in cats are a common cause of coughing. Cats groom themselves meticulously, ingesting loose fur. This fur can accumulate in their digestive tract, forming a hairball. When a hairball becomes too large or irritates the throat, the cat will often cough to try and expel it. You might see them retch or heave during this process, which is a strong indicator of a hairball.

Recognizing Hairball Coughing

  • Appearance: The cough often looks like the cat is trying to vomit.
  • Sound: It can be a series of hacking or gagging sounds.
  • Aftermath: If successful, they will expel a cylindrical mass of hair, often mixed with stomach contents.
  • Frequency: Occasional hairball coughing is normal, but frequent coughing can signal a problem with grooming or digestion.

What You Can Do About Hairballs

  • Regular Grooming: Brushing your cat frequently helps remove loose fur before they can ingest it.
  • Hairball Remedies: Over-the-counter hairball remedies, often in paste or chewable form, can help move hair through the digestive system. Consult your veterinarian before administering any remedies.
  • Dietary Changes: Some specialized cat foods are formulated to help reduce hairball formation.

Respiratory Infections: More Than Just a Cold

Feline respiratory issues are a significant cause of coughing in cats. These can range from mild upper respiratory infections (URIs), often called “cat colds,” to more serious conditions like pneumonia.

Common Respiratory Illnesses

  • Feline Herpesvirus (FHV-1) and Feline Calicivirus (FCV): These are the most common culprits behind URIs. They can cause sneezing, nasal discharge, eye discharge, lethargy, and coughing.
  • Bacterial Infections: Secondary bacterial infections can complicate viral URIs, leading to more severe symptoms.
  • Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchi (airways in the lungs) can cause a persistent cough. This can be acute or chronic.
  • Pneumonia: An infection of the lungs that can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or even fungi. Pneumonia can cause severe coughing, difficulty breathing, fever, and lethargy.
  • Asthma: Similar to human asthma, feline asthma involves inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.

Identifying Respiratory Symptoms

Beyond coughing, watch for other cat illness symptoms that might point to a respiratory problem:

  • Cat sneezing: Frequent sneezes, sometimes with nasal discharge.
  • Cat nasal congestion: Difficulty breathing through the nose, sometimes leading to mouth breathing.
  • Cat wheezing: A whistling sound when breathing, often heard when exhaling.
  • Eye discharge: Watery or thick discharge from the eyes.
  • Lethargy: Lack of energy and reduced activity.
  • Loss of appetite: Refusal to eat or a reduced interest in food.
  • Fever: Your cat may feel warmer than usual to the touch.
  • Changes in breathing: Rapid or shallow breathing.

When to Seek Veterinary Care for Respiratory Issues

If your cat exhibits any of the following, contact your veterinarian immediately:

  • Severe or persistent coughing.
  • Difficulty breathing or labored breathing.
  • Lethargy and loss of appetite.
  • Fever.
  • Discharge from the nose or eyes that is thick or discolored.
  • Any other concerning cat illness symptoms.

Allergies and Irritants: Everyday Triggers

Just like humans, cats can develop allergies or react to environmental irritants that cause coughing. Cat throat irritation from these sources can lead to a persistent cough.

Common Allergens and Irritants

  • Environmental Allergens: Pollen, dust, mold spores, and even dander from other pets can trigger allergic reactions.
  • Household Sprays and Perfumes: Aerosols, air fresheners, cleaning products, and strong perfumes can irritate a cat’s sensitive respiratory system.
  • Smoke: Cigarette smoke, fireplace smoke, or smoke from other sources can cause significant irritation.
  • Dust Mites: Tiny creatures found in household dust that can trigger allergic reactions.
  • Certain Foods: Though less common, some cats can have food allergies that may manifest with respiratory symptoms.

Managing Allergies and Irritants

  • Identify and Remove Triggers: If you suspect an allergen or irritant, try to identify and remove it from your cat’s environment. This might involve switching to unscented cleaning products, avoiding air fresheners, or ensuring good ventilation.
  • Air Purifiers: Using a HEPA air purifier can help remove airborne irritants.
  • Veterinary Consultation: For persistent allergies, your vet might recommend antihistamines or other allergy treatments.

Heart Disease: A Serious Underlying Cause

While less common than respiratory issues, heart disease in cats can also lead to coughing. A compromised heart may lead to fluid buildup in the lungs (pulmonary edema), which can trigger a cough.

Recognizing Heart-Related Coughing

Coughing due to heart disease often occurs at rest or during periods of excitement. Other symptoms may include:

  • Rapid breathing: Even when resting.
  • Lethargy: Reduced energy and willingness to play.
  • Weight loss: Despite a normal or increased appetite.
  • Weakness: Particularly in the hind legs.
  • Blueish gums: A sign of poor oxygenation.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Heart Disease

Diagnosing heart disease involves a thorough physical examination, listening to the heart for murmurs or abnormal rhythms, chest X-rays, and potentially an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). Treatment typically involves medication to manage the condition and improve the heart’s function.

Other Less Common Causes of Coughing

While the above are the most frequent reasons, a few other less common causes can lead to a cat coughing:

  • Parasites: Lungworms can infest a cat’s lungs and airways, causing a cough. Regular deworming is crucial.
  • Foreign Objects: While rare, a cat might inhale a small object (like a blade of grass or a tiny toy piece) that gets lodged in their airway, causing persistent coughing and gagging. This is a medical emergency.
  • Tumors: In older cats, growths in the chest or airways can cause coughing.

Differentiating Coughing: What to Observe

When your cat coughs, pay close attention to the details. These observations are invaluable for your veterinarian in diagnosing the cause.

The Cough Itself: Qualities to Note

  • Sound: Is it dry and hacking, wet and productive, or like cat gagging?
  • Frequency: How often does it occur? Is it constant or intermittent?
  • Timing: Does it happen at specific times of day, after activity, or during rest?
  • Trigger: Does anything seem to set off the cough?
  • Accompanying Actions: Does your cat hunch over, extend their neck, or try to vomit after coughing?

Other Associated Signs: A Holistic View

Beyond the cough, look for:

  • Breathing Patterns: Is your cat breathing normally, rapidly, or with difficulty?
  • Nasal Discharge: Is there any fluid coming from their nose? Is it clear, cloudy, or colored?
  • Eye Symptoms: Are their eyes red, watery, or have discharge?
  • Appetite and Thirst: Has their food or water intake changed?
  • Behavior: Are they more lethargic, hiding, or showing signs of distress?
  • Vomiting or Diarrhea: Are these symptoms present along with the cough?

When to See the Vet: Crucial Signs

It’s always best to err on the side of caution. Here’s when a veterinary visit is highly recommended:

  • Sudden onset of severe coughing: Especially if accompanied by breathing difficulties.
  • Coughing that persists for more than a few days.
  • Any coughing accompanied by lethargy, loss of appetite, or fever.
  • Coughing with visible distress or difficulty breathing.
  • If you suspect your cat has ingested a foreign object.
  • If your cat is a senior or has pre-existing health conditions.

Veterinary Diagnosis: How Your Vet Will Help

Your veterinarian will conduct a thorough examination to determine the cause of the cough. This may involve:

  • Physical Examination: Listening to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope.
  • Medical History: Discussing your cat’s symptoms, diet, environment, and any changes.
  • Diagnostic Tests:
    • Chest X-rays: To visualize the lungs, heart, and airways.
    • Blood Work: To check for infection, inflammation, and overall health.
    • Fecal Exam: To check for parasites like lungworms.
    • Bronchoscopy: In some cases, a small camera is used to examine the airways directly.
    • Allergy Testing: To identify environmental or food triggers.
    • Echocardiogram: If heart disease is suspected.

Treatment Approaches: Tailored to the Cause

Treatment will depend entirely on the underlying cause:

  • Hairballs: Grooming, dietary changes, and hairball remedies.
  • Respiratory Infections: Antibiotics for bacterial infections, supportive care (fluids, nebulization) for viral infections. Antiviral medications may be used in some cases.
  • Asthma: Corticosteroids (oral or inhaled) to reduce inflammation, bronchodilators to open airways.
  • Allergies: Identifying and removing triggers, antihistamines, or immunotherapy.
  • Heart Disease: Diuretics to remove fluid, medications to support heart function, and dietary changes.
  • Parasites: Specific deworming medications.
  • Foreign Objects: Surgical removal or endoscopic retrieval.
  • Tumors: Surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy depending on the type and location.

Prevention: Protecting Your Cat’s Respiratory Health

While not all causes of coughing can be prevented, you can take steps to reduce the risk:

  • Regular Grooming: Especially for long-haired breeds.
  • Vaccinations: Ensure your cat is up-to-date on vaccinations against common respiratory viruses.
  • Avoid Irritants: Minimize exposure to smoke, strong chemicals, and perfumes.
  • Clean Environment: Keep your cat’s living space clean and free of dust and allergens.
  • Parasite Prevention: Regular deworming and flea/tick prevention are essential.
  • Balanced Diet: Provide high-quality food to support overall health.
  • Monitor for Changes: Be observant of any changes in your cat’s behavior or cat sounds.

A cough in your cat can be a sign of many things, from something as simple as a hairball in cats to more serious feline respiratory issues. By carefully observing your cat and knowing when to seek professional help, you can ensure your feline friend receives the best possible care. Remember, your veterinarian is your best resource for diagnosing and treating any health concerns your cat may have.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: My cat is coughing, is it serious?
A: It depends on the cause. Occasional coughing due to hairballs is normal. However, if the cough is frequent, severe, or accompanied by other cat illness symptoms like lethargy, difficulty breathing, or loss of appetite, it can be serious and requires veterinary attention.

Q2: How do I know if my cat has a hairball or something else?
A: Hairball coughs often involve hacking and retching, and are usually followed by the expulsion of a hairball. Coughs from respiratory issues might sound different (e.g., wheezing, more persistent hacking) and are often accompanied by sneezing, nasal congestion, or eye discharge. Cat gagging can be associated with both hairballs and other throat irritations or obstructions.

Q3: Can I give my cat human cough medicine?
A: Absolutely not. Human medications can be toxic and even fatal to cats. Always consult your veterinarian before giving your cat any medication.

Q4: My cat sneezes and coughs, what does that mean?
A: Sneezing and coughing together often indicate a respiratory issue, such as a URI, allergies, or asthma. It’s important to note any nasal discharge or eye symptoms that might accompany these cat sounds.

Q5: What are some signs of asthma in cats?
A: Signs of asthma in cats can include chronic coughing, cat wheezing, rapid breathing, and occasional difficulty breathing, sometimes leading to an open-mouth breathing posture.

Q6: How can I help my cat with a cough at home?
A: For suspected hairballs, regular grooming and hairball remedies (after consulting your vet) can help. If the cause is environmental irritants, try to remove them. However, for any persistent or concerning cough, the safest approach is to consult your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Do not attempt to self-medicate.