Just like humans, cats cough occasionally. Coughing is a natural reflex that helps their bodies clear irritants and foreign material from their respiratory system.
When something bothers the cough receptors in a cat’s throat (pharynx and larynx), windpipe (trachea), or smaller airways (bronchi), they cough. An occasional cough in a healthy cat is usually not a cause for alarm. However, if your cat’s cough is persistent, severe, or accompanied by other symptoms, it’s important to pay attention and take action.
A severe or ongoing cough warrants a visit to your veterinarian. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial for a speedy recovery.
Here are some of the common reasons why your cat might be coughing and what you can do to help.
Common Causes of Coughing in Cats
The potential causes of coughing in cats are numerous, and sometimes the trigger is quite obvious.
Have you recently changed your cat’s litter to a dustier brand? A coughing fit while your cat is in the litter box might be a direct result of inhaling dust. Any type of inhaled irritant can trigger coughing.
Persistent coughing in cats can also be due to prolonged exposure to irritants such as secondhand smoke.
Other frequent causes of coughing in cats include:
- Respiratory Infections: Bacterial and viral respiratory infections are leading culprits behind coughing in cats. Less commonly, fungal or parasitic organisms can be involved.
- Asthma: Feline asthma causes airway constriction, inflammation, and mucus buildup in response to triggers, all of which can induce coughing.
- Pleural Effusion: Pleural effusion, the abnormal accumulation of fluid around the lungs, can also lead to coughing in cats.
- Inhaled Foreign Bodies: When cats inhale foreign materials like food particles or grass, they will cough in an attempt to expel these objects.
- Cancer: Coughing can be an early indicator of cancer affecting the respiratory tract in cats.
- Trauma: Physical, chemical, or thermal injuries to the respiratory system can cause coughing in cats.
- Heartworms: While often subtle, coughing can be a symptom of heartworms in cats.
It’s worth noting that while heart disease is a common cause of coughing in humans and dogs, it’s rarely the reason for coughing in cats. Coughing in cats is almost always related to a respiratory issue.
Can Cats Catch Kennel Cough from Dogs?
Kennel cough in dogs is caused by various bacteria and viruses, including Bordetella bronchiseptica, mycoplasma, parainfluenza virus, and adenovirus type 2.
Cats can be susceptible to some of these pathogens, such as Bordetella, but not all. To prevent potential spread, any pet exhibiting symptoms like sneezing, coughing, or discharge from the eyes or nose should be kept separate from other pets and examined by a veterinarian.
Understanding Wet Cough vs. Dry Cough in Cats
Veterinarians use a combination of health history, physical exams, and diagnostic tests to determine the cause of a cat’s cough. As a pet owner, you can provide valuable information by observing whether your cat has a wet cough or a dry cough.
A “wet cough” is characterized by bringing up phlegm – the thick mucus produced in the respiratory tract, often in response to an infection. Phlegm production is the body’s way of removing viruses, bacteria, immune cells, and other debris from the lungs.
In contrast, dry coughs produce little to no phlegm. In cats, dry coughs are often associated with conditions like asthma, inhaled foreign bodies, and cancer. While these distinctions are not absolute, they can guide you and your vet toward a potential diagnosis.
Cat Coughing Accompanied by Other Symptoms
Coughing often occurs alongside other symptoms, which can be helpful in pinpointing the underlying cause.
Coughing and Sneezing in Cats
Coughing combined with sneezing is frequently linked to upper respiratory infections (URIs) in cats. Nasal passage infections lead to sneezing and nasal discharge. Some of this discharge can drain down the back of the throat, triggering a cough.
Coughing and Wheezing in Cats
Wheezing is a hallmark sign of feline asthma and is often observed with coughing and labored, rapid, or open-mouth breathing.
Cat “Coughing” Up Hairballs
If your cat’s “cough” results in a hairball, it’s likely not a true cough at all. While it may sound like coughing, your cat is actually retching or gagging because the hairball originates from the digestive tract, not the respiratory system.
What If My Cat Coughs Up Blood?
While an occasional cough in an otherwise healthy cat is usually not alarming, coughing up blood is a potential emergency. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your cat is coughing up blood.
Several serious conditions can cause a cat to cough up blood, including:
- Trauma
- Cancers that erode into blood vessels
- Severe infections
- Exposure to toxins that interfere with normal blood clotting
Treatment Options for Cat Coughing
Treating a cat’s cough involves addressing the underlying cause:
- Irritants: Coughs caused by inhaled irritants will resolve once the irritant is removed from the cat’s environment.
- Respiratory Infections: Most bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections, when diagnosed early, can be treated effectively with appropriate antimicrobial medications. Antiviral medications are sometimes used in specific cases.
- Asthma: Managing feline asthma involves minimizing triggers in the cat’s environment and using inhaled or systemic medications to open airways and reduce inflammation.
- Pleural Effusion: Fluid buildup around the lungs can be drained using a needle and syringe. Further treatment may be necessary to address the underlying cause of the fluid accumulation and prevent recurrence.
- Inhaled Foreign Bodies: Bronchoscopy or surgery might be required to remove inhaled foreign objects. Antibiotics are often prescribed to prevent or treat secondary infections.
- Cancer: Respiratory tract cancers are typically treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, immunotherapy, and/or palliative care.
- Trauma: Treatment for trauma-induced coughing varies; some injuries heal with medical management, while others require surgical intervention.
- Heartworm Disease: Prevention is key for heartworms in cats, as treatment options for feline heartworm disease are limited once an infection occurs.
Symptomatic and supportive care, such as fluid and oxygen therapy, can also benefit coughing cats.
At home, you might be advised by your veterinarian to gently wipe away nasal discharge or use a steamy bathroom to help loosen congestion. Cough suppressants are rarely prescribed for cats.
If your cat is coughing, remember to consult with your veterinarian to determine the exact cause and receive the most appropriate treatment plan. Early intervention is key to ensuring your feline friend’s respiratory health and overall well-being.
