When your cat’s airways or throat are irritated, coughing is a typical reaction. Cats shouldn’t cough frequently or consistently, even if it’s a normal response. So if your cat is coughing a lot, it might be cause for concern. The majority of pet owners have never ever heard a cat cough!
Why is my cat coughing?
Just like us, cats can cough. A cough could result from any respiratory tract discomfort. When it happens infrequently (once per several months or even less frequently), coughing might be normal, but most cats don’t cough unless something is wrong.
The nasal cavity (chamber of the nose), pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), and lungs are all parts of a cat’s respiratory system. Bronchi, which develop smaller and eventually lead to bronchioles, are air channels found inside the lungs. It is difficult to pinpoint the precise cause (or location) of a cough because irritation can trigger it everywhere from the pharynx to the bronchioles.
My cat is coughing: Viral Infection
This may be brought on by feline calicivirus or feline herpesvirus-1 (or rarely influenza). These viruses are quite prevalent and spread from cat to cat. Cats can get sick as kittens and carry the sickness with them for the remainder of their lives. These viruses typically attack the upper airways, including the nose and throat. Coughing could happen if the throat is irritated and inflamed.
My cat is coughing: Asthma
Chronic bronchitis, often known as feline asthma, is a condition that affects 1% of sick cats and is similar to human asthma. In most cases, this condition, which is associated with airway inflammation, results in a chronic dry cough. However, cats can conceal sickness well and, rather than exhibiting a persistent cough, may suddenly start coughing and struggling to breathe. Oriental and Siamese cats are more likely to have this ailment.
My cat is coughing: Bronchitis
This is an infection-related inflammation of the lungs’ airways. Bacteria like Bordetella bronchiseptica or Mycoplasma spp. can cause it. Rarely found alone, these bacteria frequently spread viruses to the lungs and/or upper airways. Coughing frequently comes on unexpectedly and is followed by sneezing with nasal mucus, decreased appetite, and activity. Lungworms (Aelurostrongylus abstrusus or Eucoleus aerophilus) are parasites. These parasites induce inflammation and cause cats to cough as they sit inside the lungs’ air passages. These are more prevalent in kittens who live outside.
My cat is coughing: Pneumonia
Inflammation of the lungs in general is referred to as feline pneumonia. Your cat will feel quite ill from pneumonia, which develops suddenly and leaves them with a fever, loss of appetite, lack of energy, and possibly breathing difficulties. Numerous things, including infections with bacteria, viruses, parasites, protozoa (such as Toxoplasma gondii), fungi, or mycobacterium, might result in this. Aspiration, which occurs when stomach fluid or vomit is unintentionally breathed in rather than swallowed, frequently happens with intense vomiting episodes or when a person is sedated or under anesthesia.
My cat is coughing: Something in the throat
Sometimes things like plant fragments, things your cat tried to consume, or even a furball might get stuck in the nose or throat. Inflammation and mucus are produced by a foreign body, which might result in a cough.
My cat is coughing: Edema
Edema occurs when fluid overflows into the lungs’ airways, making it difficult for the body to breathe and producing coughing as a result. This may or may not be heart-related (cardiogenic). If edema is present, it is unlikely to be caused by heart disease since cats rarely cough due to heart failure. However, the only way to find out is to have a cardiologist examine your cat’s heart.
My cat is coughing: Cancer
Edema is a condition in which fluid accumulates in the lungs’ airways, making breathing difficult and causing coughing as the body tries to expel the fluid. Heart-related (cardiogenic) or not, this can be the cause. If edema is present, it is doubtful that it is attributable to heart disease because coughing from heart failure in cats is quite unusual. However, the only way to be certain is to have an expert, or cardiologist, examine your cat’s heart.
My cat is coughing: Trauma
Cats who have been injured can cough because internal bleeding has taken place in their airways. It is possible for the lungs themselves to get perforated, allowing air to escape and making breathing difficult. In any case, these animals require immediate medical care.
My cat is coughing: Pleural Effusion
This indicates that a fluid of some kind is present inside the cat’s chest but outside of its lungs. It could be lymph fluid, cancer-related fluid, or bacterial infection fluid (rare). The pressure this fluid creates outside the lungs causes a cough.
My cat is coughing: Nasopharyngeal Polyp
This tumor may result from or contribute to persistent inflammation of the nose or throat. There is frequently no obvious underlying cause. These swellings cause a cough, voice changes, and frequently mucus, which leads to inflammation and noisy nasal breathing like snoring.
What does a cat coughing sound like?
When a cat coughs, they normally stop what they are doing and push their head and neck out. You might hear one cough or several; if your cat coughs repeatedly, he will remain standing or seated in the same spot. A cat’s chest and tummy move dramatically when it coughs because a cough is a powerful push of air out. When coughing, cats do not pant or hold their mouths open widely, and the interval between each cough will probably be at least a second or two.
A productive (wet) cough or a dry cough are the two different forms of cat coughs. Mucus, or the thick, gooey substance you see while blowing your nose, is secreted by cells that are found in the lining of the entire respiratory system. While certain coughing causes result in a dry cough, others do not boost mucus production and generate a wet cough.
- Your cat does not swallow after a dry cough, which sounds like a “honk” or “wheeze.”
- A wet cough causes your cat to swallow after sounding like water or something is stuck in the back of his throat (an exaggerated movement seen in the throat)
- When anything gets stuck in the back of the throat, cats typically retch. They typically produce a loud noise and temporarily open their jaws wide before closing them again. After a coughing bout, retching can happen, and very little liquid or perhaps food may come out.
- Reverse sneezing typically happens in fits and is brought on by inflammation in the throat and nasal passages. Probably with most of its mouth closed, your cat sneezes repeatedly without halting, pulling its lips back as it sucks air in (instead of out like coughing). After that, swallowing is probably going to happen.
- When you vomit, your body empties the contents of your stomach (or nearby small intestine) into your mouth. Unless your cat’s stomach is empty, fluid and food will be generated. A mass of fur may also emerge occasionally. As he approaches vomiting, your cat’s belly will move dramatically, and once he starts to vomit, he will unquestionably stop moving or being active. The majority of cats vomit more than once in a single episode, but the intervals between each vomiting episode can be short—a few seconds or even several hours. Take a video of your cat coughing and show it to your veterinarian to see whether it is doing so. Whether the noise you are hearing is coughing or not can be determined by your veterinarian. For the best sound quality in the video, get close to your cat, but not too close that you can’t see its face, throat, or chest as it coughs.
