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Coughing in Cats

Coughing in Cats

Coughing in cats

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Updated on September 26, 2024
SUMMARY OF CONTENT
Coughing in cats can occur due to a variety of health conditions, such as asthma, bronchitis, and cancer, among others. Treatment of coughing is dependent upon the cause of the cough.
SEVERITY:
Severity is mild to moderate to severe
  • Diagnosis Icon
    Requires a diagnosis by a veterinarian
  • Time to Cure
    Resolves within days to months, or may be a lifelong management condition
  • Treatment Icon
    Treatable by a veterinarian, by the pet parent
  • Spread Icon
    Transmission may be possible between animals, or from animals to people depending on the cause of the coughing
  • Lab Icon
    Diagnosis requires physical exam, lab tests, x-rays and potentially more extensive testing
VERY COMMON IN
Cats of any age, gender, or breed can cough for a myriad of reasons.

Symptoms & Signs

Coughing occurs as air is forcefully expelled with a loud, sudden noise. Coughs can be considered productive (bringing up fluid or mucus that may or may not be immediately swallowed) or dry (no fluid is produced). The duration of the cough may be acute (occurring for less than 2 weeks) or chronic (occurring for longer than 2 weeks). In cats, coughing can look as though a cat is trying to bring up a hairball or vomit.

Diagnosis

Differentiating between the possible causes of coughing in the cat can be challenging at times. A veterinarian will examine the cat to thoroughly listen to both the heart and lungs, palpate the trachea for sensitivity, and assess respiratory rate and effort. Diagnostics, including chest x-rays, blood testing, and fecal examination are usually necessary. The blood testing may include a CBC (complete blood count to evaluate the red and white blood cells and platelets), blood chemistry (to assess organ function), and heartworm testing. A specialized fecal examination will check for the presence of lungworm eggs in the stool. Chest x-rays allow for the evaluation of the trachea’s shape and diameter; assessment of the lung fields, heart size and shape; and visualization of any obvious masses that might be present. Depending upon the results of initial testing and the suspected cause of coughing, more extensive diagnostic testing may be needed. “Second wave” testing may include systemic fungal urine testing for histoplasmosis and blastomycoses, especially where these diseases are endemic; a transtracheal wash with culture and cytology, bronchoalveolar lavage with culture and cytology, computed tomography scans (CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging scans (MRI scans), bronchoscopy (endoscopy of the airways), or lung biopsies (rarely).

Causation

Cats usually cough due to an underlying disease process. In the United States, the most common causes of coughing in cats are asthma (a type of chronic eosinophilic inflammatory  bronchitis) , tracheobronchitis (infectious bronchitis) and heartworm associated respiratory disease. (HARD) Chronic neutrophilic bronchitis can also occur and cause chronic coughing similar to asthma, but without the bronchoconstriction, wheezing and respiratory distress. The respiratory tract is functionally divided into the upper airway and lower airway. The upper airway consists of the trachea (windpipe) and larynx, whereas the lower airway includes the bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli (which are the airways listed from largest to smallest, respectively). Conditions affecting both the upper and lower airways as well as conditions outside of the respiratory tract.can lead to coughing. Asthmatic inflammation of the airways can be triggered by inhaled allergens or irritants, such as smoke, dusty litter, perfumes, or air fresheners. Space-occupying masses in the lungs or around the trachea, such as granulomas, abscesses, or cancer, can all cause a cough response. Congestive heart failure commonly causes coughing in dogs, but rarely leads to coughing in cats. The following list of conditions comprises the more common causes of coughing in cats, but it is not completely exhaustive:

  • Asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (including allergic airway disease,)
  • Chronic neutrophilic bronchitis
  • Tracheobronchitis (often caused by bacteria such as Bordetella or Mycoplasma and sometimes by viral diseases)
  • Other infections 
  • Cancer (primary or metastatic)
  • Lung lobe torsion
  • Foreign body in the upper or lower airway

Treatments

icon AT-HOME CARE
Caring for a cat with a cough at home requires administering medications appropriately, preventing contact with potential respiratory triggers such as dust, smoke, and pollens and closely monitoringhe respirations, including respiratory rate (20-30 breaths per minute at rest is normal). frequency or severity of the cough, onset of wheezing or open mouth breathing, and lethargy, as well as changes in appetite, .. Medications need to be given as prescribed by a veterinarian, and follow-up with the veterinarian is important, especially if the cat is not doing well or changes are noted. Open mouth breathing is a respiratory emergency and the cat needs emergency care. Do not give human over-the-counter medications to cats, since many are very toxic to cats.
icon SUPPORTIVE CARE
Severely ill cats with significant respiratory distress need emergency care and rmay require hospitalization for IV fluids, IV medication, oxygen support, and close monitoring. Most coughing cats can be managed at home with appropriate medication and monitoring.
icon MEDICATIONS
Medication is necessary for most coughing cats, but the specific medication needed varies depending upon the underlying cause of the cough. Antibiotics or antifungal medication may be used to treat bacterial or fungal infections. Corticosteroids are generally used to manage inflammatory conditions in the lungs, such as chronic bronchitis or feline asthma, and may also be used in managing some cancerous processes. For asthmatic control, steroid and albuterol inhalers are often used in place of oral steroids to reduce potential medication side effects. Anti-parasitic medication is used to treat lungworm infections and may be used in the management of heartworm disease.
icon DEVICES
Usually none, except in cases of asthma or chronic neutrophilic bronchitisbronchitis, etc.) requiring inhalant therapy or medication. An aerosol chamber fitted with a small mask is used to deliver medication directly to the lungs via inhalation.
icon SURGERY
Most coughing cats do not require surgery as a means of managing the cough itself. However, cases of lung lobe torsions, isolated masses, or foreign material in the airways may require surgical procedures.
icon SPECIALISTS
General practitioner veterinarians manage most coughing cats, although some cats require consultation with veterinary specialists in surgery, internal medicine, or emergency and critical care.

Cost Of Treatment

Total cost may be less than $500 in simple, uncomplicated cases. Severe cases requiring hospitalization and advanced diagnostics will be significantly more expensive to treat or manage.

Recovery

Recovery from toughing varies. It may take anywhere from 1-2 weeks for some bacterial or viral infections to resolve. Other more chronic processes such as fungal infections may improve with medication after a few weeks to months. Inflammatory conditions such as asthma and chronic bronchitis may require lifelong management. Heartworm disease may resolve completely or may be fatal.

Monitoring

At home monitoring of a cat’s respiratory rate (20-30 breaths per minute at rest is normal), respiratory effort (breathing normally vs. struggling to breathe), signs of lethargy, changes in appetite, and progression of coughing is important for tracking changes. Depending on the cause of a cat’s cough, recheck evaluation with a veterinarian is usually needed within a few days to weeks after starting treatment.

Prevention

Most causes of coughing in cats are not contagious to other animals or people, but some can be spread to animals and/or people. Heartworm preventatives should be used to help prevent infection in endemic areas. When asthma is present, avoid exposure to irritants such as perfumes and smoke.

Questions about Coughing in Cats

My puppy had parvo virus. If I bring a fully vaccinated dog here, can it infect the new dog? Is there still a risk?

If they new dog is a year old and you are completely sure that that it is 100 percent vaccinated there is a very minimal risk that it will be infected. However, that being said, vaccines are never 100 percent effective so there is always a 0.09 percent chance that the new dog could get the virus. But you should be safe bringing the new dog home. I would make sure that the home environment has been cleaned as thoroughly as possible (this means with bleach to all surfaces) and make sure that the outdoor surfaces have been cleaned as well. Parvo can live in the environment for an annoyingly long time (up to 6 months) so it wouldn't hurt to apply a safe mixture of bleach product to your yard as well. This is probably going completely overboard, but you know how scary parvo can be!

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I have a cat that as a kitten was very ill. We got him from 7 months old. We knew he’d had cat flu prior to him coming here. He is now nearly 5 yrs old. He picks huge fights with our other cat. He keeps urinating and scratching at doors and windows around the house. We allow him to go out via the cat flap unlimited. What is happening to him

I'm glad to see that Pippin has been neutered because this eliminates that possibility of hormone-fueled behavioral changes and aggression. Behavioral changes in cats can occur at any point in time, and could be related to anxiety or stressful situations (even rearranging furniture or introducing new people to the home can be stressful to cats). Without a lot more information and observing Pippin's behaviors, I can't precisely tell you why these changes are occurring. It may be best to consult a veterinary behaviorist in your home so that they can observe everything firsthand. You can also try using calming pheromone collars or diffusers (Feliway is one example), and discussing the use of anxiety medication with Pippin's vet. I hope that all goes well!

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Hi! My cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes. He’s taking insulin and taking antibiotics for a Uti. It’s been 4 weeks and he wobles when he’s walking. He can’t jump up on the bed like he used to.He’s blood sugar is 250 it’s better than it used to. I don’t understand why he’s so wobbly.

Cats can develop what's called diabetic neuropathy, where their hindlegs become progressively weak. The best thing to do is try to get his diabetes under control as quickly as possible. Here is a link describing the conditon: http://www.diabeticcatcare.com/DCCCOK/Neuropathy.htm

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My senior cat has metastized cancer.17 yrs old. My vet gave her predizone1 and one half tabs a day.i wanted to know if i can just stop the meds.

Is there a reason you want to stop the prednisone? I would recommend not stopping it and if you feel it is better to stop the prednisone then I would recommend weaning off of the prednisone. I would discuss how to wean the prednisone with your veterinarian. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.

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My dog has an ear infection

Sorry to hear Marley isn't doing so well with his ears. It is not possible to tell from tge picture tve exact nature of the irritation but if it is indeed infected (typically red, hot, painful and smelly), he will need prescription medication from his regular vet. In the meantime I recommend gently cleaning tge outer war with cotton wool and a pet safe ear cleaner to reduce the build up of wax/discharge

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My dog vomited a pinkish colour. Does this look like blood vomit? She doesn’t have diarrhoea or anything else. Yesterday i fed her plain chicken with rice.

That is very red vomit, however, this color could be linked to a number of things including blood in the vomit, inflammation of the GI tract, having chewed on a toy this color, eaten a food item this color, or gotten into a plant or other item this color. If the vomiting continues, worsens, or other symptoms appear such as a painful or bloated abdomen, diarrhea or blood in the stool, or severe distress, I would schedule a veterinary appointment right away to rule out more severe issues. In the meantime I would continue the bland diet for 24 hours, and monitor for any additional vomiting or illness symptoms.

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Disclaimer

The information contained on this page is for educational purposes only. This medication should only be given under the advice of a veterinarian who has examined your pet under the laws applicable to your state of residence.