COUGHING IN CATS

Coughing in cats is generally an involuntary action to remove an irritant, mucus, or foreign object from the respiratory tract. Since cats do not cough like dogs, coughing in cats most often indicates some type of respiratory or systemic condition that requires veterinary care.

Many pet owners mistake coughing for hairball vomiting, gagging, or regurgitation. Although many cats will vomit hairballs, they have very few opportunities to develop chronic coughing because this behavior is abnormal. Therefore, all instances of coughing in cats need to be evaluated by a veterinarian.

Causes

Coughing in a cat can be caused by problems in the lungs, heart, airways, or by external irritation. The nature of the problem will determine if it is mild, chronic, or life threatening.
Respiratory Conditions

Respiratory diseases represent the most common source of coughing in cats. These include:

• Feline Asthma (Allergic Airway Disease)
• Chronic Bronchitis
• Upper and Lower Respiratory Infections
• Pneumonia

Feline Asthma is one of the most commonly diagnosed causes of coughing in cats and is typically allergic related, such as to dust, pollen, smoke, aerosol sprays, or specific types of litter.

Infectious Causes

Viruses and bacteria that infect the respiratory system can cause inflammation that results in coughing. Viral respiratory infections, including feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus, can contribute to airway inflammation and may lead to coughing in some cats.

Parasitic Causes

Certain parasites, such as lungworms, can live in a cat’s respiratory tract and cause irritation, inflammation, and coughing. Cats that spend time outdoors are more susceptible to parasite infections than indoor-only cats. Parasite infections are usually acquired through exposure to wild animals.

Cardiac and Systemic Causes

While less common, heart problems can occasionally result in fluid buildup within or surrounding a cat’s lungs and result in coughing or difficulty breathing. Heart problems are more commonly found in senior cats or those cats with pre-existing cardiac issues.

Environmental Irritants

Because cats’ sense of smell is extremely developed and they breathe in through their nose, they are extremely sensitive to airborne irritants. For example, exposure to cigarette smoke, perfume or cologne, chemical cleaners, dust and poor ventilation can induce coughing spells in cats who already suffer from sensitivity in their airways.

Foreign Material

When small objects like grass, dust, or debris are inhaled into the lungs, they can cause brief episodes of coughing while the body tries to remove the foreign object from the airway.

Symptoms

Coughing in cats can take a variety of forms depending on what has caused it and how bad the situation is.

The most common symptoms are as follows:

• Recurring dry or hacking cough
• Wheezing or noisy breathing
• Coughing that is misinterpreted as vomiting by gagging or retching
• Severe cases where open mouthed breathing occurs
• Lack of vitality, lethargy
• Lowered appetite with chronic conditions such as asthma

Cats can cough periodically; some will cough often with a chronic condition like asthma.

Risks

Coughing is a sign, however, its root cause can pose a serious risk if untreated.

Breathing Compromise

Symptoms like asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia can impair airflow and make breathing problematic, especially when flaring.

Chronic Airway Damage

Repeatedly inflamed airways can create chronic damage to the walls of your airways and reduce lung function while producing constant respiratory problems.

Reduced Quality of Life

While cats continue to cough, they will likely limit their physical activity, be anxious, and have diminished interest in food and other social activities.

Underlying Medical Conditions

Coughing may occasionally be associated with heart disease, severe respiratory infections, lung parasites, or other conditions that can worsen if left untreated.

Diagnosis

Because coughing has many possible causes, a structured approach to diagnosis is essential for evaluating animals with coughs.

Physical Examination

The veterinarian will use a stethoscope and observe breathing patterns, effort, and general health of your pet while listening for lung and heart sounds. If the cough occurs at that time, they may also be able to observe the cough episode itself.

Imaging

Chest X-rays are the most commonly used type of imaging to help evaluate the lungs, airways, and heart in cases where coughing is occurring. Other types of imaging, such as ultrasound or CT scans, may be recommended for more complex cases to provide a higher level of detail of chest structures than can be obtained by chest X-ray alone.

Laboratory Testing

Blood tests may be performed to detect the presence of infection or inflammation. Fecal samples can be used to detect parasites. In some chronic or unclear cases, specific airway sampling techniques such as bronchoscopy or lavage may need to be used to achieve elevated levels of detail and accuracy.

Treatment

Treatment is based solely on the reason behind the cat’s condition and how bad the symptoms are.

Medical Management

• Bronchodilators may be prescribed to help relax and open the airways in cats with asthma or other obstructive airway diseases.
• Corticosteroids to decrease the inflammation of the airways caused by Asthma.
• Antibiotic drugs for Bacterial Infections.
• Antiparasitic drugs for Lungworms and Other Parasites.

Supportive Care

• Oxygen Therapy for Cats experiencing extreme Respiratory Distress.
• Nebulizing to help remove Mucous and make it easier for Cats to breathe.
• Providing Fluids and Nutritional Support to Cats that are weak due to their condition.

Long-term Management

Most Chronic Conditions, such as asthma, will need Ongoing Treatment and Environmental Control instead of a Cure. Over time, the Type and Amount of Medications can be Adjusted Based upon Symptom Control.

Prevention

Some of the reasons that your cat may have a cough cannot be avoided, but you can take steps to minimize your risk by being mindful of both the environment where you live and how healthy your pet is.

Good ventilation is vital for keeping the air inside your home clean. Keep away from smoke, aerosol sprays, perfume, and heavy duty cleaners, as these are irritants to the airways. Using low dust kitty litter will additionally prevent irritating the upper airway tract.

Cats should see their veterinarian regularly so you can catch a respiratory problem or heart condition in its early stages. If you keep your cat indoors, it minimizes the likelihood of getting an infection, parasite infestation, or pollution in the environment.