Having a sick cat can be incredibly stressful. A trip to the vet is never cheap, and they will probably need to draw blood, possibly do an X-ray to check for fluid in the lungs or something stuck in the airway, and most likely send you home with medication. Furry children need us to take care of them when they are feeling bad, just like human children. They depend on you, as their Mom/Dad, caretaker, or servant, to help them quickly feel better.
A sign of a sick pet is often a cough. And there are many reasons for that. So, why is my cat coughing?
Reasons Cats Cough
As humans, why do we cough? Some of the same reasons we cough are also why animals, like cats, cough. Seasonal allergies, dust, mold, food allergies, household allergies, a lifelong virus or a short-term virus, a foreign object stuck in the nose, and when we get hit in the nose, this can also result in a sneezing fit. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top reasons cats cough and what you can do to help your furry loved one.
Allergies: Food, Seasonal, Mold, Dust Mites and More
Cats can suffer from many types of allergies, just like their human companion. Of course, humans probably won’t eat a bee and get their throat stung or get into the catnip and get it stuck in their throat. Mold, dust, and pollen can all irritate a cat’s throat, which makes them cough to try to rid themselves of the issue. Pay attention to what your cat tells you and try to retrace their steps if the coughing suddenly starts. You may find a type of plant thrown up, a hairball, or vomit. Another telltale sign that your cat is feeling bad is their absence. Cats are excellent at hiding pain and sickness, but their camouflage isn’t going to hide coughing fits.
Mold and Fungi
In the Spring and Fall, the leaves fall to the ground and collect the moisture around them, eventually becoming alive with leaf mold. During Spring and Fall, the daily high and low temperatures are the farthest apart, meaning it might be 40 degrees Fahrenheit at night, but by the afternoon, it could be 85 degrees. That creates moisture, and with the leaves crushed down on top of each other, it is the perfect setup to grow mold.
Mold makes us sneeze and cough since we inhale it through our mouth and nose. It can also make us very sick, depending on the mold type. This also goes for cats. They have very sensitive noses and throats, which can create exaggerated coughing. Mold spores can be inhaled by your cat anytime they are near it, resulting in a sneezing and coughing mess. Your cat isn’t the only one in the household that mold will affect negatively. It’s bad for everyone, except the little creatures that eat it.
Diseases and Viruses
Coughing can be a symptom of something worse than allergies; many viruses list coughing as a symptom. Some of these viruses are deadly, others are difficult and require lifelong preventative measures to keep them at bay, and others can come and go, much like human viruses. The most common viruses and their symptoms are listed below.
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis and Feline Calicivirus
These viruses are rarely deadly, though they can cause complications that do lead to death. The youngest and the oldest are hit hardest with the ever-revolving feline herpesvirus and calicivirus. The viruses typically cause sneezing, watery eyes, conjunctivitis, green/yellow pus from the nose, and a slight fever, similar to our common cold. If not treated, it can turn into pneumonia or worse.
It is essential to get your cat or kitten vaccinated. These viruses can be put out of your mind if your cat has been vaccinated against them. The vaccination needs to be boosted periodically to protect your fur child.
Feline Panleukemia
Feline panleukopenia, or feline distemper as it is most often called, is one of the worst and most unforgiving viruses a cat can get. It is also one of the most preventable viruses because there is a vaccination that protects your cat. Those most affected by the virus are the old, young, and those with compromised immune systems.
The vomiting and diarrhea occur shortly after you notice your cat has a fever. All cats with this will require IV fluids (Ringer’s) to have a fighting chance. The virus lasts about a week, so the best advice is to just hang in there and provide your cat with anything it needs, such as water, a heating pad, a room that can be easily bleached like a bathroom, boiled chicken after the diarreha and vomiting has stopped, and several different over-the-counter meds that can lessen the length of time your cat has it.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis can be viral or bacterial. The bacterial edition requires a super-strong immune system or a good antibiotic. The viral bronchitis is annoying and may last well over a week, but it typically resolves on its own without any medical care. Help your cat breathe easier by putting a humidifier where it is.
If your cat is having severe breathing issues, prompting you to get them to the vet, but you are afraid they will not make it because they cannot breathe, try the shower trick. Put your cat in the bathroom and shut the door. Turn on the shower to hot and let the room get steamy. This will help loosen the mucus so your cat can cough it up more easily.
Lung Cancer
Cancer is an unfortunate disease that leaves very few survivors. Ensure that chemicals are not stored near food or water, and do not smoke indoors. There is no preventative measure you can take to ward off cancer. Keep your cats healthy by feeding them food without junky additives and fillers, keep them up to date on all vaccinations, do not let them go outdoors and always take them to the vet as soon as you notice anything “off.”
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)
Feline infectious peritonitis is strange because, to begin with, the cat must have a specific strain of feline coronavirus to mutate and create something that can be and is, most of the time, fatal.
FIP is a horrible virus that causes your cat’s lungs to fill with fluid. Essentially, they are drowning without being near water. They become nauseous, anorexic, depressed, have a high fever, depressed and they no longer do any of their everyday activities. The cat will likely find a comfortable spot and stay in it. There are two types of FIP: the effusive form of FIP and the non-effusive form. The two types of FIP can switch places by evolving into each other.
A recent medical breakthrough has occurred. Scientists have developed the GS-441524 treatment, and over 80% of cats taking the solution make a full recovery. What was once fatal has turned the corner and is finally getting the research it needs.
Hairballs
Hairballs are another reason your cat might be coughing. Luckily, they make hairball-eliminating dry and wet cat food, pastes, and medications to make that pesky business a bit smoother. If you find that your cat is grooming more than usual, that may be the cause of the troublesome hairballs. Treat the skin issues before treating the hairball problem, and you won’t need the hairball treatment after all.
A Few Honorable Mentions: asthma, foreign items, choking on food, dental problems, inhalation of smoke and chemicals, heartworms (yes, cats can get it, too), parasitic worms, eating cat litter, trauma to the throat, and a collar that’s too tight. There are many more possible reasons why your cat is coughing. The best advice is to take your cat to the vet. It may be something super simple to fix, or something that is worsening, making time of utmost importance.
