Cat Cough

[AmyOliver]

My 7 year old, female cat was acting normal and then all of the sudden she started coughing. She had her head low when she coughed. Nothing came up. It only lasted a minute or so (although it felt a lot longer). She immediately went back to normal and appears to be fine now. I've been at school for the past few weeks and she's been staying with my parents, so I don't know if this has been happening frequently or not. Should I take her to the vet anyway and get her checked for asthma or another kind of respiratory issue? Or could it just be that she was coughing? She's never had any health issues in the 7 years that I've had her.

[Bria_Elliott]

Is it a hacking noise or just coughing it could be a hair ball which will most likely pass on its own.

[CML2014]

Hi Young,

You are so right...but please make sure you have seen the vet about the possibility that these coughing episodes are nothing more than "hairball hacking" and not Asthma.

There is a video on the web that shows a cat having an asthma attack. If you get a chance watch it and see if the Asthmatic cat looks like yours !

Hairballs were exactly what I thought my cat was trying to cough up--then found out it is Asthma.

Guess that is why my first thought on hearing these non productive coughs, always wants to have asthma excluded.

Best wishes,
CML

[MYoungAtHeart]

sometimes a kitty will cough and cough trying to throw a hairball...My Sophia is a shorthair and never throws one, but acts like one is possibly ready to come out....Sometimes the hairballs will get stuck and kitty will cough and cough and cough trying to dislodge it.  There is hairball medicine to give the kitty and your vet will be the best person you can ask about this.

M

[CML2014]

Hi Amy,

Happy to hear the little one does not have Asthma!
Thanks for keeping us posted.

CML

[AmyOliver]

Sorry it has taken so long to get back to you.
I took Delilah (my cat) to the vet, they did a thorough examination and chest x-rays and did not find anything. They think probably she had choked on her spit or something. They said it was very unlikely that a cat would suddenly start showing signs of asthma at 7 years old.
Thank you for your help!
Amy

[CML2014]

Hi Amy,

Sounds like it could be Asthma. The way you describe her head being low to the ground and not expelling any thing is a classic sign.
In fact if you go on the we and punch in Feline Asthma Videos--they will show cats doing this and if your cat is like the Vid, then she needs to have a chest x-ray to confirm it I aAsthma.

My Meezy has it and we give her once a day , by inhaler, Flovent.
Your Vet will probably prescribe this if confirmed. Don't get the Flovent at your Drugstore--it is very expensive. There is a place on the web under Four Corners Pharmacy --order it from there, it is much less expensive.

There also is a Yahoo Forum for Feline Asthma which is good to read through. It will give you plenty of information on this pretty common condition.

Good Luck to you both, and please get back to us and let us know what the Vet says, K?
Thanks,
CML