Why is My Cat Coughing in Santa Clarita, CA?

Has your cat been coughing a lot lately? Do you find yourself wondering what could be causing it? Are you getting more concerned about her the longer her cough has gone on? Or is this the first time you’ve noticed her coughing recently?

There may be many different situations surrounding a coughing cat, and any or all these statements might be true of you and your cat. No matter what the reason might be, if you’re here reading this article, you’re probably dealing with a cat who’s got a cough.

Reasons for a Coughing Cat

In the article below, you’ll find out some information about five possible reasons why your cat could be coughing. Remember that some of these are much more common than others, and that even though there could be something severely wrong, there’s a better chance that your cat has a mild or moderate condition instead. Read on to learn more.

Allergies

Allergies are by far the most common cause of coughing in cats. If your cat is coughing and the coughing doesn’t seem too severe, there’s a good chance she’s simply dealing with allergies. You may be able to tell if she has allergies if the coughing gets worse after she’s been sitting near an open window or spending time on the back porch.

Your veterinarian will check your cat for other potential problems to rule them out before diagnosing allergies. From there, your cat may need to take allergy medication, cough medicine, or steroids, but only with the express direction of your vet.

Respiratory Infection

A respiratory infection is another very common cause of coughing in cats. Cats are prone to respiratory infections, and most cats will have at least one throughout their lives, even if they are always kept indoors. If your cat has a respiratory infection, this is considered a moderate—but not severe—problem.

If you take your cat to the vet in a timely manner, she should be able to recover well from a respiratory infection. She will likely be given antibiotics and may also receive a cough medicine or steroids depending on the severity of the infection.

Inhaled Foreign Object

Sometimes, cats may inhale a foreign object that becomes lodged in their throat. They may also swallow an object or a piece of food that does the same. This is a dangerous situation and should be responded to immediately.

Look into your cat’s mouth and see if you can see the object. If you can safely remove it, do so; if not, take your cat to the emergency vet immediately without waiting. Inhaling or ingesting a foreign object can be deadly if it blocks your cat’s airways for too long or makes its way into her digestive system.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is not very common in cats, but it isn’t rare, either. Some cats may be more prone to lung cancer than others. If your cat has been coughing for a long time, there’s a possibility she may have lung cancer, but it still may not be the case.

It’s important to have your cat checked thoroughly by the vet if you think lung cancer could be the potential problem. Remember, too, that some other types of cancer could cause coughing as well, and only your vet will be able to tell you for sure.

Hairball

Finally, hairballs are another extremely common cause of coughing in cats. This cause is more likely even than allergies, but it is hard to confuse the cough of a hairball with other types of coughing, namely because it is almost always followed by the spitting up of the actual hairball.

Check to see that your cat has coughed up a hairball and didn’t just vomit from the intensity of her cough. You should be able to see a clump of cat hair that will let you know for sure it’s a hairball. This might sound unpleasant, but it’s harmless.

In Conclusion

There are many different reasons why a cat might start coughing, and this list only covers some of the possibilities. It’s important to consider just how many causes of coughing there are for humans and remember that there are just as many for cats, too.

If your cat coughs for longer than a day, or if your cat’s coughing seems severe or uncontrollable, you should take her to the vet right away. If you think your cat might have ingested or inhaled a foreign object, take her to the emergency vet.

The sooner your cat can be seen by a professional, the better off she will be no matter what the cause of her coughing is. Your vet can give you more specific information about your individual cat’s needs and her overall health as well. Talk with your Stevenson Ranch Veterinary Center veterinarian by calling (661) 799-0655 or using the online form!