Why Is My Cat Coughing?

Our pets are similar to ourselves in a lot of ways and coughing is no different. If there is an irritant in the air, such as; smoke or dust, we may cough. Your cat may likely do the same. She is just as likely to be bothered by irritants as her human owner. 

But just like her human owner, your cat can have a cough for other reasons, some of which can be cause for concern. Taking note of how persistent your cat’s cough is and whether it is “wet” or “dry” are a few things that can help you determine if your cat’s cough is something you should be concerned about. 

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Why is my cat coughing? Here are some reasons your cat could be coughing:

1. Irritants
2. Heartworms 
3. Respiratory Infections
4. Asthma
5. Pleural Effusion
6. Inhaled Foreign Matter
7. Trauma
8. Cancer

Should I Be Concerned About My Cat’s Cough?

The simple answer to this question is it really depends on why your cat is coughing. If he is scratching up a “dust storm” in his litter box and lets out a cough, there is a good chance that once he walks away from the dust that will be the end of the coughing.

However, if your cat’s coughing is something that occurs daily or seems like it is causing your cat discomfort, it is time to investigate further as to why your cat is coughing. This is probably something you should have your veterinarian diagnose. If it is something serious, you will want to start treatment immediately.

Let’s look at some of the reasons that cats cough in more detail.

Irritants – If we go into an environment that is filled with dust, smoke or some other type of environmental irritant, we are going to cough. It is possible for your cat to have the same reaction to smoke, dust, cleaning products, etc. Once the source is gone the coughing should stop. You should keep your cat away from the irritants wherever possible and the coughing can be avoided. 

Heartworms – Heartworms are worms that can be as long as 12 inches and live in your pet’s body. Fortunately, because a cat is an atypical host for heartworms (dogs have it much worse) these worms do not survive to the adult stage in cats. If the worms survive to adulthood in cats, there are very few (usually 3 or fewer). 

It is important to understand that it does not take adult heartworms to make your cat sick. A condition known as heartworm associated respiratory disease (HARD), can cause real damage to your cat. A heartworm prevention regimen is the best solution to keeping your cat heartworm free. 

Inhaled foreign objects – Anything that is “inhaled” by your cat can cause them to cough the same way it would a human being. The items most often inhaled by cats would be their food or grass if they have access to it. Once the item is expelled the coughing should stop.

Respiratory infections – Cats again, will take after their human owners when it comes to respiratory infections. These infections are commonly caused by viruses, but some can also be caused by bacteria. Places with multiple cats (multi-cat homes and shelters) are the most common source of the infections. The common forms of respiratory infections in cats are listed below:

• Feline herpesvirus. This is related to the virus that causes chickenpox and cold sores in people, but cats can’t give it to their owners.
• Feline calicivirus. This highly contagious virus causes a mild to severe respiratory infection and oral disease.
• Chlamydia. Runny eyes are a typical sign of this bacterial infection.
• Bordetella. This bacterial infection is usually associated with stress and overcrowded living conditions. It’s more common in dogs.
• Fungus. Cats can pick up fungal infections by being exposed to bird droppings and decaying plants.

Viruses can be passed through secretions from the eyes and noses of infected cats. This means these infections can be very easily spread through grooming and contaminated surfaces (bowls, litterboxes and clothing) that an infected cat has been in contact with. Your vet can recommend a treatment for feline respiratory infections.

Pleural effusion – Pleural effusions, also called water on the lung, is an excessive buildup of fluid between your lungs and chest cavity. The bottom line is this fluid takes the space the lungs need to fully expand limiting your cat’s oxygen supply. You can read more here about what causes pleural effusion in cats. This condition is very serious and will require immediate attention from your vet. 

Asthma – Asthma is a disease of the lower airways and as many as 5% of cats have issues with asthma. This disease is an allergic reaction caused by inhaled allergens. These particles stimulate the cat’s immune system. 

The short story is when these allergens are inhaled again, substances that promote inflammation are produced. The inflammation can lead to swelling, irritation and airway constriction. All of these conditions can cause difficulty breathing, wheezing, rapid breathing, coughing or hacking, open-mouthed. breathing, or vomiting.

Feline asthma can be diagnosed with imaging (other conditions should be eliminated first) and there are treatments available as well. Asthma in cats can be progressive in nature.

Trauma – Trauma to a cat’s respiratory tract can be physical, chemical or thermal. Trauma can be life threatening or less serious and should always be evaluated by a veterinary professional.

Cancer – Coughing can be an early sign of cancer in a cat. Cancer is something that will also need to be diagnosed professionally.

Is It a Wet Cough or a Dry Cough?

Just like us, our cat’s cough can vary and that often depends on the cause of their cough. Figuring out whether your cat’s cough is wet or dry can help with your cat’s diagnosis.

A wet cough is when your cat, coughs up phlegm. This is a thick mucus that is coughed up to help rid the body of viruses and bacteria. A wet cough is usually the result of an infection and in most cases can be treated with antibiotics.

A dry cough is just that “dry and raspy”. These coughs can be caused by asthma, cancer or foreign bodies that may have been inhaled.  

What Can I Do About My Cat’s Cough?

If your cat has foreign matter or other irritants irritating her, she will most likely stop coughing when the irritation passes. Treatment of trauma can be anything from surgery to quiet rest to allow healing. For heartworms, your vet can prescribe a treatment plan.

Cancer, asthma and respiratory infections are all conditions that should also be treated by a medical professional. Treatment can vary greatly depending on the diagnosis of your cat’s cough.

Boy, Pixie and Mary’s Story

Most of Boy, Pixie and Mary’s coughing was the result of a hairball or some loose grass that they managed to get a hold of. Pixie never had any issues with coughing outside of the occasional hairball. 

Mary – Mary was the first of the trio that experienced coughing. She was only a little over a year old and she just seemed to be coughing and sneezing more than the other two. After realizing that her coughing was getting worse, off to the vet we went. 

It was devastating when the vet said she thought Mary had FIV or Feline Leukemia. I told the vet I did not believe it (Mary was a 90% indoor cat). Mary was tested and her tests were all negative. She was on antibiotics for a week and then had most of her teeth pulled. 

According to the vet, she had gum disease and her body was rejecting her teeth and causing an infection. Once the infection was cleared up, the coughing disappeared. Mary lived many years with only 5 teeth.

Boy – Boy’s coughing was frequent and disturbing. His coughing was “hard”, but it never seemed to happen when he was at the vet. The vet suggested we take a video when we witnessed the coughing. We did eventually capture the event. 

The vet diagnosed him with asthma. They recommended trying to keep him calm. They also recommended working on getting his weight down. He weighed 20 pounds and that is never a good number for a cat. We were successful at getting Boy’s weight down to about 16.5 pounds. 

He was still considered obese, but he did become much more active and the asthma (coughing) went away. Boy also went on to live for many years without any significant asthma attacks.

Final Thoughts

Your cat can have a cough for many reasons. If it lasts for any length of time or sounds unusual, you should take your cat to be checked out by the vet. The last thing you want is for your cat to be in distress with a cough that makes him miserable.