Coughing in cats, explained

Yes, you may not know this, but cats cough. It's less common compared to us or our canine friends. But that doesn’t mean you need to panic every time your cat lets out a sniffle.

An occasional cough shouldn't raise alarms, but consistent, chronic coughing often means there's an underlying issue. It's why it's important to understand why a cat may cough, when it isn't something to worry about and when you should chat to a vet about it.

Here, we'll discuss how a cat's cough differs from other animals, why cats cough, common causes and why early diagnosis is key.

Do cats really cough? Understanding the symptom

Yes, cats do cough. But it's easy for owners to confuse it with gagging or retching, which cats tend to do when they're producing a nice hairball for us to pick up. Thanks, kitty.

Cats don't cough as much as other pets, but they sometimes do it as a reflex to clear their airways. It sounds like a "honk" or a wheezy sound if it's a dry cough, while a wet cough will sound crackly with a loud swallow.

A very occasional cough might be nothing to worry about. But you should get help if your cat has frequent, consistent coughing, especially if it's producing phlegm and it's paired with symptoms like breathing difficulties, lethargy, loss of appetite or wheezing.

Dry vs. wet (productive) coughs: what's the difference?

Outside of the sound, the main difference between dry and wet coughs are what they could signify.

Dry coughs are more likely to be things like asthma or stuck foreign objects, while wet coughs are more likely to mean infection or fluid build-up.

It can be helpful to distinguish between them before you go to a vet.

Common causes of coughing in cats

Asthma

Asthma in cats is usually due to an underlying allergic reaction. It is typically triggered by exposure to mould, dust, pollen and smoke. Signs include persistent coughing and open-mouth breathing.

It's essential to see your vet if you suspect your cat has asthma as it's a serious, potentially threatening condition.

Other common household irritants that could trigger coughing in some cats include:

• Cat litter

• Cigarette and vape smoke

• Dust

• Household cleaning products, like air fresheners

• Parasites

Parasites like heartworm and lungworm can cause coughing in cats. Our article on how to treat worms in cats and dogs discusses more.

There's more risk if you have an outdoor cat. It's why deworming and prevention are essential, especially if your kitty loves exploring outside.

Foreign objects

Sometimes, coughing doesn't indicate a disease or illness; it can mean a foreign object is stuck in your cat's throat. Blades of grass are particularly common.

This needs urgent veterinary attention.

Hairballs

Now, this isn't coughing, it's technically "gagging". And when a cat gags, it's often a hairball.

Pet parents often get confused between a cat gagging or coughing as the noise is similar, so it's worth talking about hairballs.

Your cat will likely produce a hairball every now and then, but there can be a problem when they're produced frequently and are paired with other concerning symptoms like:

• Digestive problems

• Excessive grooming

• Hair loss

In rare cases, large hairballs can cause intestinal blockages, so it's worth seeing a vet if you're concerned. So, while this isn’t coughing, consistent gagging is something a vet should still investigate.

Heart disease

Coughing is an uncommon symptom of heart disease in cats, but it is possible. Heart issues can cause a build-up of fluid, causing symptoms like:

• Coughing

• Laboured breathing

• Lethargy

• Poor appetite

• Lung cancer or tumours

Lung cancer and tumours can cause coughing, but don't panic too much. This is rare, and it's more common in older cats. You should definitely see a vet if persistent coughing is paired with:

• Decreased appetite

• Lethargy

• Weight loss

Respiratory infections

Coughing could be a sign of respiratory infection, but sneezing is more often noticed. Common culprits are Bordetella bronchiseptica, feline calicivirus and feline herpesvirus.

Symptoms of infection include:

• Coughing

• Eye discharge

• Fever

• Nasal discharge

• Pneumonia (needs urgent veterinary attention)

• Sneezing

Does age matter when it comes to coughing?

Yes, it does. But only in terms of what coughing means.

• Kittens - more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections due to their developing immune systems.

• Old cats - increased risk of things like cancer and heart disease.

When should I worry about my cat’s coughing?

Some clear red flags are:

• Appetite loss

• Coughing up blood

• Difficulty breathing

• Extreme distress or agitation

• Gagging without producing hairballs

• Lethargy

• Persistent coughing which won't go away

• Wheezing

• Weight loss

You should call the vet if you notice these symptoms or if you're worried. It's worth reading our guide on first aid for cats if there's ever an emergency.

Diagnosing your cat’s cough

Vets will perform a physical exam and then use a mix of:

• Blood tests - these can identify signs of infection and inflammation

• Bronchoscopy - a camera put down your cat’s airways to visualise them and take samples

• Ultrasound scans - moving images of your cats heart and lungs which help look for changes to the heart or fluid accumulation in the chest

• X-rays - Images of your cats heart and lungs to look for obvious abnormalities like heart enlargement or tumours

A vet will usually perform more than one test to get a diagnosis.

It's essential to get to the vet as early as you can as cats will have a better prognosis if treated quickly.

Treatment options for coughing in cats

Antibiotics

This is more likely for conditions like respiratory infections and more serious pneumonia.

Deworming

Regular deworming is essential to stave off issues like heartworm and lungworm.

Hairball management

Excessive hairballs can be cured with regular grooming and dietary changes.

Lifestyle changes and long-term management

Chronic conditions like asthma and heart disease will need lifestyle changes and long-term medication to treat. Your vet may recommend an inhaler or oral anti-inflammatories for asthma and heart medications for cardiac disease.

Cats with these conditions cannot be cured so will need long-term management.

Surgery

This is an option if your cat has a foreign object stuck in their throat.

Prognosis for cats with coughing

It depends on what your cat is diagnosed with. Every cat is different, and things like when the condition is diagnosed, breed and age all play a part.

A truth for every respiratory and coughing-related condition is that early detection always helps. The sooner you get your cat to the vet when you notice troubling symptoms, the earlier they can diagnose and fix the problem before it gets worse. Cats are very good at hiding symptoms of disease so any changes, no matter how small, should be taken seriously.

It's why routine vet care is so important, too, as this can spot issues at the earliest stage.

While cat insurance doesn't cover routine care, it can cover unexpected health issues that cause coughing.

Protecting your cat's health

To proactively protect your cat against coughing, we recommend using a mix of:

• Avoiding exposure to harsh irritants like chemicals and smoke

• Engaging in regular grooming

• Keeping your cat's environment allergen-free and clean

• Practice parasite prevention, like regular deworming and limiting your cat's hunting instincts

• Taking your cat to their routine vet checks so that issues like heart murmurs can be picked up more quickly

Cat insurance can help you and your cat prepare for the unexpected, like repeated or sudden coughing. We offer up to £20,000 vet fee cover on our Complete Care cat insurance plan, 24/7 video vet calls and a host of ManyPets Perks.

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