7th April, 2025
Has your cat been coughing lately? While you might assume it’s just another hairball, cat coughing often signals more serious underlying issues. In fact, coughing in cats typically indicates an inflammatory problem affecting the lower respiratory tract, particularly bronchitis, and can sometimes be a sign of serious health concerns.
Your cat’s cough could stem from various causes, including respiratory infections, asthma, or even inhaled foreign objects. While occasional coughing in healthy cats isn’t usually concerning, persistent coughing accompanied by wheezing or difficulty breathing warrants immediate attention. If you notice your cat coughing up blood or experiencing severe coughing episodes that end in retching, these are clear signs to seek veterinary care.
This comprehensive guide explores everything you need to know about cat coughing, from identifying different types of coughs to understanding their causes. We’ll help you recognise when to worry, what to expect at the vet, and how to create a healthier environment for your feline friend.
Distinguishing between actual coughing and other similar sounds is crucial for cat owners. A true cat cough is an expiratory effort producing a sudden, noisy expulsion of air from the lungs.
Coughing in cats almost always indicates an airway disease, unlike the more common hairball-related retching. Furthermore, cats cough less frequently than other animals, so if a cat's coughing persists, it should never be ignored.
When your cat exhibits both coughing and sneezing, this combination typically points to a respiratory infection. Cat coughs, in particular, can indicate potential diagnoses such as feline asthma, respiratory infections, or parasitic infestations.
Sneezing occurs due to irritation of the nasal passages, whilst coughing indicates the infection has spread beyond the upper respiratory tract. During these infections, nasal discharge often flows back into the throat, triggering the cough reflex.
Respiratory infections causing this symptom pair are commonly viral (such as feline herpesvirus or calicivirus) or bacterial (like Bordetella bronchiseptica). Moreover, these infections may produce additional symptoms including:
Nasal congestion (noticeable breathing sounds)
Runny eyes or nose (watery or yellow-green discharge)
Changes in vocalisation
Decreased appetite or activity
Having cat insurance can aid in diagnostic costs when investigating these symptoms, especially since multiple tests may be needed to identify the specific pathogen.
Cat coughing accompanied by wheezing represents a more serious concern, potentially indicating respiratory distress. Wheezing occurs when air passageways constrict or become inflamed, making it difficult for your cat to breathe properly.
Feline asthma stands out as a common cause of this symptom combination. Cat asthma, characterised by coughing and wheezing, requires prompt attention and can be managed with specific medications that reduce inflammation and open airways. During an asthma attack, cats often crouch low to the ground with their neck extended—a position that helps them get as much air as possible between coughs. Consequently, untreated asthma can become life-threatening.
Notably, if your cat’s tongue and gums begin turning blue or grey during coughing episodes, it indicates oxygen deprivation requiring immediate veterinary attention.
Although many owners assume coughing leads to hairballs, a cat coughing but producing no hairball suggests other underlying issues. Inflammation of a cat's airways due to allergens can lead to coughing and difficulty breathing. Healthy cats typically only cough up hairballs a couple of times monthly; anything more frequent indicates a potential problem.
Besides asthma and respiratory infections, other causes include:
Parasites (particularly heartworms or lungworms)
Foreign objects in the airway
Allergies to environmental triggers
Heart disease (especially coughing after exertion)
Lung tumours (often accompanied by weight loss and lethargy)
Given the range of potential causes, many of which require specific treatments, comprehensive insurance coverage can prove invaluable for ensuring your cat receives necessary diagnostic tests and appropriate care.
Seeking professional help is crucial when your cat's coughing persists for more than a few days, becomes severe, or is accompanied by other symptoms. Cat coughing can result from respiratory infections, allergies, parasites, foreign objects, or even heart disease - making accurate diagnosis essential for proper treatment.
Initially, your veterinarian will take a thorough medical history, asking specific questions about when the cough started, its frequency, and any other symptoms you’ve noticed.
Prepare to describe what happens during coughing episodes in detail - including whether your cat produces anything when coughing, when it occurs most often, and if there are any changes in appetite or behaviour.
Taking a video of your cat coughing before the appointment can be invaluable, as cats rarely cough on command at the vet’s office. This visual evidence helps your vet distinguish between actual coughing and other issues like gagging or retching.
Remember, a cat's cough warrants a visit to the veterinarian to rule out any serious health issues and ensure your cat's well-being.
Following the physical examination, your vet may recommend several diagnostic tests:
Chest X-rays - Provide images of your cat’s lungs and heart, helping identify patterns associated with asthma, bronchitis, or heartworm disease
Blood tests - Including complete blood count to check for infection or inflammation, and heartworm testing
Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) - Collects samples from deep in the lungs to identify specific types of inflammation or infection
Bronchoscopy - Allows direct examination of the airways using a small, flexible camera
For persistent or severe coughing cases, additional tests might include ultrasound, sputum analysis, or specialised cultures.
Diagnosing respiratory issues often requires multiple tests, which can quickly add up financially. Cat insurance typically covers vet fees for unexpected illnesses, including diagnostic procedures like X-rays, laboratory tests, and specialist referrals.
Most policies have an excess (the amount you pay when making a claim) that can be either compulsory or voluntary. Importantly, lifetime cover offers the most comprehensive protection, ensuring your cat remains covered for chronic respiratory conditions throughout their life, provided you renew your policy annually.
Nevertheless, always review your policy documents carefully, as coverage limits vary between providers.
Your feline friend's age plays a crucial role in how coughing manifests and what it might indicate. Indeed, cats of different ages face distinct respiratory challenges that require tailored approaches to diagnosis and treatment.
Kittens are particularly vulnerable to respiratory infections, which frequently cause coughing as the body attempts to clear mucus and pathogens. Viruses like feline herpesvirus or calicivirus often target young cats with underdeveloped immune systems. Parasitic worms, though less common, can also trigger coughing in kittens.
Regardless of the cause, prompt veterinary attention is essential as kittens can deteriorate rapidly when respiratory issues arise. Comprehensive kitten insurance can help manage these unexpected early-life health challenges, covering diagnostic tests and treatments when they're most needed.
Asthma typically develops in young to middle-aged cats, with a reported mean age of 4 years (range 1-15 years). Even cats diagnosed during later years likely suffered from asthma for some time before showing obvious symptoms. Adult cats commonly experience:
Occasional episodes of respiratory distress alternating with symptom-free periods
Seasonal variation in cough severity and frequency
Post-coughing vomiting (often mistaken for hairballs)
Severe symptoms like asthma attacks that necessitate immediate veterinary attention
Most adult cats behave normally between coughing episodes, making the condition easy to overlook until it worsens. Comprehensive insurance coverage becomes valuable for managing chronic conditions like asthma that require ongoing treatment. It is important to note that some insurers will not cover pre-existing conditions so it is beneficial to get cover before a condition arises.
Cats begin experiencing age-related physical changes between seven and ten years, with most showing signs by twelve years of age. Elderly cats' coughing might indicate more serious underlying issues like:
Cancer affecting the respiratory tract
Heart disease complications
Accumulated damage to airway tissues from chronic conditions
Unfortunately, senior cats often conceal illness until conditions are quite advanced. As your cat ages, regular veterinary check-ups become increasingly important, alongside senior-specific insurance policies that cover age-related conditions.
Overall, appropriate insurance coverage throughout your cat's life ensures you can provide optimal care regardless of which age-specific coughing causes might emerge.
Treating cat coughing requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying cause of the cough. Depending on the diagnosis, your veterinarian may prescribe medications or recommend therapies to alleviate your cat’s cough.
Antibiotics: If your cat’s cough is due to a bacterial infection, antibiotics can help clear up the infection and reduce coughing. It’s crucial to complete the entire course of antibiotics as prescribed by your vet to ensure the infection is fully eradicated.
Corticosteroids: For cats suffering from asthma or allergies, corticosteroids can be a game-changer. These medications help reduce inflammation in the cat’s airways, making it easier for them to breathe and reducing the frequency and severity of coughing episodes.
Bronchodilators: These medications are particularly useful for cats with asthma or chronic bronchitis. Bronchodilators work by opening up the airways, allowing your cat to breathe more easily and reducing the effort required to expel air from the lungs.
Cough Suppressants: In some cases, your vet might prescribe cough suppressants to manage a persistent cough. However, it’s essential to use these medications under veterinary guidance, as they can have side effects and may not address the underlying cause of the cough.
Inhalers: For cats with asthma or chronic bronchitis, inhalers can be an effective way to deliver medication directly to the lungs. This method ensures that the medication reaches the respiratory system quickly, providing relief from coughing and breathing difficulties.
Managing your cat's environment effectively can dramatically reduce coughing episodes and improve their respiratory health. Creating an allergen-free space addresses many common triggers that cause your cat to cough, wheeze, or struggle with breathing difficulties.
Many household items can trigger coughing in sensitive cats. Accordingly, removing these irritants often resolves persistent coughing problems. First thing to remember is that dusty cat litter frequently causes coughing fits when cats use their litter boxes. Switching to a low-dust or dust-free alternative can provide immediate relief.
Other common triggers include cigarette smoke, perfumes, hairsprays, carpet cleaners, and essential oil diffusers. It is also important to distinguish between a dry cough and a wet cough, as a wet cough produces phlegm and often indicates a lower respiratory issue that requires veterinary attention.
To minimise these irritants:
Add air purifiers to remove allergens before they accumulate
Clean or replace furnace filters regularly
Vacuum frequently to reduce dust, pollen and other allergens
Consider adding a humidifier to prevent dehydration of respiratory tract cells
Certain cats with respiratory issues benefit from dietary changes, primarily those with food sensitivities or allergies. Nutrition takes time to affect cats with bronchitis or asthma but can ultimately reduce reliance on medication. Discussing nutritional counselling with your vet helps determine whether your cat might benefit from a hypoallergenic diet that supports respiratory health.
Regular preventative healthcare remains essential for maintaining your cat's respiratory wellness. Routine examinations allow vets to detect early signs of conditions that cause coughing.
Keeping vaccinations current helps prevent respiratory infections that commonly trigger coughing. Cat insurance typically doesn't cover these routine treatments, making wellness plans worth considering.
Wellness plans help spread the cost of preventative treatments throughout the year via fixed monthly payments. These plans generally cover vaccinations, parasite control, and regular check-ups—all crucial for respiratory health. Nonetheless, wellness plans differ from pet insurance; they complement rather than replace it. Insurance policies won't cover wellness plans as these are considered preventative treatment.
Most veterinary practises emphasise that "wellness plans are designed to work with your insurance policy" and should not be used as alternatives. Having both ensures comprehensive protection—wellness plans for preventative care and cat insurance for unexpected illnesses requiring diagnostic tests and treatments.
Cat coughing might seem like a minor concern, though it often signals underlying health issues that require attention. While occasional coughs happen, persistent coughing combined with symptoms like wheezing or breathing difficulties needs prompt veterinary care.
Creating a healthy environment, maintaining regular check-ups, and understanding age-specific risks help protect your cat's respiratory health. Above all, early detection and treatment significantly improve outcomes for respiratory conditions, making proper veterinary care important.
Therefore, protecting your cat with comprehensive insurance coverage can help with the financial strain of providing necessary care for your cat. To get a cat insurance quote for your furry friend you can get a quote through our website. If you would like to talk to one of our cat insurance team, you can get in touch with us on 0330 102 5748.
Remember, your cat's cough serves as their way of communicating potential health concerns. Quick action, appropriate medical care, and ongoing preventative measures help ensure your feline friend stays healthy and happy throughout their life.
If your cat's cough persists for more than a few days, worsens, or is accompanied by other symptoms like wheezing or difficulty breathing, it's time to consult a veterinarian. Persistent coughing could indicate respiratory infections, asthma, or other underlying health issues.
Common causes include respiratory infections, feline asthma, allergies, hairballs, foreign objects in the airway, and in some cases, heart disease. Environmental irritants like dust, smoke, or strong odours can also trigger coughing in sensitive cats.
Coughing is typically a sudden, noisy expulsion of air from the lungs, while hairball-related retching often involves more pronounced abdominal movements and usually results in the production of a hairball. Healthy cats generally only cough up hairballs a couple of times monthly.
Yes, age plays a role in cat coughing. Kittens are more susceptible to respiratory infections, adult cats commonly develop asthma, and elderly cats may experience coughing due to more serious conditions like cancer or heart disease. Regular check-ups are crucial, especially as your cat ages.
To reduce coughing triggers, use low-dust or dust-free cat litter, add air purifiers to remove allergens, clean furnace filters regularly, and vacuum frequently.
Consider using a humidifier and avoid using strong-smelling products like perfumes or essential oils. Discuss potential dietary adjustments with your vet, as some cats benefit from hypoallergenic diets.
