Cat coughs or retches hairballs. How to tell them apart and when to see a doctor?
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- A coughing cat often crouches low, stretches its neck, and coughs repeatedly without anything coming out. Therefore it can be mistaken for a hairball.
- Open your mouth to breathe, gums are pale, gray or purple, gasp for breath, fall or become weak, you must go to the emergency room immediately.
- Severe cough, repeated cough, cough that lasts more than a few days, has mucus, looks sick, or is thinner, you should see a veterinarian.
- Take short videos and count your breathing while you sleep. But don't let saving delay healing.
What is the difference between coughing and retching?
When coughing, cats often crouch low, extend their necks, spread their elbows, and let out a rhythmic gasp. Maybe nothing will come out. As for retching, there is often abdominal contraction, nausea, lip licking, and water, food, or hairballs may come out.
You may not be able to tell them apart from the video alone. Coughing can be caused by asthma, infection, parasites, heart disease, or irritants. Therefore, you should not conclude that it is a hairball every time.
When do I need to see a doctor?
Go to emergency immediately if you open your mouth to breathe, have pale, gray or purple gums, hyperventilate, collapse, or are weak. The VCA recommends testing for severe coughing. Repeated coughing Cough that lasts more than a few days, has sputum, is associated with illness or is thinner.
Cats who are coughing for the first time or who are recurrent should make an appointment to get checked out, as feline asthma can be so severe that it can be life-threatening.
While waiting for inspection
Reduce smoke, cigarettes, incense, spray, perfume, and cat litter dust. Take a video and record the time, frequency, stimulus, and whether anything comes out.
Do not give cough medicine, inhalers, or medicine to people yourself. If you suspect you are having difficulty breathing, reduce your holding. Put in a ventilated cage and go to emergency.
Frequently asked questions
My cat is coughing but no hairballs are coming out. What's wrong?
It could be an actual cough from the respiratory tract, such as asthma or an infection. It should be videotaped and evaluated by a veterinarian if it recurs.
The cat opens its mouth after coughing. Do I have to wait and see?
It is not a good idea to wait. Open mouth breathing in cats is an emergency signal. Reduce stress and go to the animal hospital immediately.
Can I give medicine to dissolve hairballs first?
It should not be used as a substitute for testing when cough-like symptoms occur or recur. And do not feed anything if the cat's breathing is abnormal.
Sources: vcahospitals.com · www.vet.cornell.edu · www.vet.cornell.edu