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Last Friday, in the evening, Claire heard me coughing : that didn’t last for a long time, just a coughing fit. As I didn’t seem to feel sick, she kept an eye on me (…and forgot to turn the iPhone for filming me…).
The weekend took place normally : I played with Zorro, he pursued me, I pursued it, I ate well, I came to cuddle, I mewed to say that I wanted to play with Claire or Momo, in brief, as usual. Except that I had a small coughing fit 5 or 6 times a day.
As that didn’t pass, Momo went on Monday morning with me to the vet. He said that I was very quiet in the car : it’s true, I did not even sing ! I’ve been brave : the veterinarian auscultated me, put his thermometer where the sun never shines, and to finish gave me a cortisone shot, without I protest. My humans have to give him news about me on Monday.
Why does your cat cough ?
He choked :
A foreign object blocks the trachea, and the cat coughs to expel it. The cough is strong, dry, and repeated. Watch out, according to the swallowed object, the damages in the trachea or in the larynx can be considerable !
He caught a mild virus :
That’s right, it happens ! But a mild virus can evolve in graver affection if it’s not looked after.
He has asthma :
An allergic sensibility can start an acute reaction. Asthma can also be chronic. The treatment with corticosteroids can be undergone in the long term.
He has a bronchitis :
The cough is frequent, strong and deep. The bronchitis requires an antibiotic treatment.
He has a pneumonia :
The cat is apathetic, often feverish, and his breath aches. The cough is weak and rare. Even treated, a pneumonia often leaves respiratory aftereffects for life. A veterinary treatment is necessary urgently.
He has a broncho-pneumonia :
The symptoms combine those of the bronchitis and the pneumonia. Cardiac, hepatic and renal complications are to be planned if left untreated. Even treated, a broncho-pneumonia leaves respiratory and cardiac aftereffects.
He has a pleurisy (breach of lungs enveloppe) :
The cat is apathetic, the breath is short and painful, and the cough very weak. A veterinary treatment is necessary urgently.
He has coryza :
The cat is apathetic, feverish, and doesn’t eat. He has runny eyes and runny nose, he sneezes or sometimes coughs. This disease is mortal : antibiotics relieve, but the cure of the cat depends a lot of his age and his immune system (adults have a better prognosis). Vaccination is the best protection against this disease.
He has parasites (aelurostrongylus) :
A snail or a slug eats the larvas of the parasite, a bird eats the infested snail, the cat eats the bird, and the parasite settles down in the lungs of the cat. The cough is dry. Medicine allows to eliminate worms.
In every case, cough is a warning, and the cat must be examined by a veterinarian ; the weaker it is, the deeper the breach is, and the higher the risk of aftereffects is.
Sources :
The Original Cat Fancy Cat Bible, Sandy Robins, 2014
Complete Cat Care Manual, Andrew Edney, 1992
Le livre des chats, collectif Solar, 1986
I just hope you are okay, Pixie!
This is a great, informative post! It sure is never a good idea to ignore a cough, and you’re so very lucky to have such loving humans, Pixie. We sure hope everything is well with you, and we’ll be purring and praying for you!
Auscultated? That sounds serous! Mum just told me it means listening to our insides with the cold thing they use. OK, that isn’t so bad, my VET purrson does that too.
Fortunately I had had a cat who coughed and to be honest I didn’t even know cats cough. Thanks for such an informative post Pixie and I hope all is well with you!
Hope you’re OK Pixie! Thanks for all the good info on coughing too!
Hugs, Sammy
Pixie, you are adorable and we hope you will be okay. Thanks for the very informative post. I have a touch of asthma, but it’s pretty much under control and the peeps rarely hear me cough anymore.
We hope you are better soon. two here have asthma.
Hi Pixie,, hope you feel better soon. That coughing is not any fun at all. That was such a good post with lots of good information. Thanks.
Well Pixie we do hope and purray you’re gonna be okay. Big hugs to all.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
I hope your cough is soon better, Pixie.
Pixie, I hope the medicine works and your cough goes away quickly.
pixie…we hope yur vizit two de palce oh eeeeeevil haz stopped yur coff N itz nothin seer ee iz…..sendin st francis’ blessing yur way any way N we hope ya get ta feelin way better sooooooper quik
heerz two a pacific albacore kinda week oh end ~~♥♥♥
Mudpie coughs from her asthma…I hope you just have a hairball, sweet girl.
Super post!
Maybe you swallowed a feather?
We hope your cough is gone soon…
Noodle and crew
Excellent post. I hope you feel better soon.
Pixie actually looked like me when I’m having an asthma attack. Asthma is no fun. I guess the vet person x-rayed her lungs to see what was going on.
thanks for a very interesting post… and I hope efurrything is ok with ya, Pixie.
We hope you’re feeling better soon, PIxie! It’s good that your humans took your coughing seriously.
Pixie, we sure hope you are okay. Thank you for sharing all these reasons why cats cough. Very important to know!
VERY good post, and sending purrs to Pixie to feel better soon!
Thank you so much for sharing this valuable info. Pixie we hope you feel better soon….
Gentle healing purrs
Basil & Co xox
Coughing can be quite startling because it is so uncommon in cats. We have only had a few coughs over the years and headed right to the vet as a precaution.
Mes coughs once in a while…mes does not like dust! Mommy says its a kind of asthma. And she watchs me most carefully…especially now mes old. Mes hopes yous is OK Pixie and mes loved your post about coughing!
Kisses
Nellie
I, Frimousse, have often fits when I have nervous outbreaks…
We’re sending you power of the paw — so hope you are okay.
And thank you and your mom Claire for your support on our blog post. Very much appreciated as we are so sad.
Hopefully it isn’t something serious! Good mom to take you to the vet!
Purrs that it does not come back