Cat Coughing: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Precautions
Cat Coughing: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Precautions
Many pet owners may not have seen their cat cough before. Cats, like humans, can also cough. Usually, cats rarely cough unless there is a problem. If your cat only coughs occasionally, don't worry too much. It's a normal reaction when the respiratory tract and throat are irritated. However, if your cat coughs frequently, the problem may be more serious.
Common Causes of Cat Coughing
There are many common causes of cat coughing, including:
1. Viral Upper Respiratory Infection
This is usually caused by feline herpesvirus or feline calicivirus, which can affect the upper respiratory tract, including the nose and throat. If the throat becomes inflamed and irritated, it can lead to coughing. Infections are more common in kittens and even after treatment, the cat may carry the virus for life. These viruses are easily transmitted between cats, so in multi-cat households or catteries, if a cat is found to be infected with these viruses, risk control should be implemented. Cats with the potential for infection may be excluded from breeding programs, neutered and given away, or quarantined.
2. Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is also called asthma. Cats and humans have similar asthma conditions, but the difference is that cats are more tolerant and less likely to be discovered by their owners. They won't cough chronically like humans do. They may cough suddenly, and in severe cases, they may have difficulty breathing.
3. Infectious Bronchitis
This is a tracheobronchial inflammation caused by infection, usually caused by bacteria and viruses infecting the upper respiratory tract or lungs together. Examples include Mycoplasma spp. or Bordetella bronchiseptica, which often invade with viruses. Coughing can occur suddenly, usually accompanied by fever, loss of appetite, lethargy, sneezing and runny nose.
4. Throat Foreign Object Stimulation
Food gets stuck in the throat, irritating the throat, causing inflammation and mucus, leading to coughing.
5. Nasopharyngeal Polyp
This is a mass caused by chronic nasal or pharyngeal inflammation. These masses can cause inflammation and usually produce mucus, leading to coughing.
6. Trauma
When cats suffer trauma, there may be bleeding in the trachea, leading to coughing. In severe cases, the lungs may be punctured and air escapes, making breathing difficult. If coughing occurs due to trauma, the cat should be taken to a veterinarian immediately regardless.
7. Pleural Effusion
This is usually caused by a bacterial infection that causes fluid to accumulate in the cat's chest cavity, but outside the lungs. This fluid can put pressure on the lungs, causing coughing.
Less Common Causes of Cat Coughing
In addition to the common causes of cat coughing, there are some less common factors, such as:
1. Bronchiectasis
This is a long-term inflammation of the trachea in the lungs, which permanently thickens and hardens the trachea. Due to the presence of inflammation, coughing may occur.
2. Heartworm Disease
This is more common in dogs, as cats are naturally resistant to heartworm disease, but infection is not impossible. It is generally rare. When cats are infected with heartworm, if symptoms occur, they are often life-threatening. Since heartworms live in the trachea, they can cause inflammation and coughing.
3. Laryngeal Paralysis
This is rare in cats, but more common in dogs. The opening of the trachea in the throat is made up of two folds of tissue. When cats breathe, they open. When these folds are paralyzed and cannot open, inflammation can occur, leading to coughing.
Treatment for Cat Coughing
Treatment depends on the cause of coughing, so diagnosing the cause is important.
1. Bacterial and Viral Infections
Most coughs we encounter in cats are caused by bacterial and viral infections of the respiratory tract and pneumonia. To treat respiratory tract or pneumonia, we usually use antibiotics, such as doxycycline and enrofloxacin.
2. Chronic Bronchitis
For common chronic bronchitis, in addition to antibiotic treatment, nebulization can also be used as an adjunctive therapy. For example, a formula of chymotrypsin (1 vial) + gentamicin (1 vial) + ribavirin (1 vial) + saline (25 ml) can be used for nebulization.
3. Pleural Effusion or Trauma
These conditions are more urgent, and you can only take your cat to the hospital for observation and treatment. Due to limited conditions, oxygen may be needed, and the fluid in the chest cavity may need to be cleared.
4. Throat Foreign Objects
If the cat has been coughing for a long time and the foreign object has not been resolved within two days, it needs to be taken to the hospital for anesthesia to remove the foreign object.
What Coughing Should We Pay Attention To?
If your cat has been coughing for a week or longer, be aware that it may be a chronic disease. If the following symptoms occur along with coughing, it indicates a serious condition and needs immediate medical attention:
Loss of appetite
Lethargy, unwillingness to move, hiding in corners, or other behavioral changes
Increased respiratory rate, usually exceeding one breath per second
Shortness of breath or obvious wheezing
Prevention of Cat Coughing
To prevent cat coughing, you can take the following measures:
Regular physical examinations to detect problems early.
Keep the indoor environment clean and hygienic, to prevent cats from coming into contact with viruses and bacteria.
Regular deworming to prevent parasitic infections.
Provide cats with adequate nutrition and rest to enhance their resistance.
Observe cats more often. If you find any abnormalities, seek medical attention immediately.
Summary
There are many causes of cat coughing, some mild, some more serious. If you find your cat coughing, it is recommended to take your cat to a veterinary clinic for examination as soon as possible and treat it according to the diagnosis. Preventive measures are also important, which can effectively reduce the risk of your cat getting sick.
Many pet owners may not have seen their cat cough before. Cats, like humans, can also cough. Usually, cats rarely cough unless there is a problem. If your cat only coughs occasionally, don't worry too much. It's a normal reaction when the respiratory tract and throat are irritated. However, if your cat coughs frequently, the problem may be more serious.
Common Causes of Cat Coughing
There are many common causes of cat coughing, including:
1. Viral Upper Respiratory Infection
This is usually caused by feline herpesvirus or feline calicivirus, which can affect the upper respiratory tract, including the nose and throat. If the throat becomes inflamed and irritated, it can lead to coughing. Infections are more common in kittens and even after treatment, the cat may carry the virus for life. These viruses are easily transmitted between cats, so in multi-cat households or catteries, if a cat is found to be infected with these viruses, risk control should be implemented. Cats with the potential for infection may be excluded from breeding programs, neutered and given away, or quarantined.
2. Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is also called asthma. Cats and humans have similar asthma conditions, but the difference is that cats are more tolerant and less likely to be discovered by their owners. They won't cough chronically like humans do. They may cough suddenly, and in severe cases, they may have difficulty breathing.
3. Infectious Bronchitis
This is a tracheobronchial inflammation caused by infection, usually caused by bacteria and viruses infecting the upper respiratory tract or lungs together. Examples include Mycoplasma spp. or Bordetella bronchiseptica, which often invade with viruses. Coughing can occur suddenly, usually accompanied by fever, loss of appetite, lethargy, sneezing and runny nose.
4. Throat Foreign Object Stimulation
Food gets stuck in the throat, irritating the throat, causing inflammation and mucus, leading to coughing.
5. Nasopharyngeal Polyp
This is a mass caused by chronic nasal or pharyngeal inflammation. These masses can cause inflammation and usually produce mucus, leading to coughing.
6. Trauma
When cats suffer trauma, there may be bleeding in the trachea, leading to coughing. In severe cases, the lungs may be punctured and air escapes, making breathing difficult. If coughing occurs due to trauma, the cat should be taken to a veterinarian immediately regardless.
7. Pleural Effusion
This is usually caused by a bacterial infection that causes fluid to accumulate in the cat's chest cavity, but outside the lungs. This fluid can put pressure on the lungs, causing coughing.
Less Common Causes of Cat Coughing
In addition to the common causes of cat coughing, there are some less common factors, such as:
1. Bronchiectasis
This is a long-term inflammation of the trachea in the lungs, which permanently thickens and hardens the trachea. Due to the presence of inflammation, coughing may occur.
2. Heartworm Disease
This is more common in dogs, as cats are naturally resistant to heartworm disease, but infection is not impossible. It is generally rare. When cats are infected with heartworm, if symptoms occur, they are often life-threatening. Since heartworms live in the trachea, they can cause inflammation and coughing.
3. Laryngeal Paralysis
This is rare in cats, but more common in dogs. The opening of the trachea in the throat is made up of two folds of tissue. When cats breathe, they open. When these folds are paralyzed and cannot open, inflammation can occur, leading to coughing.
Treatment for Cat Coughing
Treatment depends on the cause of coughing, so diagnosing the cause is important.
1. Bacterial and Viral Infections
Most coughs we encounter in cats are caused by bacterial and viral infections of the respiratory tract and pneumonia. To treat respiratory tract or pneumonia, we usually use antibiotics, such as doxycycline and enrofloxacin.
2. Chronic Bronchitis
For common chronic bronchitis, in addition to antibiotic treatment, nebulization can also be used as an adjunctive therapy. For example, a formula of chymotrypsin (1 vial) + gentamicin (1 vial) + ribavirin (1 vial) + saline (25 ml) can be used for nebulization.
3. Pleural Effusion or Trauma
These conditions are more urgent, and you can only take your cat to the hospital for observation and treatment. Due to limited conditions, oxygen may be needed, and the fluid in the chest cavity may need to be cleared.
4. Throat Foreign Objects
If the cat has been coughing for a long time and the foreign object has not been resolved within two days, it needs to be taken to the hospital for anesthesia to remove the foreign object.
What Coughing Should We Pay Attention To?
If your cat has been coughing for a week or longer, be aware that it may be a chronic disease. If the following symptoms occur along with coughing, it indicates a serious condition and needs immediate medical attention:
Loss of appetite
Lethargy, unwillingness to move, hiding in corners, or other behavioral changes
Increased respiratory rate, usually exceeding one breath per second
Shortness of breath or obvious wheezing
Prevention of Cat Coughing
To prevent cat coughing, you can take the following measures:
Regular physical examinations to detect problems early.
Keep the indoor environment clean and hygienic, to prevent cats from coming into contact with viruses and bacteria.
Regular deworming to prevent parasitic infections.
Provide cats with adequate nutrition and rest to enhance their resistance.
Observe cats more often. If you find any abnormalities, seek medical attention immediately.
Summary
There are many causes of cat coughing, some mild, some more serious. If you find your cat coughing, it is recommended to take your cat to a veterinary clinic for examination as soon as possible and treat it according to the diagnosis. Preventive measures are also important, which can effectively reduce the risk of your cat getting sick.
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