Home Remedies for Cats With a Cough
We all know what coughing is and your cat coughs for the exact same reasons. Your cat, just like you, also has cousgh with different sounds: a dry, hacking cough; a moist-sounding cough; a single, gagging cough; a wheezing cough; and that half-cough, half-clearing the throat thing. Coughing is a reflex; when something irritates the back of the throat, breathing passages, or lungs, the body responds, expelling whatever is causing the irritation. But coughing is one of those reflexes that is not completely beyond conscious control; when needed, it can be done at will. In other words, coughing is an important mechanism for protecting the lungs and air passages from foreign objects and expelling infectious matter from the body.
 ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. A cat's cough can be caused by many factors, some harmless and some quite serious. |
From hairballs to heart trouble there are many reasons why a cat might cough. For a cat with any kind of cough or respiratory trouble, follow the steps for helping a cat with asthma. Other kinds of help depend on why the cat is coughing.
Hairballs are a common problem of cats and can be easily treated. Persistent coughs due to feline colds or flu can sometimes be helped with over-the-counter cough suppressants. (Do not use any cough medicine or other over-the-counter drug without the advice of your veterinarian. And keep in mind that dosages will vary widely.) If your cat is coughing and also pawing at her mouth or shaking her head, there may be something stuck in her throat or mouth. Open your cat's mouth -- taking care that you avoid being bitten -- and look inside. If you find a foreign body and can remove it easily, go ahead. Then keep a close eye on your cat for the next few days to see if infection develops. If, however, the object is stuck in the roof of the mouth, between the teeth, or you can't locate it, see your vet right away.
A collar can sometimes be the cause of a cough, especially if it's too tight. If your cat wears a collar, check the size. You should be able to slip the tip of your finger between the collar and the cat's neck easily. Since cats like to squeeze into tight places, collars can pose a choking hazard. Many experts recommend you only use cat collars with elastic or breakaway features so that if the cat gets the collar snagged, it comes off easily.
When to Call the Vet
Any cough that persists for more than 24 hours or is accompanied by wheezing, shortness of breath, or bluish gums and tongue means a trip to the vet. Coughs combined with other serious symptoms should prompt a call to the vet, too.
DANGER LEVEL: Coughs by themselves are signs of something else; they may be annoying but are usually not dangerous. Keep in mind, however, a cough may be a sign of a serious or dangerous condition.
Next we'll deal with a problem that you might not associate with cats. In the next section, we will offer some tips for dealing with cat dandruff.
