Why Is My Cat Coughing?

What a cat coughing can mean, how to tell a cough from a hairball, and the breathing signs that need a vet straight away.

Quick Answer

A cough in a cat can look like retching or trying to be sick, with the neck stretched out and the body crouched low, so it is easily mistaken for a hairball.
Possible causes include asthma or chronic bronchitis, cat flu and other infections, lungworm, irritants and allergens, and something stuck in the nose, and vets may also rule out heart disease.
If you can, film the episode and show it to your vet to establish whether your cat is truly coughing.
Open-mouth breathing, panting, struggling to breathe, or pale, white, grey, blue or bright red gums is an emergency, so go to a vet immediately and never wait to see if it improves.
Even a cough that comes and goes should be checked by your vet, and any trouble breathing means going to a vet straight away.

A cat coughing can look more like retching or trying to be sick than a cough, which is why it is so easy to misread. Your cat may retch or gag, with its neck stretched out and its body crouched low to the ground.

The cough is the symptom, not the diagnosis, and there are several possible causes. This guide covers the range of causes and what to do next. The condition feline asthma has its own guide: How Do I Know If My Cat Has Asthma?

Close-up of a tabby cat resting with closed eyes in warm light, a cat coughing is worth filming for your vet

Possible Causes of Cat Coughing

Asthma or chronic bronchitis

Coughing and respiratory disease can be common in cats, and one of the many causes is inflammation of the airways, sometimes called asthma. It is a long-term disease of the small airways in the lungs, and it is usually caused by an allergy to something in the cat's home, such as pollen or dust.

Persistent coughing, often in short bouts, is a typical sign. Signs can be mild, may come and go, and may not be noticed for some time. Asthma cannot be cured, but it is generally manageable. Our full guide is How Do I Know If My Cat Has Asthma?

Cat flu and other infections

Cat flu is a common upper respiratory illness, mainly caused by feline herpes virus and feline calicivirus. Bacterial infections can sometimes make it worse. Signs include sneezing, runny nose and eyes, dribbling, loss of appetite, fever, mouth ulcers, sleeping more and coughing. See Why Is My Cat Sneezing?

Kittens, elderly cats and cats with weak immune systems are worst affected, and for them flu can be life-threatening. Vaccination helps prevent severe symptoms but does not stop a cat catching it. Pneumonia, a lung infection, is another cause of breathing difficulty seen by emergency vets.

Lungworm

Lungworm is a parasite that affects lung tissue. Cats can catch it from infected prey such as birds and mice, from contaminated drinking water, or from snails and slugs. It is less common than intestinal worms in the UK.

Signs include coughing, difficulty breathing, nasal discharge, lethargy, loss of interest in play and going off food. The signs are similar to many common conditions, so your vet must confirm the cause. In mild cases, a vet can give worming treatment aimed at lungworm. Antibiotics alone will not kill worms. Elderly cats and kittens are more at risk.

Ginger and white cat in a blue collar and bell lying on a living room floor, a cat coughing can look different from a hairball

Irritants and allergens

Pollen, perfume, cigarette smoke, cat litter and household cleaning products can make a cat cough and change its breathing.

Something stuck

On rare occasions, a small object such as a blade of grass can get stuck at the back of a cat's nose, causing sneezing, choking or retching. If you think something is stuck in your cat's nose, see your vet. Cats Protection advises against trying to remove it yourself or making your cat sneeze it out, because this could cause more damage.

Heart and other chest conditions

Heart problems are among the conditions that can cause breathing problems in cats, and vets may rule out heart disease when they investigate a cough. In older cats, Cats Protection says coughing and sneezing could be a sign of cat flu, allergies or heart disease, and it advises telling your vet.

Cough or Hairball?

Hairballs are a normal occurrence in cats. When one is about to come up, a cat may loudly retch or gag. The sound can be distressing, but generally no harm is caused. Bringing one up every few weeks is common.

However, a cough can look almost the same. If your cat is vomiting more often than that, contact your vet for advice. Do not assume a cough is just a hairball, and do not rely on hairball products instead of a vet check. Blue Cross says there is no scientific proof that such products are effective. For more on normal hairballs, see Are Hairballs Normal in Cats?

What to Check If You See Your Cat Coughing

You do not need to diagnose anything. Instead, collect clues for your vet.

Film the episode on your phone. It helps your vet decide whether your cat is truly coughing.
Note the posture. Is your cat hunched with its neck out straight and its head close to the ground?
Watch the breathing. Most healthy cats breathe so quietly that you should not hear or see it unless you look and listen closely.
Look for other signs, such as sneezing, a runny nose or eyes, not eating, noisy breathing or low energy.
Think about triggers at home, such as smoke, sprays, perfume or a change of litter.

Emergency: Contact a Vet Immediately If…

Your cat is breathing with its mouth open or panting. Cats nearly always breathe through their nose, so this means they are extremely stressed or really struggling to breathe. Panting in cats is never normal.
Your cat is struggling to breathe: heavy, noisy, fast or shallow breathing, or its sides visibly heaving.
Your cat has pale, white, grey, blue or bright red gums.
Your cat is crouched with its neck stretched out and elbows pointing out, or cannot settle.
Your cat has collapsed or is getting rapidly worse.
You think your cat is having an asthma attack.

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet straight away and tell them you are on your way. Never wait to see if things improve. If your cat stops breathing, ring your vet immediately and follow their instructions.

When to Contact Your Vet

Your cat has a persistent cough.
The cough comes and goes. Even if signs come and go, it is important to book an appointment.
There is also sneezing, a runny nose or eyes, not eating or low energy. These need a check-up.
Your cat is retching or bringing up what looks like hairballs more often than every few weeks.
You think something may be stuck in your cat's nose.
Your cat is a kitten or an elderly cat. They are more at risk of serious illness from infections such as cat flu and lungworm.

A cat coughing and gagging may not be an emergency, but if your cat is also struggling to breathe, call your vet. If you are worried about your cat's breathing, contact your vet as an emergency.

How Vets Find the Cause

Your vet will take a detailed history, examine your cat and listen to its chest with a stethoscope. There is no single test for asthma, so a trial of treatment may sometimes be used.

Further tests may include blood tests, faeces testing for lungworm, X-rays or CT, a heart scan, and bronchoscopy with airway washes. Your cat will be anaesthetised for most of these tests. If a cat is in distress, the vet may admit it to give oxygen and let it settle first.

What You Can Safely Do, and What Not to Do

Stay calm and keep your cat calm and cool, because stress makes breathing worse.
Make sure there is good ventilation and avoid wrapping your cat in blankets.
If your cat has diagnosed asthma and is having an attack, give any medication your vet has prescribed and keep the cat somewhere cool, quiet and well ventilated.
Avoid smoking, perfumes, air fresheners and aerosol products around your cat, and avoid dusty or scented litter.
Keep up with vet-prescribed worming and play with your cat at home so it is less likely to hunt.
Do not give your cat a person's inhaler. It is not advised and may cause problems.
Check with your vet before trying steam or salt inhalation. Cats Protection says there is no scientific evidence it works for asthma, and it may irritate.
Do not give human medicines, including painkillers. They are highly toxic to cats.

How Pet Med Direct Can Help

Pet Med Direct is an online pet pharmacy. If your vet prescribes medicine for your cat, you can find out how pet prescriptions work and see our cat medication range.

Our respiratory category contains prescription-only medicines, supplied solely against a valid prescription from your cat's own vet. This is not a suggestion that your cat needs them.

Some pet medicines require a valid veterinary prescription. Pet Med Direct can only supply prescription medicines after the prescription has been checked. Always follow your vet's advice and the directions on the medicine label.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if my cat is coughing or bringing up a hairball?

It can be hard, because a cough can look like retching, with the neck stretched out and the body crouched low. Film the episode and show your vet. Bringing up a hairball every few weeks is common, but anything more frequent is worth a call to your vet.

My cat's cough comes and goes. Do I still need the vet?

Yes. A cough that comes and goes can still be a sign of asthma. Book an appointment even if the signs come and go, and tell your vet what you have seen.

Is a cat coughing an emergency?

It depends on how your cat is breathing. Coughing may not be an emergency, but open-mouth breathing, panting, struggling to breathe or pale, white, grey, blue or bright red gums is. In those cases go to a vet immediately.

Can cat flu cause coughing?

Yes. Coughing is among the signs of cat flu, along with sneezing, runny eyes and nose, and loss of appetite. Contact your vet if you notice them. Kittens, elderly cats and cats with weak immune systems are at higher risk.

Can household products make a cat cough?

They can. Perfume, cigarette smoke, cat litter and cleaning products may cause cat coughing and changes in breathing. Keep the air as clean as you can, and mention any link you notice to your vet.

Should I try steam or my own inhaler?

Giving a cat your own inhaler is not advised and may cause problems. There is also no scientific evidence that steam or salt inhalation works for asthma, and it may irritate, so check with your vet first.

Related Cat Health Guides

Sources and Further Reading

This article was researched from the sources listed above. It is general information for cat owners and is not a substitute for advice from your own vet.

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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary advice.
If you are concerned about your cat’s health, please consult a qualified veterinarian.