Common Causes of Coughing in Cats

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Seeing your cat coughing and hacking can be very disturbing. Although coughing is not always something to be concerned about (such as when a cat is trying to pass a hairball), it is important to distinguish when your cat requires medical attention. While hairballs are often thought to be the cause of a cat's coughing, it is normal for cats to only cough up a hairball a couple of times per month. Any more than this and it could be a sign of an underlying condition.^[1]

What Makes A Cat Cough?

When irritants, dust, mucus, or other particles enter the airways, a protective reflex is triggered to try to get rid of them. This reflex is a cough: an attempt to keep the airways clear. Coughing in cats can occur for a number of reasons. While a cough isn't a condition or disease itself, it can be a sign of an underlying problem.

The following are some of the most common conditions that may cause coughing in cats.

Common Causes Of Coughing In Cats

Feline Asthma

Feline asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. Inflamed airways narrow and constrict, causing coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Asthma attacks can be life-threatening if left untreated.

Infrequent but regular coughing (a few times a week or consistently every few weeks) can be a sign of asthma. Your cat may crouch low to the ground with their neck extended upwards—a position that helps your cat get as much air as possible between coughs. A wheezing noise between coughs could indicate that your cat can't get enough oxygen to their lungs.^[2]

Inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators delivered through a spacer chamber such as the AeroKat* are the preferred long-term treatment for feline asthma.

Respiratory Infections

Upper and lower respiratory infections caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi can trigger coughing in cats. Symptoms may include sneezing, nasal discharge, lethargy, and fever. Feline upper respiratory infections (cat flu) are common and may require veterinary treatment with antibiotics or supportive care.^[3]

Hairballs

Cats groom themselves frequently and swallow hair that can accumulate in the stomach. Occasional coughing to expel a hairball is normal—typically a couple of times per month. Coughing more frequently than this, especially when no hairball is produced, may indicate an underlying respiratory condition rather than hairballs alone.^[1]

Learn how to tell the difference between cat asthma and hairballs

Allergies

Environmental allergens such as dust, pollen, mold, and cigarette smoke can irritate a cat's airways and trigger coughing. Allergic reactions may also cause sneezing and watery eyes. Identifying and reducing exposure to triggers, alongside veterinary-prescribed medication, can help manage symptoms.

Heartworm And Parasites

Heartworms are parasites that can infect the heart and lungs of cats, causing Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD). Coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing may occur. Lungworms and other parasitic infections can also cause coughing, weight loss, and reduced appetite in cats that go outdoors or hunt prey.^[4]

Foreign Objects And Other Respiratory Disease

Objects can become stuck in the windpipe or esophagus, causing symptoms similar to passing a hairball, such as coughing, retching, and gagging. Chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and other diseases affecting the respiratory tract from the nose to the lungs can cause persistent coughing and require veterinary diagnosis through physical examination, imaging, and sometimes fluid analysis.^[2]

When Should You Be Concerned About Your Cat's Cough?

Pay attention if your cat is coughing with no hairball, if the cough is persistent or worsening, or if it is accompanied by wheezing, lethargy, or loss of appetite. Seek immediate veterinary care if your cat's tongue or gums begin to turn blue or grey, as this indicates your cat is not getting enough oxygen.^[5]

• Coughing with no hairball produced
• Persistent or worsening cough lasting more than a few days
• Wheezing between coughs
• Productive (wet) cough with phlegm
• Coughing accompanied by sneezing or nasal discharge
• Blue or grey tongue and gums
• Weight loss or reduced appetite

What To Expect At The Vet

Before visiting your vet, take note of any other signs or symptoms your cat has shown in addition to the cough. If possible, try to take a video of your cat coughing at home to show the vet.

Your vet will perform a physical examination and may ask about the frequency and character of the cough, environmental triggers, and other symptoms. Further evaluation may include blood work, chest x-rays, fecal examination to rule out lung parasites, and tests to exclude heartworm disease.^[2]

Treatment For A Coughing Cat

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. For feline asthma, inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators are commonly prescribed for long-term management. Infections may require antibiotics or supportive care. Allergy-related coughing may improve with environmental management and medications prescribed by your veterinarian.

At home, avoid smoking, aerosols, and strong chemicals; use low-dust cat litter; and follow your vet's prescribed medication regimen even when symptoms seem mild.

Is Your Cat Coughing Frequently?

Take the Feline Asthma Assessment to see if your cat could have asthma.

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