Causes and treatment methods for coughing, when cats wheeze, stretch out and press themselves to the floor

Coughing is a protective reaction of the cat’s body from foreign objects that enter the respiratory tract, esophagus or stomach. Coughing can also be caused by hairballs in the stomach, inflammatory processes in the respiratory system, attacks of allergies or bronchial asthma.

If the owner notices that the cat is choking and coughing, as if it has choked, immediate measures must be taken to save the animal from suffocation. Let's find out why a cough occurs and how to independently help your pet before the veterinarian arrives.

Mechanism of cough development

A periodically occurring cough in a cat may indicate the development of inflammatory processes in the respiratory system, which require long-term treatment under the supervision of a veterinarian. It can also occur when trying to get rid of hairballs that accumulate in the animal’s stomach.

However, if the cat spontaneously begins to cough, wheeze, stretch out and press itself to the floor, this most often indicates ingestion or inhalation of small foreign objects. In this case, the animal must be quickly assisted or taken to the clinic without delay.

A cough is a strong, accelerated exhalation through the mouth, which occurs due to a sharp contraction of the muscles of the respiratory tract as a result of irritation of the receptors. In this way, the cat's respiratory tract is freed from mechanical substances that impede the movement of air along the airways.

The cough algorithm consists of the following stages:

• take a deep breath for no more than 2 seconds;
• reflex contraction of the smooth muscles of the larynx, which closes the glottis;
• increased tone of the bronchial muscles;
• sharp contraction of the abdominal muscles;
• opening of the glottis;
• a powerful exhalation that expels foreign agents.

Prevention

It is possible to prevent coughing in an animal if you plan to vaccinate your cat against viral diseases. It is possible to reduce the likelihood of an unpleasant symptom by regular deworming and eliminating parasites from the skin that can carry parasitic worms. It is necessary to feed the cat properly so that its immunity does not weaken. It is not recommended to give your pet solid food, large pieces, especially bones, on which he can choke. Coughing is less likely to occur in cats that live in warm conditions and receive adequate care.

Types and symptoms of cough in cats

The classification of cough in cats is described in detail in the table.

Symptoms that most often accompany coughing in cats include:

• discharge from the nasal cavity;
• vomit;
• wheezing.

The nature of the cough helps specialists make the correct diagnosis, identify the causes and prescribe appropriate treatment for a coughing cat.

Possible symptoms

To determine how to treat your pet, you need to find out the type of symptom:

1. Respiratory. The cough in such a situation at the very beginning of the disease is dry. Sputum and pus are not released.
2. Cardinal. This is a heart cough. The cause of its occurrence may be an enlargement of the heart muscle. It gradually begins to compress the trachea. In such a situation, the intensity with which the cat coughs and sneezes increases gradually. At the very beginning, the cough is muffled and unproductive.

If your furry creature is coughing and sneezing at regular intervals, you should consult a doctor. He will tell you what to do and how to treat the cat.

Main causes of cough in cats

Veterinary experts identify 6 main causes of cough in cats.

1. Bronchial asthma. This is one of the types of allergies that occur in a cat to foreign components that can be contained in dust, pollen, hair from other pets, dead particles of human skin, as well as in medications and chemicals.
2. The presence of foreign objects in the upper respiratory tract, esophagus or stomach.
3. Pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
4. Helminthic infestations. During migration, Toxocara larvae enter the lungs. This most often occurs in young animals due to untimely deworming after weaning. In this case, the kitten coughs heavily and may vomit a foamy mass in which parasites are found. The cat may also cough constantly due to the presence of heartworms in the pulmonary arteries. These thin, long helminths parasitize the heart, pulmonary artery and small capillaries. They clog blood vessels, which causes frequent severe coughing, vomiting, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, and in case of severe infestation, convulsions and death.
5. Infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract. The most common diseases include herpes, rhinotracheitis and calicivirus.
6. Pneumonia. The etiological factors for the occurrence of pneumonia in cats are pathogenic bacteria, viruses, microscopic fungi, as well as external factors such as hypothermia, eating cold food, and keeping the animal in unsanitary conditions.
7. Malignant tumors in the respiratory organs.

Important! Among infectious agents, a special place is occupied by the pathogenic bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica, which causes bordetellosis. Most often, this disease is transmitted by airborne droplets when cats are kept in crowded conditions in nurseries. The infection is also spread by stray cats, which can infect free-roaming pets.

If the cat is coughing heavily and breathing heavily, then the cause of this condition may be pneumo- or hydrothorax, caused by the penetration of air or liquid into the chest cavity.

Self-treatment

When the fluffy starts coughing, it needs to be treated. And only veterinarians can not always cope with this. You can be independent and try to cure the cat.

Getting rid of foreign objects

First of all, you need to figure out whether your pet is really coughing. Maybe he's just sneezing. Usually, when coughing, the fluffy makes a wheezing sound. He begins to open his mouth. Sometimes he even sticks out his tongue. It may feel like the cat is simply suffocating.

Why might a cat cough? Check his mouth and tongue. A foreign object or hairballs may get into the mouth. In order to open the mouth, insert your fingers into it in the area of ​​​​the corners where there are no teeth. Open your jaws carefully, using caution.

Allergic reaction or lack of moisture

If there is nothing in the mouth, and the cat is sneezing, coughing, stretching its neck, think about whether all this could be due to an allergy. It can be caused by a new substance that has appeared in the house. Remember that allergies occur not only when you eat something, but also when you inhale it. If any item is suspicious, you need to temporarily remove it from the house.

What to do if your pet is coughing? It may simply not have enough moisture. Use humidifiers to improve your furry's breathing comfort. A damp towel, which is recommended to be placed on a working battery, will help with this.

Rid your pet of worms

As mentioned earlier, we need to figure out why the cat is sneezing and coughing. And the reason for this can be worms. In order to get rid of them, you need to purchase special products at the pharmacy and add them to your food. This action should be performed at least once a year.

Diagnosis of the condition

The multiplicity of causes that can cause cat cough makes it very difficult to diagnose cats. Therefore, the veterinary specialist consistently conducts a series of studies, including:

• collection of anamnestic data;
• inspection;
• palpation;
• percussion;
• auscultation;
• general and clinical blood test;
• radiography;
• coprogram for identifying intestinal helminth eggs.

If it is not immediately possible to determine the reason why the cat cannot cough, the veterinarian will prescribe additional laboratory and instrumental tests.

Note! Only large veterinary clinics can afford additional research, and the cost of these services is quite high. Therefore, it is advisable to carry them out more often for such high-pedigreed “expensive” cats as Sphynx, Maine Coon, Peterbald, Scottish Fold and others.

Specific additional studies that will help determine exactly why a cat is coughing with wheezing include:

• sputum analysis for the presence of viral agents and their identification;
• fluoroscopy of the esophagus using a contrast indicator;
• endoscopy of the upper respiratory tract and esophagus;
• bronchoalveolar lavage (performed under general anesthesia).

If the doctor suspects that the cat cannot cough due to the development of pathology of the cardiovascular system, the doctor will prescribe an ECG or ultrasound of the heart.

Under the supervision of a doctor

If all of the above steps have been completed, and the cat is still sneezing and coughing, you need to contact a veterinarian. You should also consult a doctor if your pet begins to eat less and avoid communicating with people and other cats. In such situations, only a doctor should treat.

What to do if you can’t treat yourself? In such a situation, a set of special measures will be required that only a professional can perform. We are talking about laboratory tests, clinical examination, diagnostics of internal organs.

If the cough is a reflex, you just need to eliminate the cause. There is no need to do anything else, as the cat’s condition has stabilized. Coughing attacks will stop tormenting him.

Bronchial asthma will require treatment for a long time. In some situations, this can last for the rest of the pet's life. From a therapeutic standpoint, antihistamines and hormonal drugs are used.

Asthma is usually seasonal. Signs appear most often in summer and autumn. Accordingly, it is recommended to give medications in advance so that during the next attack the cat does not crane his neck and lie on the floor trying to clear his throat.

Invasive cough can be completely prevented if preventive deworming is carried out. It is recommended to do this procedure once every six months.

Use of antibiotics

If a cat cranes his neck, coughs while lying on the floor, and wheezes due to problems with the cardiovascular system, then a veterinarian should treat him. In such a situation, the owner does not need to do anything on his own.

Antibiotics should be used if the cause of cough is respiratory diseases. You may also need expectorant medications, which are designed to alleviate the animal's condition by reducing coughing. A doctor should prescribe such medications.

It is worth understanding that if you have a dry cough, it is not recommended to use drugs that help get rid of a wet cough. There are times when medications to help stop this process are not given at all. Without them, in some situations, treatment can proceed faster due to the removal of harmful microorganisms during coughing.

How to treat cat cough

If a cat is coughing, it can be treated at home only after being examined at a veterinary clinic, making an accurate diagnosis and prescribing appropriate therapy.

You should not self-administer cough suppressants before visiting a doctor, as this may change the clinical picture of the disease and make it difficult to determine the cause of the pathology.

Important! If the cat is coughing and wheezing, as if he is choking, then you should not take any independent action. It is better to quickly take your pet to the hospital or call a doctor at home. Delay can also be fatal when the cat wheezes, trying to burp, but only spits up saliva or foamy liquid.

If a cat coughs due to an infectious disease of viral etiology, the doctor prescribes:

• antibacterial drugs (Amoxisan, Sinulox, Tsiprovet) to prevent the development of secondary bacterial infections;
• mucolytic and expectorants (Bromhexine, licorice extract);
• immunomodulators (Cycloferon, Fosprenil, Maxidin);
• globulin Vitafel;
• intravenous injections of Ringer-Locke solution or saline with 5% glucose (to prevent dehydration when refusing food).

If the cough is accompanied by wheezing and the cat coughs while stretching its neck, then the cause may be pneumonia or another inflammatory process in the respiratory system. In this case, antibiotics are first prescribed. And to relieve coughing, the cat should be given antispasmodics, mucolytics and expectorants.

If a cat's cough is accompanied by vomiting, this often indicates helminthiasis. In this case, anthelmintic drugs are prescribed (Pyrantel, Prazicide, Drontal, Milbemax). Despite the fact that these medications are sold in pharmacies without a prescription, you should not use them yourself if your cat wheezes and tries to burp.

In case of severe infestation, an incorrectly selected dosage can lead to excessive activity of parasites and lead to suffocation. Illiterate actions by owners can also lead to intestinal rupture or excessive intoxication in small kittens.

If the reason that the cat is coughing and stretching its neck, as if choking, is trichobezoars, then the doctor will prescribe special pastes and gels to remove or dissolve hairballs in the stomach.

If a cat coughs and wheezes with its tongue hanging out, this may indicate an attack of bronchial asthma. You can quickly relieve an attack with:

• glucocorticosteroids (Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone, Dexamethasone, Fluocinolone);
• bronchodilators (Theophylline, Atropine);
• antibiotics (if there is a threat of infection by pathogenic bacteria).

Important! Self-administration of glucocorticosteroid and bronchodilator drugs to treat Sphynxes and other cats when they cough while stretching their necks can lead to overdose, complications and the development of side effects. Therefore, you should not put your pet’s life at risk; you must urgently take him to the clinic.

The reason that the cat is coughing, wheezing, as if he is choking, may be a heart attack, which develops in the cat as a result of a hidden pathology of the cardiovascular system. In this case, any independent treatment is unacceptable.

You should immediately call the clinic, call a veterinary specialist to your home and get a recommendation on the actions that need to be taken before his arrival.

How to treat

After determining the provoking factors, appropriate treatment is prescribed. Using medications without consultation with a specialist can cause negative consequences. The wrong choice of medication or its dosage can lead to complications. However, it is very useful to familiarize yourself with general information about existing drugs. In some cases, you can use tablets intended for humans. It is not recommended to give syrups due to the large amount of sugar, dyes, and flavors they contain. Medicines containing codeine and alcohol are also not allowed.

Blocking substances help to quickly eliminate attacks, but do not affect its source. Therefore, they can be given to your pet only in combination with other means. Expectorants do an excellent job of treating infectious coughs by thinning mucus and removing it from the respiratory tract.

How to treat a cough

How to understand that a cat is not just coughing, but choking

If a cat coughs, wheezes and at the same time stretches out, pressing her whole body to the floor, then in 99% of cases this indicates that a foreign object has entered the esophagus or respiratory tract. When a cat coughs as if he is choking, you should not do anything on your own. You should immediately take your pet to the clinic.

Sometimes the cat gags and coughs, as if he wants to vomit, but attempts remain to no avail. This may indicate that the pet is unable to get rid of a large trichobezoar in the stomach on its own.

If the cat coughed, as if she was choking, but quickly came to her senses, then there is no reason to worry, as she could simply have choked.

Worm infestation

In case of damage to the pet’s body as a result of helminth infestation, it may be of a certain symptomatic nature:

• Rare but painful attacks of coughing in the evening;
• The appearance of a gag reflex

This behavior in cats is caused by the entry of worm larvae into the blood system and respiratory organs, which cause severe irritation and make it difficult for the animal to breathe. Treatment is prescribed by an experienced veterinarian depending on the severity, and he selects the right drug.

How to help a cat who is choking

If, after eating fish or tubular bones, the cat sticks out its tongue, coughs, wheezes, or simply sits with its mouth slightly open, then there is a high probability that a sharp bone is stuck in its throat or esophagus.

If you have experience with animals, you can try to remove it yourself. But this can only be done if the bone is clearly visible in the oral cavity. To do this, you need to secure the cat. Then ask an assistant to hold the animal and try to open the pet's mouth wide.

The next step is to remove the bone using tweezers.

If the cat coughs, wheezes, or sticks out its tongue and makes wheezing sounds, but upon examination a foreign object cannot be detected, then the animal should be taken to the doctor immediately.

Preventive measures

To minimize the risk of a hoarse cough in cats, you need to adhere to the following rules:

• promptly vaccinate the animal against infectious diseases;
• carry out regular treatments against helminths and skin parasites;
• brush the hair of representatives of long-haired breeds daily;
• periodically feed gels and pastes to remove hair from the stomach;
• prevent pets from hypothermia;
• strictly observe the rules of cat hygiene and ensure high-quality living conditions;
• Do not feed your cat raw river fish and tubular bones.

If, however, a situation arises in which the cat begins to cough, wheeze and cling to the floor, then you should immediately go to the veterinary clinic. Specialists will quickly find out the causes of these symptoms and provide qualified assistance.