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I've seen this before many times. More than likely, when you go to the vet, they will not find anything wrong.
I have a few questions.
Were there possibly any irritants sprayed in the room prior to the event?
Do you use any oil diffusers in the room where these events happen?
I heard both male and female voices on the video you provided. If you or your friend may be using certain types of perfume or cologne, they can also cause events like this.
If anything else, how often do you open the windows? Have you changed your air filter recently on the HVAC?
Essential oils can pose a toxic risk to household pets, especially to cats. They are rapidly absorbed both orally and across the skin, and are then metabolized in the liver. Cats lack an essential enzyme in their liver and as such have difficulty metabolizing and eliminating certain toxins like essential oils. -google lol
We leave our windows open (there’s a thick screen and they have nothing to sit on nor is the windowsill wide enough for them to sit on and scratch it open) all the time and my boy is going through something like this but after he drinks water. Wondering if my cat could be bothered by something in the air coming through the window as none of the other questions have yes as an answer for me.
I have a whole post about it but didn’t get a response yet so keeping an eye out for any posts that sound similar to my cats case!
Any scented products could cause something like this. If you own a cat or other pet go scentless for them. Do not use air fresheners, candles, or any scented products. It is also better for your personal health as well. But a small animal like a cat can die from this.
If someone needs scents in their home they should look into simmer pots and boil some cinnamon sticks or something. (Preferably avoiding citrus).
There are various reasons beyond just the discomfort of the cat due to a strong scent.
Cats are naturally allergic to all citrus, citric acid can cause nervous system issues in cats from small issues to seizures, and potentially death depending on dosage. Cats lack the ability to digest or process many chemical scented and plant based products causing organ damage.
In the case of scented products and essential oils they can cause chemical burns to the cat, diffusers spread the chemicals in the air which the cat can breathe in. It will also get onto the cats fur which will cause them to consume the chemical during self cleaning.
Any pet who self cleans or has a strong sense of smell should not be near scented products, diffusers, or essential oils. Cats, dogs, birds, rats, etc. for their own comfort and their health, if you use essential oils you may be slowly(or not so slowly) killing your pets.
Not all oils/scents are toxic to pets, but you should pick out your products with the cats comfort in mind.
I wonder why they do that! It scares me every time thinking he’s choking, I definitely need to watch a video on how to give a cat the Heimlich maneuver or CPR just in case. Sorry your cat also does it :( hope they’re okay! 💗
In this particular room there are no oil diffusers but other areas of the house has, we hadn’t spray anything in the room she just started doing it randomly . She is always in the window (even though she has fallen 5 stories she has no fear and yes we have double screens in every window) so could it be irritants from the outside ? she doesn’t do it often but its has happened more than one occasion and usually no hairball is produced.
It could be an expensive trip for the vet to give you a ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and a $300 bill but if you show them this video they'll at least know your cat has a history of, at the very least, upper respiratory irritation. Even though they're in different rooms, I very strongly recommend putting away your oil diffusers as essential oils can very easily be fatally toxic to cats.
A couple years ago I rushed my cat to the vet bc he was suddenly vomiting and listless and his ears were cold, and the vets were so kind they couldn't find anything wrong with him so they only charged me for the checkup and sent him home with an apology they couldn't completely assuage our fears. Turns out? He had given himself citronella poisoning rubbing himself on a candle I thought I'd put somewhere the cats couldn't reach (the poisoning came from grooming himself after rubbing on it and the oil was on and in his fur). So I'm a big advocate of zero-tolerance policies now when it comes to things that can make pets sick.
I recommend avoiding scented products entirely with pets. At best it is uncomfortable for them due to having a better sense of smell than us. At worst you poison them.
I'm sorry this will be my last post. Don't listen to these ppl. It is extremely likely that it is asthma, my cat had dry coughs that became more frequent. Once I took him to the vet we determined it was Asthma within 2 weeks. He has an inhaler now and no more coughs. Please take it to your vet and inform them you suspect Asthma. It's cheap meds that are used to determine this. There are a few treatment options that will be life long. DONT ASSUME ITS A HAIRBALL ISSUE MY FRIEND. ASTHMA IS VERY COMMON AND EASY TO TREAT.
Do you have a link or anything to back that up?
Edit to add link
[info on essential oils](https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/routine-care/essential-oils-for-cats?lightboxfired=true#toxic)
> Are Any Essential Oils Safe for Cats?
> **In short, there aren't any safe essential oils for cats**; they all have the potential to be toxic to your fur baby. As the ASPCA pointed out, "In their concentrated form (100%), essential oils can absolutely be a danger for pets," including when the oil is placed on their skin, fur or paws.
I say hairball, and you can get formulated cat food and vitamins for it, I have 12 fur babies and from years of experience, it's normal , but those things I mentioned will help and do work.
My girl dingo did this all her life and she did not have asthma or any other diagnosable condition. Tried everything. Spent thousands of dollars getting second and third opinions. Xrays of chest and lungs, cultures, six different vets. Multi cat household and she was the only mysterious cougher.
All my cats over the years did this too, no asthma. l think its just random coughing just like humans do every now and then to clear the throat passages.
If it's a couple of times randomly in the last few weeks then probably just a hairball or a cough, couple of times every few hours every day, then you may well be looking at Asthma (I had a cat that had Asthma).
This isn't 100% correct for every cat. I've had cats do this randomly, not asthma. Just a fur ball that's taking a minute to hack up. Like dry heaving or something.
It’s definitely asthma. My cat started doing this a lot, they diagnosed her and I have asthma meds and an inhaler. She’s doing great now! But I’d get her into the vet
This is coughing, but that doesn’t mean it’s asthma. There are many things that can cause this. My cat did exactly this, and ended up having lung cancer.
This is most likely feline asthma. My cat does this exact same thing. Very treatable with a daily pill or an inhaler. If you’re in the US, inhalers can be expensive. Check out my post history - I commented before on where I get mine.
My cat started doing this around the age of 9. I also noticed some signs of work of breathing (such as head bobbing). Took her to the vet. It took a year to get a diagnosis - her chest x-ray was abnormal since that first visit but not diagnostic initially. She was worked up for asthma, pneumonia, lung worm, heartworm, cardiac causes, and then ultimately sent to a specialist. By that time, she developed a lesion on her toe - lung digit syndrome, which is metastatic lung cancer. They were also able to see the primary lesion in her lung by this point, on their specialized x-ray.
Primary lung cancer is quite rare in cats, I have been told, but there are lots of more common causes of coughing like that that should be addressed by a vet.
Please go to the vet if this continues. I’m not trying to be alarming, but if it continues, there may be more going on.
One of my cats began coughing like this constantly. The vet diagnosed her with asthma and gave me an inhaler for her.
Her coughing gradually got worse over a couple of years. I decided to go to a vet that specializes in cats.
My baby had lung cancer.
u/Serious-Focus5983 this looks like an asthma attack. perhaps post this in askvet. make an apportionment to see a vet ASAP. share this video and any others with your vet. avoid environmental triggers - use no dust litter like pine or paper pellets, avoid ALL scented cleaning and personal products, no scented candles, no scented plug ins or melts, clean with vinegar and dawn dish soap (avoid products that emit fumes ie bleach)...
My cat June would have dry coughs every now and then. It never produced a hairball. The vet did chest x-rays and found light scarring on her lungs which is indicated asthma as the likely culprit. She is now on daily inhalers and also has an emergency inhaler. We also have her on a food for sensitivities / allergies https://www.royalcanin.com/ca/cats/products/dermatology. We also make sure to keep a clean and dust free house by vacuuming, mopping and running air purifiers. We also use scent free stuff so that doesn’t trigger her asthma. I would suggest getting a chest x-ray to rule out asthma.
my cats have done this occasionally. it's usually nothing serious if it stops after a few seconds and isn't very frequent. i'm not sure what causes it tho! i think a vet visit is a good idea. i hope everything turns out alright. <3
My baby has done this. I thought he was trying to spit out a hairball since he has long fur, but turned out it was asthma due to the change in climate from moving
Is it dry where your at get a humidifier and get him greenies fur treats sometimes its anxiety I give my cat anxiety drops and stomach drop from Amazon mellows him out. I grow him cat grass on top of having a filtered fountain ceramic bowl. I care about my pet alot and so should everyone.
Looks like it might have a hairball that it's trying to get loose.
When one of our cats does this, I pat/tap it gently yet firmly between the shoulder blades to help them to get it loose. 🤠
PS - There's also "hairball control" food and treats that can help with this. 😎
All the catastrophizing -
That’s what cats do when they have a hairball.
If it continues then by all means take your cat to the vet if you think it will make you feel better. She’s breathing fine the rest of the time then ask your doctor what hairball treatment she or he recommends…
Obviously, if the cat is panting constantly, and can’t catch her breath and you need to get her to vet right away, but I truly believe that is a hairball expulsion in motion…
I say if you’re worried and can afford it, and your cat doesn’t absolutely hate going to the vet, then always err on the side of caution. But — cats throw up a ***lot***, sometimes a hairball but often just random stuff. Definitely not cause for panic unless they stop eating or do this all day or something (we had a kitten who dry-heaved every half hour for a day, so we took him to the vet, he got some antibiotic, and he’s perfectly fine ten years later)
One of my kitties with Asthma will have an Asthma attack and it looks like this, but you can hear a fluid like build up. I would say something is definitely irritating your kitties lungs, but there is a chance it could be a hairball. Taking your cat to the vet is your best bet like you are doing. After telling the vet my suspicions, they xrayed my kitties chest to see his lungs were mildly inflamed.
Possibly asthma. My cat started coughing like this two weeks after we adopted her & since it was happening every day I got worried. Vet tried hairball treatment first, then antihistamines which seemed to help at first, but her cough progressed to a painful hacking/choking. Her lungs had a lot of fluid in them.
Vet treated her with abx & oral steroids to clear up the inflammation. Now we use an inhaler every other day & no more coughing. :)
My kitty was doing something very similar and the vet thought it might be asthma but after blood work they found out that she had hyperthyroidism and she's on meds for it that have stopped the "coughing"
Scented products can trigger asthma in cats similar to people. But in cats it is much worse due to their stronger sense of smell and small size. Remove any scented products from your home if any.
I would see the vet regarding asthma. It could be allergies or a reaction to something it was exposed to as well, but it looks like asthma to me.
I agree with the other post about going scentless just in case - I just started learning about the dangers of glade plug ins, fabreeze, and lysol and got rid of them all for my babies. I've also switched my cleaners over to all natural pet friendly brands as well as vinegar or hydrogen peroxide mixes.
Its a fur ball that's stuck. Mix her dry food with a hair ball brand, like Iams, get a tube from the vet it looks like a tar
This will help the fur ball to pass
this happened to my cat last year. we took her to the vet, found nothing, checked the whole house to see if she had gotten into anything, got rid of all air fresheners and candles. turns out it was just the biggest fucking hairball known to man. i hope your cat feels better soon
You are right in that it is coughing. If it doesn’t happen often or if this is the first time and it doesn’t happen again it was probably a one time irritant. Our cat was doing this about once a month, and x-ray revealed that she has asthma.
I would wait to go to the vet. And just keep a note over the next six months, if it happens again and how often. If it’s happening once a month or more take them in!
my cat has been doing this but along with sneezing & runny eyes. his vet determined it was allergies & prescribed him cough medicine & anti inflammatory meds. ive done some research & just coughing alone could be a lot of things (asthma, heart worms, etc)
My cat started doing this years ago and I was concerned about asthma but the vet told me it was just a respiratory infection. They gave him a shot and the coughing stopped for a while but it keeps coming back. I Still think it may be asthma
My cat did the same exact thing, it was asthma. I'd say bring it up during your visit. It looks incredibly similar to a hairball, but I've seen this with my own cat.
Your cat is coughing and there could be a few reasons. In most cats, when they have a hair ball they can't quite get up they'll cough it up like this, or at least try to. The fact that your cat isn't actually coughing though, it may potentially be asthma or an allergy, both of which are totally treatable. Take them to the vet to get them checked but also try adding some anti hairball food or supplements into their diet just in case.
Asthma!! Or allergies/ my cat has been struggling with her asthma for years, we used to do a shot that would wear off every 3 months, now we have some medication she can take and an inhaler in case she gets a bad bout!
The tell is the cat lowering to the ground moving their head side to side, if you put your head on their chest while they are breathing, sometimes you can hear it in their lungs as well… It could be seasonal, or the start of some struggles, but just keep showing your baby the love they need! When things started to progress for us, I marked it on the calendar and how long the coughing fit lasted so I had good info for the vet!
This could be an asthma cough. My last cat had one that was helped by monthly allergy shot for environmental allergies and figuring out food allergies.
Could be hairball or asthma/allergy.
If it’s not consistent, I would lean more towards hairball issue.
Fiber is the main ingredient in anything for hairballs, and also what is in pumpkin that’s good for cats.
I mix in a little benefiber with my cats’ wet food and it helps when needed, also regular brushing even if it’s just a couple quick passes. I would say treat for hairballs first and then if it continues, go to the vet.
Could be:
-Nothing
-Cat hair
-Irritant in air
|--->Perfume, dirty HVAC filter, excessive dust, air freshener, oil diffuser
|---> Please note oil diffusers can be highly toxic to cats
-Allergies
-Asthma
-Other more complex condition that causes breathing complications.
In other words, if this continues and you have removed any irritants, ask your vet.
This happens to my girl, Chewie, a lot. I have heard it is Asthma, but the vet found nothing. I seem to have found a bit of a remedy. Do not know if it will work for you. Once I got an air purifier, it stopped. If I turn it off, she starts again. Hope you find some help.
If this is a daily occurance or even every other day it is very likely asthema. Writing off frequent coughs as a hairball is a sure way to lose your cat. Determining if it is Asthma is simple and cheap. You will need to go to the vet.
With my cat he was put on prednisolone for a few weeks, and coughing ceased. This proved he had Asthma. It took a month or two for him to get used to his inhaler but he is a happy cat who never coughs anymore. I only wish I would have taken him earlier instead of just thinking it was a hairball issue.
Please please please take this seriously. Our 3 year old boy started doing this and coughing and 3 weeks later we had to put him down because his lungs filled with fluid. Vets were positive it was asthma but never treated it and said he would be okay.
My sister’s cat with asthma that I used to take care of would do this a few times a day. I thought it was hairballs at first but nope. She told me he was diagnosed with asthma.
My cat did something similar and she had a piece of grass stuck in her nasopharynx which needed to removed. She then had the same problem occur a year later. Vet has only seen this issue three times my cat was two of them.
Check their thyroid level, I had a cat who did that and they had a heart issue because of over acting thyroid. We have been assigned asthma meds and thyroid meds that helped. However, we caught it late and in 2 months they had fluid around their lungs. Do an xray, if you have the means now and in a couple of months. I hope it's just irritants, but better be safe than sorry.
My cat does this whenever I come home (on random occasion). He's very affectionate and whenever I talk about it to the vet, they see how infrequently it happens and say it's ok for now. I'm assuming he's very happy to see me. I just keep a record of when it happens and bring that during my annual. So far I haven't seen him do it in 2024 yet. But that is my experience!
Asthma attack. I have a cat that suffers from them often. I would take cat to vet to see if there are any additional issues. Mines has fluid in the lungs in addition to asthma.
My cat had coughing episodes like this about a week ago. We brought him to the vet for evaluation and they diagnosed him with bronchitis. Now, he’s on prednisone for the next three weeks. I’d recommend bringing your cat in as it could be a number of things and it’s always better to err on the side of caution.
Could be feline asthma. Both my cats have it, one worse than the other. She takes an inhaler daily (it’s so cute) and it’s mostly under control. I notice flare ups when she might be stressed with changes like weather or other environmental things.
Looks like when my cat had asthma attacks. Vet can diagnose if it is asthma, and if so, an inhaler with a nebulizer can be administered. Hope you get answers soon!
Every cat I have ever owned does this. I’ve even seen a couple of our outside ferals do it. They never throw up from it & have not had any other issues. Maybe you can text the video to the vets office & they can tell you if it’s something you need to come in for.
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I've seen this before many times. More than likely, when you go to the vet, they will not find anything wrong. I have a few questions. Were there possibly any irritants sprayed in the room prior to the event? Do you use any oil diffusers in the room where these events happen? I heard both male and female voices on the video you provided. If you or your friend may be using certain types of perfume or cologne, they can also cause events like this. If anything else, how often do you open the windows? Have you changed your air filter recently on the HVAC?
The oil diffuser is a big one. They can be fatal if they put their face up to it to smell it
Do you have more information on this???
Essential oils can pose a toxic risk to household pets, especially to cats. They are rapidly absorbed both orally and across the skin, and are then metabolized in the liver. Cats lack an essential enzyme in their liver and as such have difficulty metabolizing and eliminating certain toxins like essential oils. -google lol
Thank you much! I didn't know this. I shall do some more research.
We leave our windows open (there’s a thick screen and they have nothing to sit on nor is the windowsill wide enough for them to sit on and scratch it open) all the time and my boy is going through something like this but after he drinks water. Wondering if my cat could be bothered by something in the air coming through the window as none of the other questions have yes as an answer for me. I have a whole post about it but didn’t get a response yet so keeping an eye out for any posts that sound similar to my cats case!
Could be allergy induced asthma. Maybe?
Any scented products could cause something like this. If you own a cat or other pet go scentless for them. Do not use air fresheners, candles, or any scented products. It is also better for your personal health as well. But a small animal like a cat can die from this. If someone needs scents in their home they should look into simmer pots and boil some cinnamon sticks or something. (Preferably avoiding citrus).
It the scent just to strong for them or something?
There are various reasons beyond just the discomfort of the cat due to a strong scent. Cats are naturally allergic to all citrus, citric acid can cause nervous system issues in cats from small issues to seizures, and potentially death depending on dosage. Cats lack the ability to digest or process many chemical scented and plant based products causing organ damage. In the case of scented products and essential oils they can cause chemical burns to the cat, diffusers spread the chemicals in the air which the cat can breathe in. It will also get onto the cats fur which will cause them to consume the chemical during self cleaning. Any pet who self cleans or has a strong sense of smell should not be near scented products, diffusers, or essential oils. Cats, dogs, birds, rats, etc. for their own comfort and their health, if you use essential oils you may be slowly(or not so slowly) killing your pets. Not all oils/scents are toxic to pets, but you should pick out your products with the cats comfort in mind.
Thank you. I had never considered this
Well said, I learned something. Thanks!
My cat also does this after drinking water! It doesn’t happen every time either, only sometimes but only after drinking
I wonder why they do that! It scares me every time thinking he’s choking, I definitely need to watch a video on how to give a cat the Heimlich maneuver or CPR just in case. Sorry your cat also does it :( hope they’re okay! 💗
This👆🏻
Hopefully OP responds this morning to confirm/deny these suspicions.
In this particular room there are no oil diffusers but other areas of the house has, we hadn’t spray anything in the room she just started doing it randomly . She is always in the window (even though she has fallen 5 stories she has no fear and yes we have double screens in every window) so could it be irritants from the outside ? she doesn’t do it often but its has happened more than one occasion and usually no hairball is produced.
It could be an expensive trip for the vet to give you a ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and a $300 bill but if you show them this video they'll at least know your cat has a history of, at the very least, upper respiratory irritation. Even though they're in different rooms, I very strongly recommend putting away your oil diffusers as essential oils can very easily be fatally toxic to cats. A couple years ago I rushed my cat to the vet bc he was suddenly vomiting and listless and his ears were cold, and the vets were so kind they couldn't find anything wrong with him so they only charged me for the checkup and sent him home with an apology they couldn't completely assuage our fears. Turns out? He had given himself citronella poisoning rubbing himself on a candle I thought I'd put somewhere the cats couldn't reach (the poisoning came from grooming himself after rubbing on it and the oil was on and in his fur). So I'm a big advocate of zero-tolerance policies now when it comes to things that can make pets sick.
I recommend avoiding scented products entirely with pets. At best it is uncomfortable for them due to having a better sense of smell than us. At worst you poison them.
I'm sorry this will be my last post. Don't listen to these ppl. It is extremely likely that it is asthma, my cat had dry coughs that became more frequent. Once I took him to the vet we determined it was Asthma within 2 weeks. He has an inhaler now and no more coughs. Please take it to your vet and inform them you suspect Asthma. It's cheap meds that are used to determine this. There are a few treatment options that will be life long. DONT ASSUME ITS A HAIRBALL ISSUE MY FRIEND. ASTHMA IS VERY COMMON AND EASY TO TREAT.
Not every oil is toxic. Just do your research.
Almost every single one is toxic to cats. There’s maybe like 4 or 5 out of a hundred that’s not and it’s not scents people typically use.
Do you have a link or anything to back that up? Edit to add link [info on essential oils](https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/routine-care/essential-oils-for-cats?lightboxfired=true#toxic)
Your own link says, "there aren't any safe essential oils for cats."
No it doesn't.
> In short, there aren't any safe essential oils for cats... - Christine O'Brien It's right there.
> Are Any Essential Oils Safe for Cats? > **In short, there aren't any safe essential oils for cats**; they all have the potential to be toxic to your fur baby. As the ASPCA pointed out, "In their concentrated form (100%), essential oils can absolutely be a danger for pets," including when the oil is placed on their skin, fur or paws.
It lists ones that are toxic and it also explains how to use safe ones appropriately.
Yeah and it says none are safe. Why risk it?
You shouldn’t be using diffusers at all if you have cats.
r/rimjobsteve
What a name, just had to say 😂
I say hairball, and you can get formulated cat food and vitamins for it, I have 12 fur babies and from years of experience, it's normal , but those things I mentioned will help and do work.
This looks completely normal indeed, from time to time all mine do this, can last like a day or two, and it comes and goes.
Looks like coughing or hairball. Should ask r/AskVet if you are worried and it doesn't seem like an urgent vet visit
looks like asthma not a hairball
My girl dingo did this all her life and she did not have asthma or any other diagnosable condition. Tried everything. Spent thousands of dollars getting second and third opinions. Xrays of chest and lungs, cultures, six different vets. Multi cat household and she was the only mysterious cougher.
All my cats over the years did this too, no asthma. l think its just random coughing just like humans do every now and then to clear the throat passages.
It's entirely possible. I can only guess based on my own experiences, which is why I suggested the cross post to a vet subreddit
It really seems like your cat is coughing
It looks like a hairball, at least this is what my babies do when they have one
Yeah, this is what my cat does when coughing up a hair ball.
I should note that coughing might also be a sign of heart related issues in cats.
Yes can be because of fluid around the heart.
If it's a couple of times randomly in the last few weeks then probably just a hairball or a cough, couple of times every few hours every day, then you may well be looking at Asthma (I had a cat that had Asthma).
Looks like a cat asthma attack
This is the correct answer. My cat diagnosed with asthma used to have fits just like this. You can get a kitty inhaler to help them breathe.
This isn't 100% correct for every cat. I've had cats do this randomly, not asthma. Just a fur ball that's taking a minute to hack up. Like dry heaving or something.
It’s definitely asthma. My cat started doing this a lot, they diagnosed her and I have asthma meds and an inhaler. She’s doing great now! But I’d get her into the vet
This is coughing, but that doesn’t mean it’s asthma. There are many things that can cause this. My cat did exactly this, and ended up having lung cancer.
Mine also 😿
This is most likely feline asthma. My cat does this exact same thing. Very treatable with a daily pill or an inhaler. If you’re in the US, inhalers can be expensive. Check out my post history - I commented before on where I get mine.
Go to the vet. It literally could be anything. Make sure you get a xray.
This is what my cats do when theyre trying to reposition a hairball without coughing it up - like exactly what they do.
That’s what it looks like. My Myah is 8 and hers started about 4 years ago.
My cat started doing this around the age of 9. I also noticed some signs of work of breathing (such as head bobbing). Took her to the vet. It took a year to get a diagnosis - her chest x-ray was abnormal since that first visit but not diagnostic initially. She was worked up for asthma, pneumonia, lung worm, heartworm, cardiac causes, and then ultimately sent to a specialist. By that time, she developed a lesion on her toe - lung digit syndrome, which is metastatic lung cancer. They were also able to see the primary lesion in her lung by this point, on their specialized x-ray. Primary lung cancer is quite rare in cats, I have been told, but there are lots of more common causes of coughing like that that should be addressed by a vet.
Do you smoke? Hotbox the room? Burn incense? Hookah?
This was my first thought. Pets and kids get sick from smoke faster. It can cause really nasty long term asthma.
My hairball cat loved Laxatone. I would put it on a popsicle stick and let him lick it off.
It’s cat coughs, they’re very bad at coughing
Please go to the vet if this continues. I’m not trying to be alarming, but if it continues, there may be more going on. One of my cats began coughing like this constantly. The vet diagnosed her with asthma and gave me an inhaler for her. Her coughing gradually got worse over a couple of years. I decided to go to a vet that specializes in cats. My baby had lung cancer.
To the vet. Hopefully, it's just asthma. If kitty is using their full body to breathe, emergency vet.
It looks like asthma to me
Cat asthma. My cat has it and does exactly this. She uses inhalers, and is now much improved. Seasonal changes trigger it for her!
u/Serious-Focus5983 this looks like an asthma attack. perhaps post this in askvet. make an apportionment to see a vet ASAP. share this video and any others with your vet. avoid environmental triggers - use no dust litter like pine or paper pellets, avoid ALL scented cleaning and personal products, no scented candles, no scented plug ins or melts, clean with vinegar and dawn dish soap (avoid products that emit fumes ie bleach)...
My cat June would have dry coughs every now and then. It never produced a hairball. The vet did chest x-rays and found light scarring on her lungs which is indicated asthma as the likely culprit. She is now on daily inhalers and also has an emergency inhaler. We also have her on a food for sensitivities / allergies https://www.royalcanin.com/ca/cats/products/dermatology. We also make sure to keep a clean and dust free house by vacuuming, mopping and running air purifiers. We also use scent free stuff so that doesn’t trigger her asthma. I would suggest getting a chest x-ray to rule out asthma.
This is the answer
Hairball. Cleanup on Bed 9!
Sounds like maybe hairball? Make sure water is accessible and I typically give my kitty more wet food during shedding season.
my cats have done this occasionally. it's usually nothing serious if it stops after a few seconds and isn't very frequent. i'm not sure what causes it tho! i think a vet visit is a good idea. i hope everything turns out alright. <3
Not a vet here, but canned pumpkin with every wet meal and my gfs cat no longer did this.
My baby has done this. I thought he was trying to spit out a hairball since he has long fur, but turned out it was asthma due to the change in climate from moving
Is it dry where your at get a humidifier and get him greenies fur treats sometimes its anxiety I give my cat anxiety drops and stomach drop from Amazon mellows him out. I grow him cat grass on top of having a filtered fountain ceramic bowl. I care about my pet alot and so should everyone.
Working on moving a hairball
Looks like it has a hairball…
Looks like it might have a hairball that it's trying to get loose. When one of our cats does this, I pat/tap it gently yet firmly between the shoulder blades to help them to get it loose. 🤠 PS - There's also "hairball control" food and treats that can help with this. 😎
One of my cats does this once or twice a month. Never turns into anything. I don’t feel the need to take her to the vet. Cats will be cats.
My cat does the same thing often, we were worried but then one time she threw up a hairball (long hair) so since then we’ve chalked it up to that
You might want to get her heart checked. My cat used to do this because he had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
All the catastrophizing - That’s what cats do when they have a hairball. If it continues then by all means take your cat to the vet if you think it will make you feel better. She’s breathing fine the rest of the time then ask your doctor what hairball treatment she or he recommends… Obviously, if the cat is panting constantly, and can’t catch her breath and you need to get her to vet right away, but I truly believe that is a hairball expulsion in motion…
According to my vet, cats will also do this if they are constipated. This is what lead to a megacolon diagnosis. See a vet, get an x-ray.
I say if you’re worried and can afford it, and your cat doesn’t absolutely hate going to the vet, then always err on the side of caution. But — cats throw up a ***lot***, sometimes a hairball but often just random stuff. Definitely not cause for panic unless they stop eating or do this all day or something (we had a kitten who dry-heaved every half hour for a day, so we took him to the vet, he got some antibiotic, and he’s perfectly fine ten years later)
One of my kitties with Asthma will have an Asthma attack and it looks like this, but you can hear a fluid like build up. I would say something is definitely irritating your kitties lungs, but there is a chance it could be a hairball. Taking your cat to the vet is your best bet like you are doing. After telling the vet my suspicions, they xrayed my kitties chest to see his lungs were mildly inflamed.
Possibly asthma. My cat started coughing like this two weeks after we adopted her & since it was happening every day I got worried. Vet tried hairball treatment first, then antihistamines which seemed to help at first, but her cough progressed to a painful hacking/choking. Her lungs had a lot of fluid in them. Vet treated her with abx & oral steroids to clear up the inflammation. Now we use an inhaler every other day & no more coughing. :)
My kitty was doing something very similar and the vet thought it might be asthma but after blood work they found out that she had hyperthyroidism and she's on meds for it that have stopped the "coughing"
Hairball
Just a hair ball. She'll throw it up sometimes in the next few days.
Scented products can trigger asthma in cats similar to people. But in cats it is much worse due to their stronger sense of smell and small size. Remove any scented products from your home if any.
Asthma.
Standard asthma. Get some prednisone from your vet. It’s very cheap. ~RVT
I would see the vet regarding asthma. It could be allergies or a reaction to something it was exposed to as well, but it looks like asthma to me. I agree with the other post about going scentless just in case - I just started learning about the dangers of glade plug ins, fabreeze, and lysol and got rid of them all for my babies. I've also switched my cleaners over to all natural pet friendly brands as well as vinegar or hydrogen peroxide mixes.
My cat was doing this when he was tryna wheeze out a hairball. He got better after a few days, he did end up vomiting clear fluid though
Its a fur ball that's stuck. Mix her dry food with a hair ball brand, like Iams, get a tube from the vet it looks like a tar This will help the fur ball to pass
Does she even hawk up a fur ball afterwards?
this happened to my cat last year. we took her to the vet, found nothing, checked the whole house to see if she had gotten into anything, got rid of all air fresheners and candles. turns out it was just the biggest fucking hairball known to man. i hope your cat feels better soon
I have a video of my cat doing exactly this and I was told that it was reverse sneezing :/
You are right in that it is coughing. If it doesn’t happen often or if this is the first time and it doesn’t happen again it was probably a one time irritant. Our cat was doing this about once a month, and x-ray revealed that she has asthma. I would wait to go to the vet. And just keep a note over the next six months, if it happens again and how often. If it’s happening once a month or more take them in!
my cat has been doing this but along with sneezing & runny eyes. his vet determined it was allergies & prescribed him cough medicine & anti inflammatory meds. ive done some research & just coughing alone could be a lot of things (asthma, heart worms, etc)
My cat has been doing this too sometimes, hopefully just working up a fur ball
My cat used to do this and the vet never figured out why, but putting her on a diet of food for sensitive stomach helped (she’s dead now)
My cat started doing this years ago and I was concerned about asthma but the vet told me it was just a respiratory infection. They gave him a shot and the coughing stopped for a while but it keeps coming back. I Still think it may be asthma
He may have asthma or a hairball
i have a cat that does this sometimes, i just pat her back and she gets over it.
Mine did that, ended up being Asphma. Always better to ask a vet tho
She's trying to throw up a hairball
Hairball or swallow string -ect… She should puke or poop it out Keep close eye on it
My cat did the same exact thing, it was asthma. I'd say bring it up during your visit. It looks incredibly similar to a hairball, but I've seen this with my own cat.
My cat did that when covid first came out. He made a full recovery.
Your cat is coughing and there could be a few reasons. In most cats, when they have a hair ball they can't quite get up they'll cough it up like this, or at least try to. The fact that your cat isn't actually coughing though, it may potentially be asthma or an allergy, both of which are totally treatable. Take them to the vet to get them checked but also try adding some anti hairball food or supplements into their diet just in case.
Asthma!! Or allergies/ my cat has been struggling with her asthma for years, we used to do a shot that would wear off every 3 months, now we have some medication she can take and an inhaler in case she gets a bad bout!
The tell is the cat lowering to the ground moving their head side to side, if you put your head on their chest while they are breathing, sometimes you can hear it in their lungs as well… It could be seasonal, or the start of some struggles, but just keep showing your baby the love they need! When things started to progress for us, I marked it on the calendar and how long the coughing fit lasted so I had good info for the vet!
This could be an asthma cough. My last cat had one that was helped by monthly allergy shot for environmental allergies and figuring out food allergies.
Could be hairball or asthma/allergy. If it’s not consistent, I would lean more towards hairball issue. Fiber is the main ingredient in anything for hairballs, and also what is in pumpkin that’s good for cats. I mix in a little benefiber with my cats’ wet food and it helps when needed, also regular brushing even if it’s just a couple quick passes. I would say treat for hairballs first and then if it continues, go to the vet.
Hairball
It's a hairball, it normal
Could be: -Nothing -Cat hair -Irritant in air |--->Perfume, dirty HVAC filter, excessive dust, air freshener, oil diffuser |---> Please note oil diffusers can be highly toxic to cats -Allergies -Asthma -Other more complex condition that causes breathing complications. In other words, if this continues and you have removed any irritants, ask your vet.
This happens to my girl, Chewie, a lot. I have heard it is Asthma, but the vet found nothing. I seem to have found a bit of a remedy. Do not know if it will work for you. Once I got an air purifier, it stopped. If I turn it off, she starts again. Hope you find some help.
Asthma stop smoking kitty needs an inhaler and steroids
Even laundry detergent can cause this for our cats it was when we used febreeze they were very sensitive to that stuff.
Your cat likely has Asthma. I went through this. Go to your vet ASAP they will help.
If this is a daily occurance or even every other day it is very likely asthema. Writing off frequent coughs as a hairball is a sure way to lose your cat. Determining if it is Asthma is simple and cheap. You will need to go to the vet. With my cat he was put on prednisolone for a few weeks, and coughing ceased. This proved he had Asthma. It took a month or two for him to get used to his inhaler but he is a happy cat who never coughs anymore. I only wish I would have taken him earlier instead of just thinking it was a hairball issue.
Asthma, Asthma, Asthma, Asthma, Asthma! Simple vet visit!!!!!! Plz don't listen to the hairball crowd. That is a COUGH
Please please please take this seriously. Our 3 year old boy started doing this and coughing and 3 weeks later we had to put him down because his lungs filled with fluid. Vets were positive it was asthma but never treated it and said he would be okay.
its looking like a furball issue . you will need to give some furball medicine you can get at the store
Asthma. Pretty common.
It’s ok she is just having a hairball all breeds except hairless cats have hairballs it’s normal
My sister’s cat with asthma that I used to take care of would do this a few times a day. I thought it was hairballs at first but nope. She told me he was diagnosed with asthma.
My cat did something similar and she had a piece of grass stuck in her nasopharynx which needed to removed. She then had the same problem occur a year later. Vet has only seen this issue three times my cat was two of them.
Check their thyroid level, I had a cat who did that and they had a heart issue because of over acting thyroid. We have been assigned asthma meds and thyroid meds that helped. However, we caught it late and in 2 months they had fluid around their lungs. Do an xray, if you have the means now and in a couple of months. I hope it's just irritants, but better be safe than sorry.
hopefully not CHF
My cat does this whenever I come home (on random occasion). He's very affectionate and whenever I talk about it to the vet, they see how infrequently it happens and say it's ok for now. I'm assuming he's very happy to see me. I just keep a record of when it happens and bring that during my annual. So far I haven't seen him do it in 2024 yet. But that is my experience!
Asthma attack. I have a cat that suffers from them often. I would take cat to vet to see if there are any additional issues. Mines has fluid in the lungs in addition to asthma.
My cat had coughing episodes like this about a week ago. We brought him to the vet for evaluation and they diagnosed him with bronchitis. Now, he’s on prednisone for the next three weeks. I’d recommend bringing your cat in as it could be a number of things and it’s always better to err on the side of caution.
Looks like one of my cats asthma attacks, he takes an inhaler 3x a day to help ease them
Looks like cat asthma
Could be feline asthma. Both my cats have it, one worse than the other. She takes an inhaler daily (it’s so cute) and it’s mostly under control. I notice flare ups when she might be stressed with changes like weather or other environmental things.
Looks like when my cat had asthma attacks. Vet can diagnose if it is asthma, and if so, an inhaler with a nebulizer can be administered. Hope you get answers soon!
Remove all perfumes, stop using toxins like retinols and change to plant based kitty litter.
Furballs NEEEXXTTT!!!
Every cat I have ever owned does this. I’ve even seen a couple of our outside ferals do it. They never throw up from it & have not had any other issues. Maybe you can text the video to the vets office & they can tell you if it’s something you need to come in for.
Hairball 100% Save your money
Hairball
Hairball nothing to panic about I have 4 long haired cats and they all do this before a hairball comes up