Question about coughing and allergies in cats

[Grateful for Hope]

My boy furbaby Spidey has been coughing intermittently for a few days. He is a very long haired kind of guy, and, usually the coughing results in copious hair balls appearing on my carpet.

The last few days, however, have not been hairball-productive.

Today was particularly bad for him. I was cleaning up a storm, and I caught him coughing after the cleaning was nearly done.

Then, we had visitors (my son and his wife). Spidey, who used to be fairly brave when it came to visitors, hid under my bed for the entire time they were here.

We all went out (for a birthday party for me), and, when I finally got home tonight, he was coughing and coughing. I was really concerned that he might have a hair ball "stuck".

I was very worried, and, I decided to try catnip on him (he usually merely smells catnip on the floor, and then rolls in it...I think he is an "instant" catnip addict, LOL!), and, he engaged in his usual behavior with the catnip. Since then (about two hours ago), no coughing.

What I think is that the catnip relaxed him. I guess I just wonder why he is now showing some signs of (1) allergy, but maybe (2) he is more anxious than he has ever been.

I think I might be able to answer #2. I was home with him 100% for about two years as I was unemployed, and, now I am working a very long day (with three hours of commute time).

So, he and his brother Jake are home now alone for very long hours.

My question -- is coughing in cats sometimes a sign of anxiety?

TIA!!!

[Lorien]

1. I think that it can be a sign of anxiety

my Oberon hates any kind of change in his routine, and if I'm away for a few days he not only coughs, but sneezes and throws up pretty much daily. I know I can never go away for more than a week or so because he's be sick and half starved when I returned. If he's still coughing after a week or so a trip to the vet might not be out of order (could be allergies) but it is probably just anxiety. Have you tried Feliway or rescue remedy?

[Grateful for Hope]

2. I have used Feliway in the past (during my move back to NY)

You have validated what I suspected with my Spidey. He is a very loving guy -- and he takes care of his brother Jake (for instance, I accidently stepped on Jake's paw a few days ago, and, Jake screamed, and I apologized as loudly, but, Spidey's concern was Jake).

I think our caretaker kind of guys (I tend to think they are males), are perhaps more susceptible to change in routine than other kitties. Perhaps they are "constitutionally" very sensitive.

Thanks for your input, Lorien!

[femmedem]

3. It sounds like asthma to me. I have an asthmatic cat.

His asthma attacks look as if he's coughing up a hairball. One good website about feline asthma is www.fritzthebrave.com On this website there's a video of a cat having an asthma attack, so you can see if it looks like what your cat is doing.

Feline asthma is treatable in a few different ways. Also, as with people, it can be seasonal. Left untreated it could cause permanent lung damage.

Is your cat elderly? Coughing like that could also be a sign of fluid build up due to heart trouble. But it does sound like an allergic response to the cleaning.

I don't know if it's a sign of anxiety. It does sound like the poor guy has had a rough time lately. Maybe it's taken a toll on his immune system?

Good luck with your furbaby! And with your new job.

[Grateful for Hope]

4. thank you for the info, femmedem

Spidey is young...not quite four. When I adopted him, he got sick almost immediately -- he was coughing and had nasal congestion. At that time, an antibiotic worked miracles on him. He hasn't been sick since, so this coughing is new to him.

I will definitely check out the website you mentioned.

Thank you!

[Grateful for Hope]

5. An update, femmedem

I finally took Spidey to the vet today because he continued to cough, and, I could feel congestion in his lungs when I picked him up.

Vet x-rayed his chest, and took temp, etc. His lungs had a lot of fluid, but, otherwise looked good. His heart was normal size (and, no heart murmur). Absolutely no fever, and he has remained playful and eating well this entire time

Vet was not convinced that this isn't some type of infection, but, she is leaning toward asthma. So, She put him on both an antibiotic and a steroid (prednisone).

She did say that the asthma is seasonal (all your information was RIGHT ON). Anyway, I am glad I finally took him as I was getting pretty worried, and, with the holidays, work, and all, it was difficult to find the time to take him.

I'd be interested in hearing what you do for your asthmatic kitty. If this is going to be a chronic thing, I really don't want Spidey on an endless cycle of steriods, if at all possible.

TIA!

[Azlady]

6. It sounds like Asthma to me as well

Our sweet boy, big outdoor boy all of the sudden developed a cough. We knew he was not feeling good when he walked into our home, he never wanted to be inside. We scooped him up & took him to the vet. They xrayed him and he had asthma, there were like these little spots on his lungs that almost looked like tiny commas. He was 19 when he developed asthma. He lived another 15 blessed months, indoors with us. He was given a puff of asthma every day, 2x a day. The first time he fought it, after that he realized that it made him feel better. If we were a little late giving in a dose, he would come and get us. He did not die of his asthma but just dang old age, he was 21.

I do not know if it is asthma or not but I think it warrants taking your furbaby to the vet.

[Grateful for Hope]

7. Thanks, Azlady

I did take him to the vet yesterday -- see post #5.

Spidey did not have spots on his lungs, but, this may be because he is still pretty young. I am really glad I took him. I was getting really worried, and, was even having a hard time concentrating at work because my mind would slip back to him at home.

I also think he knew we were doing a good thing for him. He didn't complain much (and, he used to HATE the vet), and, when we got him home, he was his usual affectionate, playful self as soon as we let him out of the carrier.

[Grateful for Hope]

8. I apologize for kicking my own thread

but, I wanted to post an update on Spidey. With the treatment I mentioned in my last post (Prednisone, antibiotic shot), he did not get better.

I took him back to the vet tonight, and, since she is convinced that his symptoms are not cardiac-related (we spoke at great length about this, and, she said that she always wants to check for heart problems when a cat presents like Spidey), the diagnosis is, indeed, asthma.

So, Spidey is now the proud owner of a nebulizer and a prescription med that I had to purchase at a "people" drug store. I have to admit that seeing the name Spidey <enter my last name here> entered into their system made me laugh!

I am actually relieved as I thought that Spidey might be very, very sick, even though he had been eating and being his old playful self. His coughing was getting worse, and, I could actually feel the congestion in his upper chest when I would pick him up.

He lost 1/2 pound from his last visit (not quite 2 weeks ago), and, when I heard this, I cried (privately). I thought that maybe he was "on his way out".

The vet told me that this is common when respiration is hampered, and, she was surprised that I thought that he was that sick.

He is going to hate the treatments, but, they are brief and, if tonight is any indication (the vet gave him his first treatment, and he has not coughed since), it will stop the coughing, and, eventually, I am hoping he will associate the treatment with feeling better.

As an aside:

I have always thought that Spidey is very beautiful since I adopted his little self nearly four years ago. In the beginning, I took a lot of pics of him, and, I thought they never captured his beauty. Looking back tonight on the photos I took, I know I am right.

Well, the staff at Spidey's hospital validated my thoughts tonight. All I heard there was "he is so beautiful", and "He is so handsome".

I know they probably say this to all their proud pet owners, but, I felt so validated! To me, he is very uniquely beautiful, inside and out.