TL;DR: Cat gagging is often mistaken for hairballs but is frequently a cough caused by feline asthma; while stable cats need a vet within 48 hours, any difficulty breathing or blue gums require immediate emergency care.
What causes my cat to gag or cough like they have asthma?
It can be very distressing to see your cat crouched low to the ground, neck extended, making a gagging or hacking sound. While many owners mistake this for a cat trying to pass a hairball, it is often actually a cough. Feline asthma is a chronic respiratory condition caused by inflammation in the small airways of the lungs. When these airways constrict, it becomes difficult for your cat to move air effectively, resulting in the characteristic wheezing or gagging sounds you are observing.
Is it an emergency if my cat is gagging or having trouble breathing?
- Schedule a veterinary appointment within the next 24 to 48 hours if your cat is gagging but otherwise eating, drinking, and acting normally.
- Seek immediate emergency care if you notice high-urgency signs such as open-mouth breathing, blue-tinged gums, or extreme lethargy.
- Monitor your cat's resting breathing rate closely, as asthma can cause sudden, life-threatening respiratory distress.
How can photos and videos of my cat’s gagging help the veterinarian?
- Capture a video of the gagging episode to allow your vet to see the specific posture and hear the type of cough.
- Use video documentation to help your vet distinguish between a simple hairball, a heart condition, or feline asthma.
- Provide clear photos of your cat's resting position and any discharge from the nose or eyes to assist in a faster, more accurate diagnosis.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Feline asthma is characterized by chronic cough and wheeze due to spontaneous bronchoconstriction associated with airway inflammation. In cats, serotonin released from degranulating mast cells is a major mediator of allergen-induced bronchoconstriction. Chronic bronchitis in cats is similar clinically to feline asthma, but lacks bronchoconstriction. For life-threatening asthma, epinephrine (0.02 mg/kg, IM) can be administered for its bronchodilatory effects. Corticosteroids such as prednisolone sodium succinate (15 mg/kg, IV) or dexamethasone (2-4 mg/kg, IM or IV) can be given for allergic bronchitis or asthma. Other bronchodilators, such as aminophylline or terbutaline, may be administered IM, or albuterol can be given by nebulization during a crisis.
Chapter: Respiratory
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 2609)