TL;DR: A non-productive cough in cats is often a sign of respiratory issues rather than hairballs and requires a veterinary exam within 48 hours. Seek emergency care immediately if your cat exhibits open-mouth breathing or blue-tinted gums.
How do I know if my cat is experiencing a non-productive cough?
- Observe if your cat hunches their back, extends their neck, and makes hacking or wheezing sounds without producing a hairball.
- Recognize that while this is often mistaken for a "stuck hairball," the lack of production suggests the issue is in the lungs or airways.
Is my cat's hacking cough a veterinary emergency?
- Understand that the urgency level is Medium; a persistent or recurring cough requires a veterinary exam within 24 to 48 hours.
- Identify life-threatening emergencies, such as open-mouth breathing, a bluish tint to the tongue, or abdominal pumping, which require immediate clinic care.
Why should I record a video of my cat's coughing episodes for the vet?
- Capturing a video is vital because cats rarely cough during a vet exam due to the stress of the environment.
- Providing a recording allows the vet to analyze the cat's posture and the specific sound of the cough.
- Sharing this documentation helps the vet differentiate between causes like feline asthma, bronchitis, or heart-related issues.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Coughing in cats, even without the presence of hairballs, warrants investigation into underlying causes such as feline asthma or heartworm-associated respiratory disease. Diagnosis is made from history, clinical signs, and elimination of other causes. In chronic bronchitis, chest radiographs may show increased linear and peribronchial markings, while bronchoscopy reveals inflamed epithelium and often mucopurulent mucus. During acute and subacute inflammatory stages, air passages may be filled with frothy, serous, or mucopurulent exudate; in chronic bronchitis, excessive viscid mucus may be observed. Oral or inhaled corticosteroids may be indicated for treatment, and bronchodilators may be considered.
Chapter: Respiratory
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 1491)