Food options for hacking/coughing caused by possible allergies?

[DanielBunbury]

I have to respectfully disagree that dry food is better than canned food. I saw dry food give my cats urinary problems with my own eyes.

As long as your cat drinks enough water with a good dry food, then dry food is better. On the other hand, if your cat doesn't drink enough water, you're completely right, it leads to urinary problems. My pussies drink plenty of water, plus the chicken meat I feed them is quite moist.

 

[duckpond]

When I write "fresh", I don't mean raw. Cooked and either tinned or as sandwich meat slices (yes, I always check ingredients/additives). It's only as an additional treat, their dry food is corn-free and complete.

any human food, that does not have the specific vitamins and minerals added to it for cats can cause problems. As long as it is an occasional treat, not a daily thing then it should be ok

 

[DanielBunbury]

any human food, that does not have the specific vitamins and minerals added to it for cats can cause problems. As long as it is an occasional treat, not a daily thing then it should be ok

Precisely, that's why I write "treat" and otherwise recommend vitamin+mineral additives available from pet shops.

 

[foxxycat]

Personally, I think asthma is overrated. Not that it's not a problem, but it's almost always caused by external sources and not specifically a health problem with the cat. Treatment with steroids is expensive and shortens the life of the cat. The very best you can do is eliminate as many chemicals in the air and food as possible. Smoking, air fresheners, scented candles, incense, toilet blocks, treated/scented litter, fabric softeners etc. etc. are all bad for your cat's airways... The smells of cat food are inhaled, and who knows what gets added to make them more appealing, so try fresh chicken or fish as an alternative. Vets and doctors tend to prefer seeing things as illnesses and treating them with medicines, but if you can avoid them, you do your cat a great favour (and s/he'll be around longer).

Partially correct. Outside factors like you listed do affect asthma= anything scented. My girl Honeybee came to me with Asthma in 2013. We use flovent inhaled steroids to control. The aerokat is the space chamber that works really well. Oral pred is sometimes best way to treat asthma thats bad-daily multiple coughing episodes. Inhaled steroids is less problematic on their body than oral pred. I also agree with raw diet is better than kibble. I feed a combo of both. kibble during day and once a day she get's raw food=she loves all meats-I just give her a tiny bit chopped up in 1/4" pieces. she eats it up. ok off to read the rest of thread...

xrays are gold standard in diagnosing asthma-without treatment your cat's lungs will get worse and will get what is known as COPD or epezema (sp) where remodeling happens in the lungs=inflammation changes the cellular structure of the area where air/gas exchange happens=makes it so less area to gas exchange which is NOT good for your kitties lung health-so I highly recommend an xray then follow with appropriate life style changes- scented stuff GONE, good diet, plenty of exercise and interaction. Listen to their body language-you will be able to tell if they don't feel good- resting more than playing if not elderly, panting, wheezing, coughing all are not normal.

 

[foxxycat]

so treatment with steroids is necessary for long life of your cat if they cough/wheeze/meatloaf or only play 2 or 3 minutes and you see increased respirations. Breathes per minute should be 30 or under while sleeping. My honeybee was 50 breathes per minute in her sleep prior to asthma treatments. Inhaled Flovent changed her life. Before she coughed 3 or 4 times a day-sometimes more, play was limited, she couldn't climb her tree, she couldn't run around like she wanted to. she was only 1 or 2 when I got her. she's now 7. She still as active WITH her daily flovent treatment.

Fritzthebrave.com has more asthma info. Takes 2 to 3 weeks to train cat to use aerokat. Amazon has one for $25. meds are cheaper from new zealand than from america. I personally know 10+ cats who came down with asthma and now puff on their aerokat-life has improved for them.

If one doesn't deal with asthma attacks-they can get tired and turn blue in the mouth/tongue. Asthma is not something to scuff at. It's a serious medical condition IF not treated in a month or a few months. Letting coughing not be treated causes more problems down the road-which means more medications for maybe some relief...just my 2 cents dealing with asthma kitties...took a month to get a proper diagnosis from vet-changed vet 3 times-they didn't believe me...finally found vet to prescribe necessary meds=life is good.

 

[Furballsmom]

finally found vet to prescribe necessary meds=life is good.

 

[DanielBunbury]

Asthma in all mammals is (almost) always due to external factors. You can treat it with medication, or you can resolve it by eliminating the external factors. My mother had asthma until she was 18, then she left her stressful home and married (my father :-)), and never had asthma problems again.

Cats are particularly affected by airborne pollutants (including those in food).

As with many illnesses, choose medication or look critically at the external factors.

 

[foxxycat]

Eyeroll. Sometimes we do eliminate all. But what happens when illness is still there? You keep deluding yourself whike I continue helping to save lives.

 

[LillysMom]

I've had the same problem with one of my Siamese cats... Coughing, and occasionally short bouts of something I'd call reverse hiccups and abdominal spasms. It also resulted in nasal congestion which was cleared by the antibiotic Doxoral, which also temporarily cured the cough. Vet could not hear problems in the lungs, and suggested x-rays and/or a nasal canal exam, both very expensive procedures and without a clear expectation of what it might be, I'm not going to spend that kind of money. I read that asthma is commonly caused by allergies or adverse reactions to chemicals, so I started eliminating possible culprits such as changing their litter to an unscented, untreated wood-based litter, and not using fabric softener. That didn't help, but I would recommend doing it anyway for the breathing health of your cats. I also tried a new type of scratch post with a more tightly-woven and less smelly sisal (who knows what the factories in China treat their sisal rope with, that makes it smell so strong). Finally, I eliminated their wet food altogether (almost all wet foods have a few common ingredients and may even be made in the same factories). Now they get dry food only, plus slices of chicken as treats (which they like better anyway). The coughing etc. has stopped!

So my advice is to eliminate all such culprits in your cat's environment. You may not find out exactly which one was the cause, but it will always be beneficial to your cats... and their owners too!

I can relate. Lilly had several x-rays taken at various times, and each time I had to pay not just for the x-ray, but for the consultation with a veterinary radiologist. When nothing seemed to work, the vet wanted to do a tracheal wash and an endoscopy, which I could not afford. That's when I took matters in my own hand and began the allergen elimination process.

I too use unscented, 100% dust-free litter (which didn't make a difference, but it's got to be better for her anyway, and my house stays a lot cleaner without all that dust!). I removed all poultry from her diet, as chicken and turkey appear to be the allergens. Lilly now eats grain-free salmon or whitefish only, both dry and canned. Even her treats are one-ingredient freeze-dried salmon or whitefish. She has not coughed again since I eliminated chicken and turkey!

Glad you figured out what worked for your kitty. Yes, Siamese cats seem to be prone to this condition, unfortunately.

 

[lisahe]

LillysMom , I'm glad to hear the dietary changes have helped so much! The fixes can be pretty individual and difficult to figure out so you were lucky to be able to narrow things down relatively quickly.

 

[Neo_23]

Oh, and my pussies drink plenty of water, so potential urinary problems due to dry food is not a problem. The junk in the fluid of most wet food is worse than dry food and fresh water. Try heating and stirring your wet food in a pan on the stove, and you'll likely see it's not chunky meat, but compressed particles held together with starches and gums which disintegrate (and they charge more per kilo than human food!). If you're concerned, buy extra cat vitamins, minerals etc., available at every good pet store.

It is very unlikely that your cat drinks enough water on its own on a dry food diet. A typical 10 pound cat needs almost a full cup of water a day. If your cat is drinking more than that on its own it is likely that he/she has an underlying medical condition. Cats by nature have low thirst drives and are meant to obtain most of their water directly from their food.

Also, dry food by definition has more "junk" in it. There are plenty of canned foods on the market that don't have any gums or additives. But all dry foods require some "junk" as base ingredients. Not only this, but all dry food is high in carbs and low in protein.

The only advantage that dry food gives above wet is its convenience for owners. It has no health benefits above wet food.

Extra vitamins and minerals shouldn't be needed to add to any complete pet food diet. In fact, that could be harmful to your pet.

 

[LillysMom]

Speaking of stress, most advice on feline asthma mentions stress as a factor. Ireland is a pretty high-strung cat: she and her sister are rescue cats from a household with too many cats, and they were horribly underfed when we adopted them.

Anyway, good luck LillysMom , I hope you're able to figure out what to do for Lilly! (Maybe you've already found a solution since your last post? I hope so!)

So far so good! Everything has been perfect since I eliminated chicken and turkey from Lilly's diet, and switched her to grain-free salmon and whitefish. I also switched to one-ingredient treats, such as freeze-dried salmon bits. The litter is unscented and 100% dust-free, although not Dr. Elsey's. She gets both dry and canned, both grain-free, both salmon or fish. It has been something akin to a miracle to see how completely the coughing stopped!

So you have a Lynx point Siamese mix too! When I adopted Lilly I didn't know anything about the Siamese breed. I have since learned that cross-eyedness and respiratory/allergy issues are quite common. Like your kitty, Lilly is also quite high-strung and does not like loud or sudden noises. She hates being picked up or held, but is otherwise very affectionate and sweet. I'm just so happy that her quality of life has improved to the point where my cat sitter is no longer afraid to look after her. The hacking episodes were so frequent and so violent, that the cat sitter freaked out and told me she could no longer agree to take care of her the couple times a year I go out of town. That has changed now.

Here's to long, healthy lives for our Lynxes!

 

[Neo_23]

Also have a lynx point siamese here with what we think are respiratory issues caused by a virus. Her only symptom is that she sometimes sounds congested when she breathes and she also snores. We try to minimize any possible allergens or dust in the environment. It definitely is worse when she is stressed out, especially since hers is likely due to an underlying viral infection.

And I have to say that lynx point are definitely some of the kindest/sweetest and personable kitties I have met, although I find that they tend to be a bit jumpy and shy around new people.

 

[LillysMom]

My cat also has a cough. I think it may be asthma. Taken her to the vet a few times, and they say it's nothing to worry about. Finally I found a vet that agreed it might be asthma. Have to get xrays done now. Not sure about food allergies. It could be, but I thought they are usually more stomach or skin related problems. Let us know what happens.

That's why my vet didn't think it was allergies, because my kitty didn't have stomach issues or itchy skin. Yet, it ended up being an allergy to chicken and turkey!

 

[LillysMom]

And I have to say that lynx point are definitely some of the kindest/sweetest and personable kitties I have met, although I find that they tend to be a bit jumpy and shy around new people.

Totally agree!

 

[DanielBunbury]

That's why my vet didn't think it was allergies, because my kitty didn't have stomach issues or itchy skin. Yet, it ended up being an allergy to chicken and turkey!

Often what we call allergies are adverse (chemical) reactions. The difference is whether or not it's the immune system reacting. So the vet could be right that it wasn't an allergy, but nevertheless your cat can have an adverse reaction to chicken and turkey (e.g. if antibiotics or pesticides are used by poultry farmers in your country). Great you identified the cause!

 

[DanielBunbury]

It is very unlikely that your cat drinks enough water on its own on a dry food diet. A typical 10 pound cat needs almost a full cup of water a day. If your cat is drinking more than that on its own it is likely that he/she has an underlying medical condition. Cats by nature have low thirst drives and are meant to obtain most of their water directly from their food.

Also, dry food by definition has more "junk" in it. There are plenty of canned foods on the market that don't have any gums or additives. But all dry foods require some "junk" as base ingredients. Not only this, but all dry food is high in carbs and low in protein.

The only advantage that dry food gives above wet is its convenience for owners. It has no health benefits above wet food.

Extra vitamins and minerals shouldn't be needed to add to any complete pet food diet. In fact, that could be harmful to your pet.

Many cats may not drink enough water, but my cats do: the amount they pee in the litter box is the same since switching off wet food, and there is clearly more from the water bowl consumed.

As with wet food, the quality of dry foods varies dramatically. I read lables and chemical analyses on my cat's foods (just like I do for all my own food). The cat food I buy is (among other things) low carb, high protein and corn-free (corn makes my pussies barf).

My cats won't touch any canned foods nor most wet (pouch) foods, and the wet food they did like gave one of my cats coughing problems. Also, they pace themselves better with dry, whereas wet food gets eaten in one go. In addition, the sauces in wet foods virtually always contain thickeners (e.g. guar gum, locus bean gum, or potato/rice/tapioca or cornstarch) which cause health issues. And I also give them additional fresh cooked meat/fish. So my giving them dry food is definitely not a question of convenience for me, it's for their health.

As for extra vitamins and minerals, you are absolutely right that 'complete' foods don't require them. I suggest them only if one is giving their cats significant amounts of incomplete food, such as poultry or fish, and wants to ensure their cats are getting all the nutrients they require. Mine don't require extra.

My cats are exceptionally healthy and happy, so apparently what I'm doing works for them. :-)

 

[lisahe]

So you have a Lynx point Siamese mix too! When I adopted Lilly I didn't know anything about the Siamese breed. I have since learned that cross-eyedness and respiratory/allergy issues are quite common. Like your kitty, Lilly is also quite high-strung and does not like loud or sudden noises. She hates being picked up or held, but is otherwise very affectionate and sweet. I'm just so happy that her quality of life has improved to the point where my cat sitter is no longer afraid to look after her. The hacking episodes were so frequent and so violent, that the cat sitter freaked out and told me she could no longer agree to take care of her the couple times a year I go out of town. That has changed now.

Same here: we also knew nothing about Siamese mixes when we adopted our two! I'm glad our vet, who's a cat specialist, warned me about Siamese health issues early on. It was good to know. Our cats both still have strong reactions to certain loud and sudden noises: for some reason they particularly dislike certain types of sneezes, coughs, and throat clearings, and chirp when they hear them. (We wonder if someone in their previous household who made those types of noises abused them...) They'll both be held but only under certain circumstances. Ireland, the lynx, is on my lap as I type, washing her face. They're very, very sweet cats, ridiculously affectionate and loyal. Edwina, the snowshoe sleeps by my feet every night, and Ireland lies on my husband's lap when he reads.

Also have a lynx point siamese here with what we think are respiratory issues caused by a virus. Her only symptom is that she sometimes sounds congested when she breathes and she also snores. We try to minimize any possible allergens or dust in the environment. It definitely is worse when she is stressed out, especially since hers is likely due to an underlying viral infection.

And I have to say that lynx point are definitely some of the kindest/sweetest and personable kitties I have met, although I find that they tend to be a bit jumpy and shy around new people.

Our previous cat had life-long respiratory symptoms that were most likely from a herpes virus: she also got a little sneezy and congested sometimes, and her eye would water. It was never very serious, though.

Our cats are also shy and weird around new people: we usually shut them in a room by themselves if we have more than one or two people over. A couple weeks after we adopted the cats, Ireland jumped on a friend's back when she was sitting at the table. I really don't want a repeat of that!

 

[Furballsmom]

Ireland jumped on a friend's back when she was sitting at the table.

trying to make a new friend for him/herself? Poor Ireland - I can imagine the reaction, which wasn't what was intended by your furbaby....or was it? cats are strange...

 

[Neo_23]

Many cats may not drink enough water, but my cats do: the amount they pee in the litter box is the same since switching off wet food, and there is clearly more from the water bowl consumed.

As with wet food, the quality of dry foods varies dramatically. I read lables and chemical analyses on my cat's foods (just like I do for all my own food). The cat food I buy is (among other things) low carb, high protein and corn-free (corn makes my pussies barf).

My cats won't touch any canned foods nor most wet (pouch) foods, and the wet food they did like gave one of my cats coughing problems. Also, they pace themselves better with dry, whereas wet food gets eaten in one go. In addition, the sauces in wet foods virtually always contain thickeners (e.g. guar gum, locus bean gum, or potato/rice/tapioca or cornstarch) which cause health issues. And I also give them additional fresh cooked meat/fish. So my giving them dry food is definitely not a question of convenience for me, it's for their health.

As for extra vitamins and minerals, you are absolutely right that 'complete' foods don't require them. I suggest them only if one is giving their cats significant amounts of incomplete food, such as poultry or fish, and wants to ensure their cats are getting all the nutrients they require. Mine don't require extra.

My cats are exceptionally healthy and happy, so apparently what I'm doing works for them. :-)

I still highly doubt your cats get as much water from dry as they do on wet but okay if you say so.

There are actually only 2 dry foods on the market that are low in carbs: Ziwipeak and Dr. Elsey. Unless you’re feeding one of these the food is high in carbs.

There is plenty of information out there written by feline nutrionists on why dry food is unhealthy for cats. Rather than repeat it all here, a good and credible source to link you to is catinfo.org.

I’m glad your kitties are healthy and doing well.