What would make a 15/16 yr old neutered indoor male cat scruch down and cough after napping? This has gone on for a couple of yrs now and while I have wondered if there's some internal, intestinal but possibly lung related issue, so far various vets have not suggested (or agreed with my Q's any kind of exploratory or even just imaging search. They don't seem to have an answer to my questions and because it doesn't get worse, they kind of do nothing. Am I missing something here? Thx!
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Unsolved, sometimes gag-type cough?
- Thread starter lucyrima
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I can say that I don't think you're wrong on the lung aspect. That sounds a lot like Asthma. It's a exactly what my boy was doing and it took me firing a vet and talking him to his current one to finally find out - it's Asthma and allergies. I'm sorry it's taking you various vets and still no answer.
Is he otherwise is good shape?
The other thing is heart. During this we also found out he has mild HCM.
Charlie's 10 now. :-)
Is he otherwise is good shape?
The other thing is heart. During this we also found out he has mild HCM.
Charlie's 10 now. :-)
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
A cat that age with coughing should be taken a bit more seriously than what it looks like your vets are doing. I don't understand why they would not at least start with an x-ray of his lungs/heart - if for other reason than to give you peace of mind.
Aside from heart/lungs, it could be sinus related, if he only does it after napping. When I wake up in the morning, my sinuses drain, causing coughing (from draining mucous down my throat) and it doesn't recur all day long - until the next morning after sleeping. Environmental allergies causing coughing/drainage is another possibility but a bit harder to confirm, short of trying things like antihistamines.
There are treatments for any of these possibilities. You could either choose to insist on an x-ray or find another vet who is willing to at least look at a couple of most probable reasons.
Aside from heart/lungs, it could be sinus related, if he only does it after napping. When I wake up in the morning, my sinuses drain, causing coughing (from draining mucous down my throat) and it doesn't recur all day long - until the next morning after sleeping. Environmental allergies causing coughing/drainage is another possibility but a bit harder to confirm, short of trying things like antihistamines.
There are treatments for any of these possibilities. You could either choose to insist on an x-ray or find another vet who is willing to at least look at a couple of most probable reasons.
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If it sounds like this it could be a lung infection.
Jerry on Instagram: "A friend posted a video of her foster cat having an asthma attack and only then did I realize that Jerry has been coughing for sometime and not trying to pass a hairball. So I thought I would post this so others can see what a coughing cat looks like. Jerry is getting some testing done and hopefully if he does have asthma we can get him on some meds to help him out! . . . . . . . . . . #kitty #kitten #kittensofinstagram #kittycat #kittenoftheday #catsofinstagram #catstagram #catoftheday #catlife #catrescue #catlovers #meow #meowstagram #adoptdontshop #fosterfail #catoftheday #foster #catlovers #catlover #communityalleytrappers #petoftheday #ottawacats #ottawacat #catsofottawa #tuxedocatsofinstagram #tuxedocats #cathealth #catasthma"
Sometimes, the best way to ask can be, "I'm worried it's X. What's the diagnosis plan for it?" And then, "How do we get that started? I want to prevent anything from worsening and would rather be safe than sorry."
It worked to get my cat's ear infection diagnosed. They insisted it was just a vestibular issue that would resolve on its own ina few days.
Jerry on Instagram: "A friend posted a video of her foster cat having an asthma attack and only then did I realize that Jerry has been coughing for sometime and not trying to pass a hairball. So I thought I would post this so others can see what a coughing cat looks like. Jerry is getting some testing done and hopefully if he does have asthma we can get him on some meds to help him out! . . . . . . . . . . #kitty #kitten #kittensofinstagram #kittycat #kittenoftheday #catsofinstagram #catstagram #catoftheday #catlife #catrescue #catlovers #meow #meowstagram #adoptdontshop #fosterfail #catoftheday #foster #catlovers #catlover #communityalleytrappers #petoftheday #ottawacats #ottawacat #catsofottawa #tuxedocatsofinstagram #tuxedocats #cathealth #catasthma"
Sometimes, the best way to ask can be, "I'm worried it's X. What's the diagnosis plan for it?" And then, "How do we get that started? I want to prevent anything from worsening and would rather be safe than sorry."
It worked to get my cat's ear infection diagnosed. They insisted it was just a vestibular issue that would resolve on its own ina few days.
Charlie's was not all the time either.
FeebysOwner
and
A
Alldara
both have some great thoughts too.I agree with
FeebysOwner
I can't understand why the vets wouldn't at least check a little more closely. Then again - I did fire one for pretty much that reason. They kept saying "he's young don't worry about it". A Alldara That is a great approach. It's sad we have to advocate so hard sometimes for something that really should be looked into.
My asthma kitty wakes up like this sometimes. My herpes kitty did, too. Hers was drainage. It could also be heart problems.
I would have a blood pannel done with a proBNP test.
I would be concerned that it could be heart disease
I would be concerned that it could be heart disease
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #9
Thanks all for ideas... going to see vet in next few wks so now have Q's to ask about. Will let you know what they say.
But what is a pro BNP test please? Also, the sinus thing makes sense as he gets intermittent waxing-waning sneezing weeks.
But what is a pro BNP test please? Also, the sinus thing makes sense as he gets intermittent waxing-waning sneezing weeks.
This probably explains it better than I could.
Cardiopet ProBNP: Know Your Cat’s Heart Health - Just Cats Clinic
ProBNP test basicaly will give your vet an idea of your cat's heart health more specificaly inflamation of the heart muscle. Kabuto had it done because he had a grade 3 murmer, it confirmed what the vet suspected - heart disease.
Heart disease can cause a buildup of fluid in and/or around the lungs and cats will wheeze and cough or sometimes choke , wretch, or gag in an attempt to clear the fluid.
In kabuto's case his breathing is sometimes noisy or rattly, it comes and goes but often when he sniffs something like food.
Heart disease can cause a buildup of fluid in and/or around the lungs and cats will wheeze and cough or sometimes choke , wretch, or gag in an attempt to clear the fluid.
In kabuto's case his breathing is sometimes noisy or rattly, it comes and goes but often when he sniffs something like food.
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- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #12
my cat had an enlarged heart with fluid buildup at 10 and did very well on Lasix for 6 years. coughing can be a sign of this. For goodness sake don't be unduly alarmed if your vet finds this. it can be just that your cat is getting older and developing this. Just like humans. And like humans they can live very well for years after!
Well, even with athsma different people are effected more or less. Could say people have it to different degrees. Cats are the same too.Oh, thank you!
His 'regular' breathing is actually fine except for what I wrote above, but I guess it's like people when we get old... bits and pieces of 'stuff' now and then... but he ate his breakfast,
When I lived with smokers, Nobel had an inhaler. Once we lived without indoor smoking (when I moved out with him on my own) he never had an athsma attack again. Other cats need it their whole life.
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Hopefully it’s okay I’m bumping this older thread. How is your kitty doing? Mine just scored 130 on the proBNP and has been having coughing, likely asthma, fits. Did your kitty start taking anything to help?
