Why is my cat wheezing and dry heaving?

Dry heaving (or retching) in cats can sound like a minor cough or a major episode of gagging and stomach contractions. In some cases, it may just be a simple case of a hairball or tickle in the throat or it could be a serious issue such as intestinal blockage or organ disease. Liver disease. Heart disease.

Why does my cat sound like he has a dry cough?

In cats, coughing is most often a sign of an inflammatory problem affecting the lower respiratory tract, especially some form of bronchitis. This inflammation is often due to an infection, particularly with viruses such as feline viral rhinotracheitis, or bacteria such as Bordetella.

What are the three signs of a respiratory infection in cats?

Feline Upper Respiratory Infection Symptoms

• Sneezing.
• Congestion.
• Runny nose.
• Cough.
• Clear to colored nasal and eye discharge.
• Gagging, drooling.
• Fever.
• Loss of or decreased appetite.

What does it mean when a cat dry heaves?

Dry heaving is a minor cough, gagging, or strong stomach contractions. Sometimes it could be caused by a simple tickle or hairball in the throat or by a serious cause, including organ disease intestinal blockage.

How do I stop my cat from gagging?

Use your hands to gently but firmly push on her belly in a succession of quick, upward thrusts, about five times. If your first set of blows doesn’t dislodge the object, says PetCoach, hold your cat up by her back hips with her head down and gently sweep her mouth again.

Is my cat coughing or gagging?

Coughing is often mistaken for choking. Cats may cough if they have hairballs, asthma, or heartworm disease. If your cat is coughing, you should have it checked out by your veterinarian. Choking, on the other hand, is a dire situation for which you should seek immediate veterinary care.

What should I do if my cat is coughing?

Cats may cough if they have hairballs, asthma, or heartworm disease. If your cat is coughing, you should have it checked out by your veterinarian. Choking, on the other hand, is a dire situation for which you should seek immediate veterinary care.

Will a cat’s upper respiratory infection go away on its own?

Most upper respiratory infections in cats will resolve themselves with a little extra TLC and time. However, more severe infections may require treatment, prescription pet medication or even hospitalization. As a rule of thumb, a sniffly kitty that is still eating, active and feeling fine can be watched for a few days.

Why do cats wheeze?

Feline asthma — Just like in people, some cats’ lower airways can become inflamed when triggered by allergens, resulting in wheezing and difficulty breathing. Laryngitis — Infectious processes, trauma, and even tumors can cause inflammation in the back of the throat, resulting in breathing changes.

Why is my cat coughing and wheezing?

Your Cat’s Cough Is Accompanied By Wheezing A wheezing noise between coughs could indicate that your cat can’t get enough oxygen to their lungs. Wheezing is produced in the lower airways and occurs when air passageways constrict, and/or when inflammation causes swelling. This could be an indicator of feline asthma.

What does cat asthma sound like?

Wheezing Your cat may be wheezing if they are having difficulty breathing. A wheeze is a whistling or rattling sound made when it is difficult for air to make its way through the air passageways. This is usually a sign the passageways are swollen and/or constricted.

What does it mean when a cat coughs and wheezes?

Wheezing is a classic sign of asthma in cats and is often seen in combination with coughing and difficult, rapid, or open-mouth breathing. When a cat’s “cough” brings up a hairball, you’re probably not dealing with a cough at all.

Is it normal for a cat to retch when it coughs?

Most cases of retching or guttural sounds from a cat are not serious. However, a cough may be a sign of asthma or an allergy, so take your cat to the vet for a thorough examination. You should also know that the retching will not cause any damage to the respiratory system or the larynx.

What is the difference between wet cough and dry cough in cats?

One clue that pet parents can pick up on at home is the difference between a wet cough versus a dry cough in cats. The term “wet cough” refers to a cough that brings up phlegm—the thick mucus that is often produced within the respiratory tract in response to infection.

Is it normal for a cat to cough up a hairball?

When a cat’s “cough” brings up a hairball, you’re probably not dealing with a cough at all. While it certainly sounds like your cat is coughing, they are actually retching or gagging, since the hairball is emerging from the digestive tract, not the respiratory tract. What if My Cat Is Coughing Up Blood?