my cat keeps having these attacks..can you please help me?

Question

he like tenses up and starts almost weezing while having something like hicups..except it seems like hes having trouble breathing..and his whole body moves with it..hes been having them and they stopped, but today they started back up and hes had about 4 within an hour..it looks painful..could you please tell me either what it is or what to do?

Answer 1

Take kitty to the vet..ASAP!

Answer 2

Sunflower wrote...
If he is just having difficulty coughing up a troublesome hairball, then try letting him lick butter (or margarine) off your fingers.

Don't give your cat butter or margerine! Regardless of whether your cat is coughing up three lungs's worth of hairballs... that's the worst thing you can do. Butter, #1, is made with cream - and most cats are lactose intollerant. If your cat is having coughing issues, you wouldn't want to make it worse by giving them the runs and an upset tummy!

If you must do a quick fix remedy, a SMALL little bit of PLAIN vaseline would be fine - about the same amount that you would give of a hairball remedy, because basically, store-bought hairball remedies are about 90% vaseline - they just taste a little better to your kitty..

Anyway, in regards to your question, there could be some serious issues with that, and as most of the people who will answer your question will say, I think you should take your precious kitty to the Doctor. Make notes - as detailed as you can - to take to the vet. Times too - so that the duration or cessation of the 'attacks' can be recorded and a more accurate diagnosis can be reached.

Good luck!

(No butter for kitty!)

Answer 3

Sounds like a he's trying to hack up a hairball. Cats groom themselves and the hair is hard to digest. You can buy hairball medicine over the counter and they also have cat foods that help with them.

If you find a gooey cigar shaped object on the the floor, it's a hairball. Really gross when you find them with your bare feet in the middle of the night !!!!

You can help prevent hairballs by regularly brushing your cat to help remove loose hairs. Some home rememdies are giving your cat a spoon full of butter once a week. Or a spoonful of canned pumpkin every two or three days.

Answer 4

He is either having a severe allergic reaction, seizures, or small strokes. You need to take him to a vet or emergency vet immediately. Any medical condition that causes those symptoms is serious and time is of the essence - the longer they go on without his receiving medical treatment the more permanent the long term damage can be. Even if they have stopped for now, it is essential to get him in as it is likely to repeat until diagnosed & treated.

Answer 5

Is this different from coughing up a hairball?? If so, then you might want to take him to the vet to be checked for asthma -- cats can have asthma just like people and there are medications to treat it. If you see signs of actual respiratory distress like noisy labored breathing or blue gums or something that makes you think that he isn't getting enough air, then take him to an emergency vet tonight ASAP.

If he is just having difficulty coughing up a troublesome hairball, then try letting him lick butter (or margarine) off your fingers. There are also commercial hairball products -- Whisker's Turkey Hairball control treats, etc. -- that can be added to his diet to prevent this. Hairballs are especially common in cats with long fur, but happen occasionally to almost all felines (guess it is the disadvantage of grooming oneself with just a tongue).

Answer 6

From your description it sounds like classic seizures and if he's having trouble breating and his whole body is tensing then it could be caused by a brain tumor. Get your cat to the vet as soon as possible don't worry about it sometimes going away, it will continue to worsen and cause your cat more misery than it deserves to be in. To the vet!

Answer 7

I'm not sure, and you should probably see the vet, but he might just be trying to hack up a hairball. If he manages to bring it up, he will probably bring up other stomach contents with it, which is not attractive. There's a gel, called Cat-Lax, you squeeze a little on your finger and let them lick it-they love it. It keeps things lubricated so hairballs don't form, and helps them pass more discreetly, in the litterbox. I don't know if you can get Cat-Lax without going to the vet, though. Best of luck.

Answer 8

Some I my cats do that once in a while. What they are doing is clearing their sinuses or have a dry spot in their throat. The sound they make is awful and you do panick and think that they are in pain, but they're not. I'll gently rub my cat's throat and she'll stop. If you're concerned, check with the vet to make sure that this is all it is.

Answer 9

It sounds like a really bad asthma attack - some cats do have them.. You need to take your cat to the vet ASAP.

Asthma is a lung condition associated with airway obstruction caused by sudden narrowing of the bronchial tubes. Typical symptoms include difficult breathing (dyspnea), coughing and/or wheezing. These symptoms are caused by the spasmodic constriction of the bronchial tubes and increased production of secretions from the bronchial tree.

What to Watch For


Difficulty in breathing

Cough

Noisy breathing (such as wheezing)

Abnormal posture – your cat may sit with head extended and elbows back

Inactivity

Lethargy

Weight loss

Poor condition

Treatment


Initial therapy may require hospitalization with treatments that include corticosteroids, a bronchodilator drug such as aminophylline or terbutaline and oxygen.


It is most beneficial to maintain a stress-free environment.


Chronic therapy often involves therapy with steroids, such as prednisone or periodic injectable medications, and/or bronchodilator drugs. Steroid therapy can lead to side effects.

Home Care and Prevention

At home, administer all prescribed medications, follow your veterinarian's directions and restrict caloric intake in overweight or obese cats. You should discuss proper diet with your veterinarian.

Prevention takes the form of minimizing the symptoms of asthma by removing irritants from the environment. Try to eliminate dusts and powders (such as flea powders or carpet cleaners). Consider changing litter types – change to sand, newspaper types, or low “dust” varieties – and clean furnace filters often. Try to eliminate smoking in the house (even on a trial basis) and consider using air cleaners/purifiers. Minimize use of aerosol sprays such as hairsprays and deodorizers.

Answer 10

Take your cat to a vet. Do it soon too. Your cat could have an infection, and only the vet will know for sure, always go to a vet first, that's what they are for.

Answer 11

It sounds like he is in distress. I would not hesitate to take him to the emergency vet right now as they can give him something to relieve any pain or distress and then you can seek medical help from your regular vet first thing Monday.