Is my cat's cough due to an allergy?

Question

My 7 month old cat had a cold when I got him 3 months ago. Since then he has continued to have coughing/sneezing/retching episodes. He shakes his head as if his ears are uncomfortable and looks like he's going to be sick, but rarely brings anything up, and when he does it's just phlegm. The vet has checked him and dismissed it saying there's no infection / temperature etc, but it still happens most days. He also sounds quite chesty when he's breathing and tends to have runny eyes. Other than that he seems fine, eats well, is playful and affectionate. Thinking of trying to video an 'attack' to show the vet. Any suggestions on how I can help him?

Thanks for all the replies, am trying to catch an attack on video to show the vet, but mainly seem to get him chasing toys around the room! Will keep persevering... He's had all his vaccinations, wormed, fleaed, snipped etc, just need to get to the bottom of this now so he can be a happy, healthy little cat :)

Answer 1

Sounds very much like cat flu. Take him to another vet. We have a lot of wild farm cats and they sometimes get cat flu. Untreated it can be fatal.

Answer 2

Videoing an 'attack' would be a good idea. Your vet should not have dismissed this, and if he does so again, find another vet.

Cats do not get 'colds' i.e the non-serious respiratory problems we get that we just shake off. I think it is very likely that your cat had cat flu - the symptoms are runny eyes and nose, sneezing. Once cats have this, they continue to harbour the virus for the rest of their lives and so it can flare up from time to time. They can also transmit the virus to other, unvaccinated cats even when they are not showing symptoms. Cat flu is an upper respiratory infection (eyes, nose, throat) so if your cat sounds chesty it is either another type of virus or a complication of cat flu.

Do persevere in getting to the bottom of this because cat flu and other respiratory infections are very serious in cats. There is a possiblity it's allergies, but I think it's unlikely given the severity and frequency of symptoms. As I said, either show a video to your current vet or get a new vet, because a cat shouldn't have to live like this.

It's important to get cats vaccinated from 8 weeks of age.

Chalice

Answer 3

Oh dear hun, poor kitty.

It does sound a lot like cat flu, or perhaps an allergy, or even asthma.

My cat sometimes sneezes and 'pants' like a dog - a vet tech on this website advised that it could actually be dust in my carpet and the fact that I use Shake and Vac (carpet fresh) on my carpet, irritating his nose and throat.

Has your kitten been vaccinated now? In the UK, kittens have their injections at 8 and 12 weeks and this protects against all kinds of problems. If your cat has been vaccinated, you should have less to worry about.

Nevertheless, I've had 4 cats in my lifetime so far and none of them have had the same problem you are describing.

I think that going to a different vet, preferably from a different practice, and video taping an attack is an excellent idea. Especially if you tell them that this kind of attack happens daily. Do that in the next week if you can hun.

In the meantime, I would say that if you have carpets, vaccuum daily or every couple of days if possible, don't use carpet freshener, and make sure you dust your house thoroughly in case he has a dust allergy.

Definitely video tape him and see a different vet in the next week. I hope your kitty gets better soon.

xx Emmie

Answer 4

There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion. I think it would be wise to do so for peace of mind. I have three cats and one or another of them has each of the symptoms you mention, although not as often or as severe. They've all three been diagnosed with seasonal allergies. We live in one of the most allergy prone areas of the country. Most of the time I do nothing but if the allergies get bad enough (which is rare) I give a doctor approved dose of benedryl. If you do this, don't freak out when they foam at the mouth. This is quite normal. The chemicals in benedryl react to the chemicals in cat saliva and they get foamy or frothy. But check with the vet for proper dosing before you try that.

Answer 5

The next move is to have his vet or another vet do x-rays of his chest to see if a radiologist can detect any problems there. Cats don't usually "cough" unless they are bringing up hairballs and coughing can be a symptom of a heart problem.

Your vet has probably checked for any murmurs or anthing like that. If the phlegm he brings up is not "colored" it is not infection. It shouldn't be residual from the cold.

Answer 6

My cat has a cough, usually at night time. Took him to the vet to have him checked for asthma, cold, or lung infection. They found nothing and said his lungs sound good. They said it's possible could be a heart problem, no test for that. So basically, there was nothing they could do. So, I bought him some vitamins for lung health from the petco website.

Answer 7

take him to a different vet , it sounds like he has cat flu , and ear mites . A good idea to take video of him having an "attack" the vet can see exactly what you mean .Good luck and hope you get the problems with the cat sorted soon.

Answer 8

one of my dogs has these symptoms too....he had them about the same time last year too..after a course of antibiotics.... which did nothing....a cortisone injection cleared it immediately...this year the same thing happened...cortisone injection worked again...vet has ruled out bronchitis cos' his chest is not ''crackly'' ..so we are assuming it is some sort of allergy ..at the moment he is on an adult dose of piritin to see how he does..so for the sake of your poor cat don't give up..if all infections have been ruled out it could be something u r using in your home causing it..ie air freshner or carpet shampoo..my sisters dog was allergic to ''shake n vac''

Answer 9

I dont think its cat flu, he would either be dead or recovered by now, sounds like allergies to me, take him to a different vet, another opinion wouldnt hurt...

Answer 10

Sounds like kennel cough. I think your cat needs another dose of antibiotics. However, once exposed to kennel cough they usually have it their whole lives. It won't kill them, but, it's a handicap. He could also be trying to cough up a hairball. If he long haired? You could try a food which is holistic and natural and made to prevent hairballs and see how it goes from there.

Good luck.