The cat is choking, wheezing and coughing: why this happens, what should be done?

Seeing your cat choke, wheeze, or cough can be frightening, particularly if you’re not sure what’s causing it. Like people, cats may have respiratory problems, and these symptoms frequently indicate an issue that is not to be disregarded.

These symptoms can appear in a cat for a number of reasons. It might be something straightforward, like a hairball or minor irritation, but occasionally it can be a sign of something more serious, like an infection, asthma attack, or airway blockage.

It’s critical to act fast if your cat is having trouble breathing or if the coughing and wheezing continue. For your furry friend’s comfort and health, knowing what to do and the possible causes can make all the difference.

Why a cat can wheeze and choke?

This condition has numerous causes. Not all of them are linked to any disease existing in the pet’s body, and most of the time no quick action is needed. Even so, you cannot disregard a cat’s cough. If your pet coughs, you should investigate what he ate and did before. In the event that this is not possible and the cat continues to cough, wheeze, and press himself to the ground while you attempt to induce vomiting, you must take him to the vet right away.

In what cases is impaired breathing normal?

A cat may cough, but not always because of a serious illness or injury. This symptom is associated with several physiological conditions in these pets:

• Removing a hairball from the stomach. When a cat licks its fur, its particles inevitably get into the mouth, and then into the gastrointestinal tract. Gradually accumulating, they form a dense hairball in the stomach – trichobezoar. It irritates the mucous membrane of this organ, so the animal tries to push it out of its body. To do this, it burps hard and repeatedly, stretching out its neck and making loud wheezing. The cat does this until the trichobezoar comes out. From the outside, it seems as if it choked on food. To prevent your pet from burping too often, having licked its fur, it is recommended to feed it special food or give it a paste to dissolve hairballs.

• Foreign objects stuck in the throat. If a cat coughs and shakes its head after eating meat or fish, most likely, a bone is stuck in its throat. If the cat cannot cope with this problem on her own, she needs help. Over the next few hours, she will continue to cough occasionally reflexively.

See also: Unpleasant changes in a cat’s nose, including why it turns black, white, dirty, or covered in crusts

• Eating too quickly. If a cat eats hastily, chewing food poorly, it may choke. In this case, coughing is a natural reaction of the body when the animal wants to regurgitate food stuck in the throat.
• Stress. Experiencing strong fear, rage, excitement or joy, the animal usually feels an increase in heart rate and, accordingly, begins to breathe frequently.

• Sleep. During deep sleep, the cat"s heart rate and breathing slow down, its belly practically stops moving. An inexperienced and overly impressionable owner may think that the pet is suffocating.
• Pregnancy. In cats expecting the birth of offspring, the breathing rate increases significantly.
• Estrus. Females breathe frequently during this period.
• Early age. Kittens differ from adults in their increased heart rate.

What coughing and wheezing indicate?

These pets’ wheezing and coughing fits may be linked to a number of illnesses. When a pet breathes through its mouth, wheezes or coughs frequently, it may be an indication of an allergic reaction, asthma, pneumonia, parasitic infections, viral respiratory diseases, or heart muscle dysfunction. Treatment is necessary for the diseases on the list. However, you must identify the source of the animal’s coughing and wheezing before you begin treating it. A veterinarian should be the only person who does this.

Respiratory diseases

It’s highly likely that a cat has a blocked nose if it breathes through its mouth. The pet may breathe shallowly and often if there are polyps or other formations in the throat or nasal passages. Such a pathological condition is usually accompanied by total appetite loss. The animal loses interest in food because it can no longer smell it.

The pet’s ability to swallow may be compromised if there are formations in its throat, which could cause it to choke and gag when eating. Attacks of asphyxia, bronchospasms, and pulmonary edema are frequently accompanied by asphyxia. In this instance, the animal is wheezing and gurgling uncontrollably, and it is also coughing heavily. The pet in this state is susceptible to death at any time.

Feline herpes, viral calicivirus, laryngospasm, developing in the context of an acute allergic reaction, neoplasms in the bronchi, aspiration, or damage to the respiratory organs from foreign objects getting stuck or harming the larynx or pharynx are all equally dangerous respiratory diseases that present with similar symptoms. Similar manifestations accompany the pathologies listed:

• intense cough, in which the pet, stretching, bending its paws and pressing its body to the floor, tries to alleviate its condition;
• shortness of breath;
• wheezing;
• bluish tint of mucous membranes as a result of insufficient oxygen saturation of cells.

Additionally read: 10 reasons why a cat or kitten has lost its voice, is silent, or wheezes when it meows, along with advice for treating the animal

Diseases of other body systems that cause wheezing and coughing

One of the most typical causes of these symptoms in cats is helminthic invasion. Cats are at risk from lung-related worms as well as parasites that reside in the digestive system. Adult nematodes, trematodes, and toxocara larvae that settle in the bronchi can all cause coughing and are the cause of many dangerous diseases.

In addition to coughing, helminthic invasions cause the pet’s body weight to drop, even though it shows signs of increased appetite. The illness also causes the cat’s fur to become dull, dandruff to grow, and frequent vomiting.

Heart issues, particularly valve dysfunction, can be the background for wheezing and compulsive coughing. When this illness progresses, the heart muscle’s volume grows and presses against the trachea. This results in episodes of coughing in the uterus that get worse over time.

This illness does not cause wheezing, and the sputum does not go away. From the outside, the animal appears to have choked on food and is bending its head and body to the ground in an attempt to free itself of the piece stuck in its throat and stop itself from breathing completely. The pet additionally exhibits pale mucous membranes and dyspnea.

It can be concerning if your cat begins to choke, wheeze, or cough, but knowing the reasons will help you act promptly. Hairballs, allergies, respiratory infections, or foreign objects lodged in the throat could all be the cause of these symptoms. Early intervention can prevent more serious health issues, so it’s critical to pay close attention to the signs and seek veterinary care if the problem persists.

First aid for a choking cat at home

The cat has to be taken immediately to the veterinarian when the first concerning symptoms appear. There are instances where the pet’s life may be lost due to the owner’s indolence. In the event that the animal developed a severe cough and eventually lost consciousness, immediate action to revive it is required. Indirect cardiac massage and artificial respiration must be used in order to accomplish this. The following steps are involved in the first procedure:

1. Carefully place the unconscious animal on a flat horizontal surface. In doing so, make sure that its neck is in a straight line with the spine.
2. Close the cat"s mouth. Make sure that there is no saliva, mucus or foreign objects in its oral cavity. Otherwise, it must be completely emptied.
3. Fold your palm into a tube and exhale air into the pet"s nose. The frequency of exhalations depends on the size of the animal. It is recommended to exhale about 20 times within one minute. The volume of inhaled air is considered sufficient with a slight expansion of the cat"s chest.

Kitten resuscitation procedures should be carried out with extra caution. Overly vigorous activities and a high air intake can harm their lungs.

It is advised to give the pet an indirect massage as soon as possible in the event of cardiac arrest. The following steps must be followed in order to complete this procedure:

1. Place the animal on a flat horizontal surface.
2. Put your palm on the cat"s chest so that your thumb is on one side and the rest are on the other.
3. Intensively and sharply squeeze and unclench your fingers, counting 5 times. Then exhale into the animal"s nose, checking for a heartbeat every 2 minutes. You need to act confidently, but carefully, otherwise you can break the cat"s ribs.

As soon as the resuscitation procedures are finished, you must take your pet to the veterinarian. Fresh air must be given to it frequently while it is being transported. To accomplish this, prop open the car windows. If the animal is not stressed by this apparatus, it is preferable to transport it in a carrier. It is not advised to give your pet hugs and cuddles while on the journey.

It can be concerning when your cat begins to choke, wheeze, or cough, but you should remain composed and evaluate the situation. These symptoms can be caused by a foreign object or something as serious as respiratory problems or hairballs. The frequency and intensity of the episodes should always be closely monitored.

Do not wait to seek veterinary assistance if your cat is experiencing breathing difficulties or if the symptoms are still present. Taking immediate action could stop the emergence of more serious issues. A veterinarian is qualified to identify the precise cause and recommend the best course of action.

In the interim, monitoring your cat’s surroundings and behavior can help avert these problems later on. Maintaining your pet’s health and wellbeing will largely depend on providing them with regular grooming, a secure living environment, and awareness of potential risks.

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