Why is my cat coughing?
Cats cough much less readily than dogs, which makes a genuine cough more meaningful rather than less. The first job is telling a cough apart from retching up a hairball, because they look similar and mean very different things.
Get this seen
This is worth a call to your vet rather than waiting to see how it goes, particularly if it has lasted more than a day or your pet is otherwise off-colour.
Cough, or hairball?
A hairball is brought up from the stomach: the cat crouches, the whole body heaves rhythmically, and something usually arrives at the end. A cough comes from the chest: the neck extends, the head drops low and forward, and it is dry and repetitive with nothing produced.
Owners very often describe a cough as "trying to bring up a hairball" when nothing ever appears. If your cat repeatedly does the motion and nothing comes up, treat it as a cough.
A phone video is genuinely valuable here. Cats rarely perform for the vet, and thirty seconds of footage answers a question that is otherwise guesswork.
What causes it
Feline asthma is one of the most common reasons a cat coughs, and it often shows as episodes of dry coughing with the neck stretched out, sometimes with wheezing. It is manageable but it needs diagnosing properly.
Infections, including cat flu, can cause coughing alongside sneezing, runny eyes and a reduced appetite.
Lungworm and other parasites are possible, particularly in cats who hunt. Heart disease can also present with coughing or, more often in cats, with faster or harder breathing.
Inhaled irritants matter more than most owners expect: cigarette smoke, aerosols, air fresheners and dusty litter can all provoke coughing in a sensitive cat.
When it is urgent
Treat open-mouth breathing, panting, blue or grey gums, or obvious effort to breathe as an emergency and ring a vet immediately. Cats hide breathing difficulty well, and by the time it is visible it is usually significant.
Book promptly, rather than immediately, for a cough that keeps coming back, a cough alongside weight loss or reduced appetite, or one that has lasted more than a few days.
What helps in the meantime
Reduce airborne irritants: switch to a low-dust litter, stop using aerosols and plug-ins near the cat, and do not smoke indoors.
If hairballs are genuinely part of the picture, regular brushing removes loose coat before it is swallowed, and it is the single most effective thing an owner can do about them.
Note the pattern — time of day, what the cat was doing, how long each episode lasts — and take that to the appointment along with the video.
What can help
Things we stock that owners commonly use alongside a vet’s advice — not a substitute for it.
Leucillin Antiseptic Skincare Spray for Cats & Dogs
A versatile, alcohol-free antiseptic spray that cleans, soothes, and helps protect your pet's skin from bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
From£7.99
Absorbent Cotton Gauze Swabs for Pets – Pack of 100
Highly absorbent, low-lint cotton gauze swabs produced in clean conditions — a practical first-aid essential available in three size and ply combinations.
From£4.49
3M Synthetic Under Bandage Padding for Pets
A soft, breathable non-woven polyester padding layer designed to protect and cushion beneath bandages on dogs and cats.
From£9.49
Wahl Pet Grooming Scissors with Finger Rest
Stainless steel finishing scissors with ergonomic offset handles — perfect for tidying around eyes, ears, mouth, and paws.
£5.49
Common questions
- How do I tell a cat cough from a hairball?
- A hairball involves whole-body heaving and usually produces something. A cough is dry and repetitive, with the neck stretched out and the head low, and nothing comes up. If nothing ever appears, treat it as a cough.
- Is a coughing cat an emergency?
- Not always, but open-mouth breathing, panting, visible effort to breathe or blue-tinged gums are. Cats hide breathing trouble well, so those signs mean ringing a vet straight away.
- Can cats get asthma?
- Yes. Feline asthma is a common cause of coughing in cats and typically appears as episodes of dry coughing, sometimes with wheeze. It is manageable, but it needs a proper diagnosis rather than guesswork.
- Can litter make my cat cough?
- Dusty litters can irritate sensitive airways, as can aerosols, air fresheners and cigarette smoke. Switching to a low-dust litter is a reasonable thing to try alongside a vet visit, not instead of one.
- Should I film my cat coughing?
- Yes, if you safely can. Cats rarely cough on demand in a consulting room, and a short video often tells a vet more than any description.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.