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Cat coughing – what to do? Associated symptoms, causes, and treatment options

When cats cough, it can sound rather strange at first and also look unusual. In a hunched posture – close to the ground, half-sitting, half-lying – the animals stretch their necks and lower their heads slightly. The chest and abdomen heave and fall, sometimes quite intensely, and the cat's cough often sounds more like wheezing, groaning, or gagging.

However, even if a cough sounds worrying, it does not always indicate something serious. If cats only cough occasionally, for example, they may have simply swallowed something the wrong way or inhaled a piece of lint. If, on the other hand, the cat's cough occurs more frequently or persists, you should get to the bottom of it. We will show you what causes can lie behind your cat's cough, how to correctly interpret accompanying symptoms, and what treatment options are available.

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By Kattovit Marketing

Dec 1, 2025

Possible causes of coughing in cats

If your indoor tiger is struggling with recurring coughing fits or is suffering from a severe, persistent cough, you should consult a veterinarian to get to the bottom of it. This is because the causes of coughing in cats are varied and range from foreign objects and respiratory diseases to bacterial infections.

In general: a cough in cats is always a symptom that indicates an illness or a disturbing factor. First of all, it is important to find out whether an infectious or a non-infectious cause is triggering the cough.

Infectious causes of coughing in cats

It is not uncommon for a cat’s cough to be a sign that an infection is weakening the cat's immune system. Infectious causes primarily include bacteria and viruses, but a parasite or fungal infestation can also lead to cats becoming infected with pathogens.

The triggers that most frequently lead to coughing and respiratory infections include the feline herpesvirus, the feline calicivirus, various bacterial pathogens, and last but not least, lungworms. Viruses and bacteria, in particular, often do not occur in isolation but in groups – this is known as a pathogen complex.

When cats cough, the following conditions, among others, may be behind it:

Cat flu (feline upper respiratory infection): This respiratory disease is caused by a number of viruses and bacteria – the so-called cat flu complex. Cat flu causes a blocked nose, sneezing, and nasal discharge, but can also manifest itself through coughing. Depending on how it progresses, symptoms can resemble a mild cold or a severe flu, but can also develop into pneumonia, for example. Cat flu can now be treated well with antibiotics – so a trip to the vet is worth it.
Pneumonia: If respiratory infections remain untreated, they can potentially culminate in inflammation. In this case, quick action is required: in cats, pneumonia manifests itself, for example, through coughing, breathing problems, and discharge – once fluid collects in the lungs, the cat may eventually be unable to breathe. This can be prevented by intervening early when symptoms such as coughing occur.
Lungworms: Parasites like worms pose a high risk, particularly for cats that roam outdoors. The tiny creatures enter the cat's body as larvae through their food – for example, when cats eat mice or birds or drink infected water. The larvae travel through the bloodstream to the intestine, where they become worms and lay eggs. The tricky part: infected cats do not always show symptoms of illness. Once in the body, however, the worms can cause great damage.

Non-infectious causes of coughing in cats

In addition to infections, a cat’s cough can also have other causes, including:

Foreign objects in the respiratory tract
Respiratory injuries
Allergic reactions
Bronchitis and asthma
Cancer

Whether it's a blade of grass, a hairball, or a piece of wool thread: if a foreign object blocks the trachea, it is annoying for cats – and can potentially become dangerous. As a natural body reaction, affected cats initially try to remove the irritant by coughing and gagging. This is a good thing – otherwise, foreign objects can become inflamed or lead to blockages. Depending on the shape and material, foreign objects can also be the cause of an injury to the airways: so, if your cat is having difficulty getting rid of the swallowed object on its own, your help – or rather, that of a vet – is needed.

Allergies can also trigger a cough in cats. Possible allergens include dust, pollen, and mold spores, but also components of cat food or additives and fragrances in cat litter. The tricky part: if cats are exposed to substances they are allergic to over a long period of time, inflammation of the airways or bronchi can be the result. This, in turn, can lead to chronic diseases such as bronchitis and feline asthma. Both manifest themselves, among other things, through coughing.

In rare cases, a cat’s cough can also indicate cancer – namely when a tumor forms in the lungs, in the area of the airways, or in the mouth of the cat, thereby restricting breathing. Lung cancer, in particular, often manifests itself through a chronic cough, sometimes with bloody discharge. As a rule, however, cancer is accompanied by a series of other side effects.

Symptoms: coughing and its accompanying signs

In most cases, coughing alone is not a reason for concern – especially if it disappears on its own after a short time. However, if accompanying symptoms occur alongside the cough, the complaints may indicate an infection or a chronic disease.

Common accompanying symptoms of coughing include:

Discharge such as blood, pus, or mucus
Wheezing and gagging
Sneezing and nasal discharge
Shortness of breath and loud breathing noises
Pain when coughing and/or swallowing
Fatigue and lethargy
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Fever and apathy

Often, the symptoms can provide information about the cause. An accurate description of the symptoms occurring is therefore very helpful for the vet.

Our tip: Note down any correlations or abnormalities and, if possible, share all details and observations with the expert – this will hopefully help your four-legged friend feel better soon.

Treating a cat's cough: how you can help

Whether treatment is necessary and which therapy will help your cat get healthy again depends significantly on the cause of the cough. For example:

for lungworms, a deworming treatment
for cat flu and other infections, an antibiotic
for foreign objects, surgical removal
for allergic reactions, an antihistamine, desensitization, or a dietary change.

These examples show that the treatment options are as diverse as the causes themselves. Nevertheless, you can support your furry friend during their recovery:

Observe the symptoms and visit a vet at the right moment. If your cat suffers from recurring or persistent coughing and possibly even accompanying symptoms, this is reason enough.
Clarify with the specialist what you can do to help your furry friend get healthy. Depending on the clinical picture, home remedies might support recovery: for example, inhalation with hot steam and a pinch of salt – ideally inside the transport box.
After an illness or surgery, cats are often weakened and need plenty of affection to get back on their feet. In addition to extensive cuddling, a vitamin- and nutrient-rich diet can also help. The KATTOVIT recuperation diet is specially tailored to the needs of weakened cats and helps your indoor tiger regain its strength with wet food and drinks.

[Recuperation diet]

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Your questions - our answers!

Frequently Asked Questions

Coughing in cats is not necessarily a cause for concern. Perhaps the animal has just swallowed or inhaled a hair or foreign object. However, if the cat coughs over a longer period of time, the symptoms recur repeatedly or even become chronic, you should consult a vet.

Observe when and how often your cat coughs. If the cat's cough is only short-lived, you don't need to do anything. If the cough lasts longer or keeps coming back, you should get to the bottom of the cause. Look out for accompanying symptoms and consult a vet. Once the cause has been determined, the cough can be treated.

Cats clear their airways of foreign bodies by coughing and retching. Perhaps the cat has swallowed a hairball or a blade of grass - or a piece of food is blocking the windpipe. In such cases, coughing and retching are natural mechanisms that cats use to help themselves. However, if the cat suffers from coughing and retching over a longer period of time, you should become aware and possibly intervene. This could be due to an infection, allergy or illness - or a foreign body that the cat cannot get rid of on its own.

Lungworms are treacherous. The parasites can cause symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, discharge, breathing difficulties, exhaustion and loss of appetite. However, affected cats often show no symptoms at all. These unspecific symptoms often make it difficult to recognise an infestation at an early stage. If cats suffer from lungworms over a long period of time, they can weaken the immune system and cause inflammation. The more eggs, larvae and worms the cat carries in its body, the more likely it is that it will show symptoms - some of them severe.

Cat health