How to Treat Coughing in Cats

Pet Cat

Cat cough is a worrisome ailment that can affect cats of any age. Fur balls, allergies or bacterial infections can cause the cough. The cough is a reflex action to an irritant in the cat's throat or airways. Although coughing in cats can be attributed to many different causes; bronchitis is the most common cause of coughing in cats.

Treatments for cat cough range from antibiotics for infection of the respiratory tract to cough suppressants. Steroids are often used if the cough is due to allergies. Your vet may also prescribe dietary supplementation if your cat suffers frequently from coughing problems. Supplementing the diet can fortify your pet's immune system and improve its general health.

If your pet cat has a cough, you'll hear a distinctive coughing sound; either a dry hacking sound or a moist sounding sound. The cough may coincide with other symptoms such as excessive mucous in the nose or eyes and possibly a fever. If your cat is still coughing after twenty-four hours or it appears that an object may be lodged in your pet's mouth or throat he should be taken to a vet.

Things You'll Need

• Robitussin-DM Cough Medicine

Instructions

1. Cat-health-guide.org advises, "Mild coughs can be treated with the cough medicine Robitussin-DM which contains the active ingredient dextromethorphan." Give your cat one-half teaspoon of Robitussin-DM cough medicine for every ten pounds of weight at six hour intervals. Administer the cough medicine only after consulting your vet and only if your cat has a slight cough and is not feverish or severely congested.

2. Make an appointment with your veterinarian to have your cat examined if you feel that your cat's cough is serious and/or it has been going on for over twenty-four hours. Your vet will give your pet a thorough examination with various diagnostic tools and may also x-ray your cat so the lungs can be examined.

3. Follow your vet's instructions when you bring your pet back home. Make your cat as comfortable as possible and give your cat any medicine, such as antibiotics, antihistamines or steroids, as per the instructions you were given.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not give your cat any medicine with Acetaminophen in it. Acetaminophen is a substance that is toxic to cats.

References

• Cat Health Guide: Cat Cough