Has your kitty been coughing a lot lately? It could indicate a more serious problem.
The most common cause of persistent coughing in cats is chronic bronchopulmonary disease, which encompasses conditions including feline asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic broncho-pneumonia. But a cough can also be a symptom of many other underlying diseases and disorders, ranging from an enlarged heart to tonsil inflammation to heartworm.
The occasional cough probably isn’t an issue. Coughing helps your cat clear irritants from her airways and prevents her from inhaling fluids into her lungs. But a cough that lasts longer than two or three weeks needs a visit to your veterinarian. Because coughing is a symptom of a wide range of diseases, it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis.
Important: don’t give your kitty your cough syrup. Or your ibuprofen, or any human medications. Even tiny amounts of over-the-counter medicines can be very toxic to cats.
