Possible Causes of Kitten Cough: Is It a Cold?
Cats can cough for various reasons, which can be broadly categorized into physiological and pathological causes. While physiological coughs are generally not a cause for concern and can be managed with simple precautions, pathological coughs require immediate attention, especially in kittens, to rule out viral infections.
Physiological Coughs in Cats
1. Choking on Food or Water: When cats eat or drink too quickly, they may accidentally choke. This type of cough is usually only present during meals and not at other times.
2. Inhalation of Dust or Foreign Objects: If a cat's living environment is dusty or contains bacteria, it may inadvertently inhale these particles. Coughing in this case is a physiological response to prevent these foreign objects from entering the body.
3. Regurgitation of Hairballs: This is one of the most common causes. Cats naturally groom themselves by licking their fur, which can lead to hairball accumulation in their stomachs. When the hairball mass becomes too large, cats need to expel it, often accompanied by dry heaving and coughing.
Pathological Coughs in Cats
A persistent cough, accompanied by symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes, can be a sign that a cat is unwell. It's crucial to pay close attention to these symptoms and consult a veterinarian for pathological coughs.
1. Cat Cold and Cough: If a cat is not adequately protected from cold during winter or is exposed to air conditioning for extended periods in summer, it may develop a cold with coughing and upper respiratory infections. Be cautious of feline herpesvirus, as it can be similar to common cold symptoms but has a higher mortality rate.
2. Parasites: Coughing in cats can be caused by heartworms. Heartworm disease can lead to recurrent coughing, difficulty breathing, liver enlargement, and seasonal skin diseases. If heartworms mature into adult worms, surgery may be necessary to remove them, as they can be fatal to cats.
3. Dry Cough: Many bronchial and pulmonary diseases can cause a dry cough in cats, but this is less common in kittens. Dry coughs are characterized by a lack of phlegm or only a small amount of phlegm.
4. Wet Cough: Pneumonia, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis can lead to coughing with a noticeable production of phlegm.
5. Viral Diseases: Upper respiratory infections caused by herpesvirus, coronavirus, calicivirus, or feline distemper.
Understanding the various reasons behind a kitten's cough can be incredibly helpful. In summary, if a cat only coughs occasionally and at specific times, it's usually not a cause for alarm. However, if your cat exhibits coughing along with other symptoms, it's essential to seek veterinary care to determine the underlying cause.
