Hair balls, taking long to cough up

hi everyone,

I have temporary custody of a friend's cat and noticed that since yesterday morning she has been trying to cough up what i think is a hairball. she hasn't coughed anything up. she tried several times yesterday morning and evening and then I even heard her this morning trying. Each time she tries its about 1 minute of heaving/coughing.

I didn't think it took this long -- is this normal or should I be worried? She is also making little almost sneezing noises. Not that often, but often enough that I noticed it. she is eating properly, going to the litter box, pooping/peeing, but I do notice she's drinking A LOT of water.

Any thoughts? i thought maybe it's because she was never brushed/combed while at my friend's place and she fed her that horrible Friskies food.

With the owner's permission you could buy and administer Petramalt, a flavored petroleum jelly that will help him pass the hairball. You either add it to the food or if he doesnt like it, rub it on his paw and then he WILL lick it off but under protest.

At pet stores.....

Originally Posted by stephenq

With the owner's permission you could buy and administer Petramalt, a flavored petroleum jelly that will help him pass the hairball. You either add it to the food or if he doesnt like it, rub it on his paw and then he WILL lick it off but under protest.

At pet stores.....

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Hmmm...so is this normal behavior?

I actually think she has a cold...if that's possible. Her nose is drippy and she is sneezing lots.

I don't know, I had her before and she only had one hairball in the year that I had her. i wonder if she's coughing?

She could be sick with a uri.
Thats what my cats does when she has a cold.

FYI Kitty coughs sometimes (obviously a hairball thing) but never coughs anything up. never. but i do give her hairball meds after a cough episode and she is good for a few weeks. has she been to the vet lately?

Originally Posted by mews2much

She could be sick with a uri.
Thats what my cats does when she has a cold.

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The coughing/hacking stopped, but she's definitely got a cold. Sneezing lots, and her nose is bubbling and wet, and she's drinking lots of water.

I told the owner and the owner says she's "fine" and that she usually gets about two colds per year and they last a few days. Hmmmm......Can't see why she would get "two colds per year" as she is an indoor cat and healthy otherwise.

It can happen.
My Coco had one this year and needed antibiotics and Meeko had one with a almost 105 fever last Jan.
They do not have to go outside to get sick.
We believe Meeko caught hers from the vet because she had blood tests 3 weeks before she got sick.

Originally Posted by mews2much

It can happen.
My Coco had one this year and needed antibiotics and Meeko had one with a almost 105 fever last Jan.
They do not have to go outside to get sick.
We believe Meeko caught hers from the vet because she had blood tests 3 weeks before she got sick.

Click to expand...

Now I'm wondering what to do. I know the owner won't want me to take her to the vet. So I am going to wait for another few days and see what happens.

Can these "colds" go away on their own?

It depends.
Coco needs a vet everytime she gets one but she has Asthma.
Sasha had one this year and did not need a vet.
If you see a green or yellow discharge then she will need a vet.

Hi, my cat got cat flu and he got it bad. He was in the rescue centre and he got it there, I took him home with me and and he was on antibiotics and eye drops. He was sneezing blood poor little thing. So, in my opinion, I would take kitty to the vet as if untreated and its not just a little cold then he could get unwell! If my kitties flu had been sorted earlier, he might not have had it so bad. If it is cat flu/uri then drinking lots of water is a good thing.

I would take it to the vet anyway. It sounds like this kitty wouldn't get the treatment she needs from her "real" owner, so it's probably time for you to step in and make sure she does.