not so good news :(

Originally Posted by strange_wings

How does his chest x-ray look?
In the case of inflammatory bronchitis, that my cats have, coughing isn't really consistent. Some cough more easily, others have to get quite a bit of inflammation to trigger the cough. Their episodes do not look like the videos of asthmatic cats- it's a spontaneous dry cough. They cough in whatever position they're in then go on with their business like it never happened.

I was lucky to catch my vet's son, a veterinary cardiologist, when he was visiting his dad. I caught it before their hearts were affected, though it took a while because at first it was looking like an infection.

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Is this question for me? We did not get a chest x-ray since Hobbes is getting an echocardiogram at the cardiologist's, and the vet thinks it will be redundant (and more money spent) at this point.


This was one of the first time I caught him coughing and this was towards the end of the episode. He has it 4-5 days a week and it is so heartbreaking to hear. I tend to just sit beside him and let is past and talk to him in a soothing tone - wish I could do more. Calvin usually observes and then comes over and licks his head.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

As a precaution, have you eliminated all possible inhaled allergens and irritants? Remember, cat litters are both.

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Good point. If he is heartworm negative, we have till the 6th, when we go to the cardiologist. I was using tidy cats till a couple of weeks and am now using precious cat. But both can have issues with dust. I was thinking of trying Swheat Scoop and just may do the change - just intimidated by the price

That sounds a bit like my Blasa! She's more shy with her coughing and doesn't tend to "let it rip" like the others do. I've always described their cough as sounding similar to scraping my fingernail across the edge of cardboard (I get bored and "test" sounds of things... ) - it makes a very dry raspy sound. Their oxygen levels seem well maintained during occasional coughing - no one turns blue or seems to be struggling.

A chest x-ray should have honestly been the first thing done when you brought him in for coughing! The longer this goes on the more likely the heart will be affected even if the heart is not the original source. My vet charged around $80 for the x-ray. A specialist is not needed to do this unless the regular vet doesn't do x-rays.
I kind of hate to suggest this in case it is his heart, but maybe get the x-ray ASAP and then use that to decide if more expensive tests are really needed? I sort of wonder if you weren't pushed into more expensive testing too soon.

Have all infectious causes been eliminated? If not, depending on how the lungs look, a tracheal wash can show if there's anything in the lungs or if it's just inflammatory.

How is Hobbes energy level? Does he seem to be playing a bit less or or breathing hard during play?
I have one who's more cough resistant, but I can see it in her stamina during play - she tires and has to take breaks just like a person would. The male doesn't really seem to do this unless he's really bad off... but then he's a young boy cat and I haven't had a young male cat yet that doesn't try to push boundaries a bit. This is why he's most likely to have a coughing fit. The third one, Blasa, doesn't really do much of anything ever and never has - so I have no stamina gauge on her.

Now here's the problem for you: All cat litters are bad. Clay, grain, wood, silica, dusty newspaper (though lesser for this). They all make dust or have allergens in them. I have a cat that has problems with clay, hence the reason I haven't used it in nearly 4 years. I wasn't using it when the kittens came along. I was using chicken feed and grains are common allergens in animals and people. Whether this triggered it or not, I will never know. Swheat is wheat, and could be problematic because of that.
I now use DIY versions of the smart cat box with safflower seeds. One person in another thread mentioned using popcorn kernels in much the same way. A store bought option is Tidy Cat Breeze. In all cases there is no odor control (just keep the boxes clean) and urine drains into a bottom box - some use pads to absorb it, my DIY boxes just collect it which I then flush. (less litter going to a landfill!) You have to wash the boxes often, though.
These can be harder for cats to adjust to because they're not soft litters, though I've not had problems. Due to the life span of the litter replacement material (I don't know what else you'd call it?) and the amount you use, cost is comparable or a little less than litter is.

To start with, I'd eliminate everything else you possibly can in the home as it's not difficult to stop using scented products, dust/vacuum more often, and change air filters more frequently. If it turns out Hobbes lungs aren't the source of this, there's no harm in cleaning.

ETA: Mine started coughing at ~10 months old.

Thanks strange_wings.
The heart murmur is there for sure and so going to the cardiologist seems logical. Yes, we could have waited to go - done the chest x-ray to see the size of the heart but a echochardiogram is more definitive. We were not rushed into visiting the cardiologist, who is quite far from where we live, and my vet in really quite conservative in his treatment approach. In fact, just so that he wanted to make sure that he had heard the murmur correctly the 1st time (when Hobbes also had URI) he called us in today, so that we did not spend the extra money. It was during this trip that I was complaining about hairball issues (thinking this was a hairball cough) when he said it was not a hairball issue.
After weighing pros and cons, DH and I had decided to do go to the cardiologist since I will be out of the country for the couple of months this summer and the kitties will not get the close monitoring they usually get. Also the 1st week of april is when DH has some vacation time and I wanted him to go with me; he being in the healthcare field would know the right questions to ask and I wanted to sit with Hobbes during the ride down there. I think our plan of action is to check out the heart and if that's normal to get a chest x-ray to check the lungs. Hobbes is energetic and loves to play. He does not tire more with play - and definitely not more than Calvin. His lung sounds and breathing is good (touchwood). Will talk to the vet further about the plans tomorrow. But thanks so much for giving so may pointers that I can bring up with the vet.

He has a history of URI? What caused it? Was it ever identified?

I'm so sorry you guys are going through this. Please know I'm thinking about you - and I hope you get good news tomorrow. <<<Many hugs.>>>

God bless!

AC

Originally Posted by strange_wings

He has a history of URI? What caused it? Was it ever identified?

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We got him on the 6th of February from the owner of a rescue/ foster mom which was overcrowded and quite a bad situation. We just could not leave there without a kitty. She had about 100 inside her house. A lot of kitties were sneezing and sick. Hobbes came to the house and hid under the bed in the safe room. Heard him sneeze a couple of times and the next day took him to the vet. He had runny eyes and nose and was stuffed up. We got a warm humidifier and the vet gave him zithromax for 10 days. He recovered. Have been giving him l-lysine since.

Re possible litters to use - Dr. Elsey (Precious Cat) has come out with a new line - R&R Respiratory Relief Litter (both clay and silica gel) - it's supposed to help control sneezing, running eyes and coughing (quoting here from Cat Fancy). I honestly would at least check it out - I use Cat Attract since my boy had litter box issues, and I now swear by Dr. Elsey (he's a cat only vet in the Denver area - he developed Cat Attract since he saw so many cats given up due to box issues). It may seem expensive starting out - but, if it helps, it'll be worth it. At least that's what I found with the Cat Attract litter.

Originally Posted by darlili

Re possible litters to use - Dr. Elsey (Precious Cat) has come out with a new line - R&R Respiratory Relief Litter (both clay and silica gel) - it's supposed to help control sneezing, running eyes and coughing (quoting here from Cat Fancy). I honestly would at least check it out - I use Cat Attract since my boy had litter box issues, and I now swear by Dr. Elsey (he's a cat only vet in the Denver area - he developed Cat Attract since he saw so many cats given up due to box issues). It may seem expensive starting out - but, if it helps, it'll be worth it. At least that's what I found with the Cat Attract litter.

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Thanks, darlili. I have not seen the new one yet at any of the petstores here yet but will check it out. I am using the regular Precious Cat now (red bag, not the cat attract one) and that's been good on the pocket. But at this time, I will try whatever can help.
Hobbes has had a little cold since his vet visit yesterday. He's sneezing a little and today I increased their l-lysine dosage and will probably keep it increased till the cardiologist visit. Will talk to the vet if he wats an x-ray to check out Hobbes's lungs.

Flowerbelle had horrible herpes infection when we first rescued her, and I remember the cycle of URIs when she was young - going to the vet often triggered them, and she needed to see the vet fairly frequently initially.

So some update:
Hobbes has ot sneezed since 9am or so and neither boys are very interested in the food I am serving them today - perhaps more to do with them wanting a different flavor of food but they've eaten enough that they are not starving and just being moody.
Since I did not hear back from the vet's office till 1 pm, I called them and the receptionist checked and told me that the test was negative. I was saying something like tests not being definitive and what should we do now etc. Then she said something which is concerning - said vaguely that since the test for dogs and cats are different the test results may not be correct and once "they" come back from lunch, she will talk and call me back. I may be reading too much into this but does this mean that they sent out the wrong test? I heard the doctor talking to the tech and telling how the tests were different and this will be one for felines and needed a bit more blood than they need for dogs. The receipt says it was a feline heartworm test. So I hope she was just making conversation.

New info: The test for feline heartworm came back negative. I did not get to talk to the vet but he told the vet that he will wait till the cardiologist appointment to determine the next step. So will keep an eye on Hobbes. Will also try to call the vet early next week and talk to him directly - see about x-rays etc.

I'm sure it was just chit chat, especially if you're looking at the order for the feline version.

We work really closely with two vet practices. One of them has the vet techs call us with routine info, and the vets will call if you need them to. The other one, the staff doesn't share anything, and you talk to a vet. It's always more reassuring just to talk to the vet.

I'm so sorry to hear about Hobbes not feeling well.
It's good that they ruled the heartworm out.
Hoping that everything will be treated soon and he'll get better soon!

Thanks so much, everyone, for keeping us in your thoughts, the generous words and the support. I am so touched.
Will keep you posted as we know more - I am so grateful for all the support I get here.
DH and I had a long discussion as to what could/ could not be the issue with Hobbes and what we can do, etc. I also got a lesson on immunology since I was arguing about things that I read online (on very reliable websites like the American Heartworm Society but without background knowledge was missing out some pieces)
So off to the cardiologist we will go in a few days.

Laurie pointed this thread out to me so I thought I would throw in my 2 cents as well

Riley started coughing during the summer of 2009 and it was getting progressively worse and more often. Among the tests his regular vet did was a heartworm panel as well as chest x-rays. His x-rays were "cloudy" and showed some donut shapes were are common in asthma.

His heartwork antigen test was negative; however all that means is that no adult female worms were present. It cannot detect adult males and larvae.
His heartwork antibody test was positive which means he was exposed. It could mean he has the beginning of the infection with the larvae growing, it could mean he has adult male worms, or it could mean they are dying off and just now causing him issues. There is no way to know what specifically set off the antibody response.

I realize Hobbes has a heart murmer and I have no knowledge or experience with that so what works for Riley may not work for Hobbes.

If you will read over this page you will see that Heartworm associated respiratory disease and Asthma and basically identical in symptoms and treatment. The only difference is that one is caused by heartworms.

Riley did have a heart ultrasound which was inconclusive. If he has or had a heartworm present, it was too small or not enough to be obvious. He was put on Heartgard immediately, which may have helped because it cannot kill adult worms, but it can help kill off the tiny larvae and prevent them growing.

Riley started on oral prednisolone pills, taking several courses over several months, tapering up and down for each course. After a week or so off his attacks returned so it was determined that he needed life-long medication and the Inhaled meds were recommended since they are much safer with little or no side effects (I don't know about affects to the heart, so this is something you would need to look into with Hobbes history).

Riley now takes daily inhalations of Flovent, with Albuterol used only as a rescue inhaler if he's having an attack. He rarely has one now with the daily Flovent. Maybe one small one every few months. It did take some time to get him used to the Aerokat and "taking his puffer" each day, but he is fine with it now. I tell him its puffer time and ask him if he's ready and he just sighs really big to let me know how he feels and then walks to the bedroom where we do it. I hold him against my side and across my lap and 99% of the time he sits still for his 13 breaths. Once in a while he pulls away, just not in the mood but it really isn't a problem at all.

Checking in to see how Hobbes and his family are today... I hope everything goes well at the cardiologists'!

The Feline Nutrition Education Society has an article on feline asthma that you might find interesting; the citations, especially, since they'll provide further research avenues for you. The article is in their Health section and is titled, "Another Furball? It Might Be Feline Asthma".

Best regards to you all! And keep your chin up, hon, you're doing all the right things.

AC

Thank you so much for sharing, AlleyGirl. It seems that quite a few forum members are giving inhalers to their kitties with success. The vet first did an antibody test and would have gone for an antigen if that turned positive. So heartworm has been ruled out. And it seems more like asthma.

Thanks AC for the article. I made the mistake of thinking his symptoms as hairball issues. I was generally complaining to the vet, when he did a double take and told me that it was not. I appreciate you checking up on us.

Update: so the last few days were busy and stressful with other stuff and sorry I was not back sooner. So Hobbesâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s cold was getting worse and I called and wanted to speak to his doc on Tuesday. He wanted to put Hobbes on zithromax (as he was when he first came to us and had URI) and after 1 dose there was marked improvement. I also asked about an x-ray and he wanted me to take Hobbes to the clinic for a couple of hours today. We just came back and the doctor he went over the x-ray with me. Hobbes ‘heart is a little enlarged – which is not good news but the cardiologist next week can provide us with a better understanding. There are also a couple of spots on the lungs – which could be asthma or pneumonia. Since Hobbes is in good spirits and other wise gaining weight, he does not suspect pneumonia and it is probably asthma. So once the cardiologist sees Hobbes, our regular doctor will speak with her and come up with a plan of action. I am upset about the heart enlargement and just hoping that it is not something like HCM.

Could you send some vibes for Hobbes?

I'm glad Hobbes is feeling better, and many that he doesn't have HCM, poor baby.

many many vibes for Hobbes, and Calvin, and their parents - I can only wish for good health for Hobbes, because he clearly has all the love in the world already.

Oh poor Hobbes! I'm so glad he's responding to the zithromax so quickly, and mega vibes it's not HCM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Next week can't get here soon enough!