Cat Cough - When it can turn out to be a sign of a deadly disease

A cat cough can happen for many reasons.... My Rainbow Kitty Gracie had serious hairball problems, so that is what I thought this cough was due to.... Unfortunately I was wrong. This was a sign of a deadly Congestive Heart Failure. If your kitty is coughing, please do not assume anything - take it to the vet and ask for chest x-rays... It can be lifesaving.... I hope this video, as heartbreaking as it is, having just lost my baby to this horrible disease, helps to save a kitty's life. Maybe this in some small way will be one of Gracies' legacies...

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Last summer I lost my cat Postie to heart failure. He started with a cough similar to Gracie's on that video. Took him in and everything was normal, x-ray and bloodwork. We chalked it up to hairball or allergy. The cough went away and only came back occasionally over the two month's that followed. One Sunday afternoon, we came home after caring for the horses (had been gone about five hours) and Potsie was in complete cardiac arrest, panting, mouth breathing, coughing. We rushed him to the Evet - about ten minutes away. He was practically blue by then. Passed in the oxygen tank. NOW when I hear a cough in my cat's I take it very, very, very seriously. That is why I rushed Wendall to the vet a few week's back from coughing. Although, xray's and bloodwork were normal, I am still worried as he still has a cough or two once a week only in the morning. I am going to take him back to my "old" vet whom I totally trust and have these test's run again.

Thanks for posting the video - I think it IS very important for people to know the fact's about a coughing cat. Yes, it could be a hairball issue, allergies, but also a serious heart condition as well. My poor - it absolutely broke my heart. AND Pipsqueak must have been by his side watching him the whole time we were gone - frantically - not knowing what to do. Potsie and Pipsqueak were BFFs.

to you Carolina - hope you are feeling better about thing's. Gracie couldn't have been loved more :heart3:

Carolina, I can't begin to imagine the strength it took to post this for us.

I REALLY appreciate it, because we've been wondering about Flowerbelle's cough. The vets have confirmed by xray it's not her heart or asthma, but this actually does help confirm what they told us. I KNOW this will help other people. :heart3:

In fact, I was JUST watching YouTubes of asthma coughs in cats. I don't know that I'd be able to tell the difference, honestly, unless body posture is as important as some seem to indicate. With 20/20 hindsight, I can see how this is different than a hairball cough - at least when compared to Flowerbelle's. When Flowerbelle has a hairball cough, she crouches on her front feet and stretches out her neck. She swallows occasionally while doing this - but she doesn't wheeze at all.

But given coughing can be due to so many different things, I think sharing this was truly an act of love, and I know it will help other people get their kitties to the vet sooner rather than later.

:heart3: :heart3: :heart3: :heart3:

Lauren, we were posting at the same time. This is ETA to say I'm so sorry about Potsie.

LDG said:

Lauren, we were posting at the same time. This is ETA to say I'm so sorry about Potsie.

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Of course we were posting at the same time - that seem's to happen with you and me I keep saying "last summer" when I talk about Potsie - but it was two summer's ago. His cough was more mild than Gracie's though - except for the day we got home and found him - then he was coughing like that AND lying on his left side on the floor. When he coughed before that day - it was just in the crouching position - but there was wheezing . I learned a tough lesson on that one..... that is why I am going to stay on top of this with Wendall too. I am still worried about my boy.

Feralvr said:

Last summer I lost my cat Postie to heart failure. He started with a cough similar to Gracie's on that video. Took him in and everything was normal, x-ray and bloodwork. We chalked it up to hairball or allergy. The cough went away and only came back occasionally over the two month's that followed. One Sunday afternoon, we came home after caring for the horses (had been gone about five hours) and Potsie was in complete cardiac arrest, panting, mouth breathing, coughing. We rushed him to the Evet - about ten minutes away. He was practically blue by then. Passed in the oxygen tank. NOW when I hear a cough in my cat's I take it very, very, very seriously. That is why I rushed Wendall to the vet a few week's back from coughing. Although, xray's and bloodwork were normal, I am still worried as he still has a cough or two once a week only in the morning. I am going to take him back to my "old" vet whom I totally trust and have these test's run again.
Thanks for posting the video - I think it IS very important for people to know the fact's about a coughing cat. Yes, it could be a hairball issue, allergies, but also a serious heart condition as well. My poor - it absolutely broke my heart. AND Pipsqueak must have been by his side watching him the whole time we were gone - frantically - not knowing what to do. Potsie and Pipsqueak were BFFs.
to you Carolina - hope you are feeling better about thing's. Gracie couldn't have been loved more :heart3:

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Lauren, I am so sorry for your loss
It is truly heartbreaking....
I too, have a whole new outlook at coughs now.... I had coughs here... Lucky had an episode of allergy once, and it went away - thank goodness with an anti-inflammatory and antihistamine, she was very young at the time and the thought of heart disease didn't even cross my mind.... Today I think, regardless, I would think differently - I rather be safe then sorry. Unless they pass a hairball, and it is clearly a hacking cough, I am demanding x-rays in different angles to rule out anything with the heart first. I don't think I will ever take a cough lightly again.
I am "going".... Thank you for asking.... Everything reminds me of her Even going to the market.... So I am having the tendency of walking like a horse, with blinds - just going - straight. Bugsy is mourning a LOT. He looks for her 24hrs a day.... I am spoon feeding him again, and making sure to take his dry food plate to him, otherwise he won't really eat - he is always on his area, looking for her
Hopefully he will be better soon..... She didn't love him too much, but he was so so in love with her :heart3:

LDG said:

Carolina, I can't begin to imagine the strength it took to post this for us.
I REALLY appreciate it, because we've been wondering about Flowerbelle's cough. The vets have confirmed by xray it's not her heart or asthma, but this actually does help confirm what they told us. I KNOW this will help other people. :heart3:
In fact, I was JUST watching YouTubes of asthma coughs in cats. I don't know that I'd be able to tell the difference, honestly, unless body posture is as important as some seem to indicate. With 20/20 hindsight, I can see how this is different than a hairball cough - at least when compared to Flowerbelle's. When Flowerbelle has a hairball cough, she crouches on her front feet and stretches out her neck. She swallows occasionally while doing this - but she doesn't wheeze at all.
But given coughing can be due to so many different things, I think sharing this was truly an act of love, and I know it will help other people get their kitties to the vet sooner rather than later.
:heart3: :heart3: :heart3: :heart3:
Lauren, we were posting at the same time. This is ETA to say I'm so sorry about Potsie.

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yes..... it was hard to see this.... very hard.... and I won't be playing it again..... I did record this video for you actually, half to compare notes with Flowerbelle, half for your opinion.... I remember us being on the phone discussing this cough soon before I shot the video....
I guess the assumption of the hairballs came from the fact that she DID have serious hairballs problems - ALWAYS. Heart problems is nothing something that easily crosses your mind.... At least it didn't for me - now I will be on the look out for sure. Coincidentally this cough showed up right after she stopped her hairball treats, making me think the problem was hairballs.
Yes, I hope it does help another kitty.... I remember reading somewhere that cats, unlike dogs, will present cough as a sign of heart disease. Cough does need to be taken seriously... It can be much more than what we think, unfortunately.

Yeah, I really regret having assumed Flowerbelle's cough was hairballs. She does have such a problem with them, but I'm pretty sure now that she has/had bronchitis. I hope it's not chronic... we'll see. The vet put her on doxy after the cardiologist and radiologist reports on the xrays came back, and she hasn't been coughing. :cross: I still need to get her cardio report to Stan for his opinion.

I know this was really hard, Carolina. Thank you again, for putting other's need ahead of your own. :heart3:

Gracie

Thanks for posting that, Carolina - I think that'll be very helpful to a lot of people. In addition to X-rays, there's a blood test called Cardiopet proBNP Test that a vet can perform to screen for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

It was the blood test that picked up Jamie's HCM almost 2 1/2 years ago. When he went into congestive heart failure this past Halloween, he began wheezing/coughing much like Gracie in the video, though it wasn't as prolonged.

Oh, Carolina , I know it must have broken your heart to post this, and it broke mine to watch it, but it IS so very important for people to see it and learn the difference between a "simple" hacking up a hairball and this deadly disease.  I know my Stinkpot sometimes gets water down the wrong tube when he drinks from the fountain and will cough a couple of times, and I always get paranoid and immediate think "heart problems".  I even took him in to be thoroughly checked because he does it with some regularity, but only when drinking out of the fountain.

Again, thanks for posting it.  As you said, if it can save another cat, then it will be Gracie's legacy

Carolina, many have already remarked upon the bravery it took to post this video, but I wanted to add my admiration as well. You are a strong, incredibly caring person, and I've no doubt your pain will, indeed, improve another cat's life.

God bless you.

AC

Carolina said:

Lauren, I am so sorry for your loss
It is truly heartbreaking....
I too, have a whole new outlook at coughs now.... I had coughs here... Lucky had an episode of allergy once, and it went away - thank goodness with an anti-inflammatory and antihistamine, she was very young at the time and the thought of heart disease didn't even cross my mind.... Today I think, regardless, I would think differently - I rather be safe then sorry. Unless they pass a hairball, and it is clearly a hacking cough, I am demanding x-rays in different angles to rule out anything with the heart first. I don't think I will ever take a cough lightly again.
I am "going".... Thank you for asking.... Everything reminds me of her Even going to the market.... So I am having the tendency of walking like a horse, with blinds - just going - straight. Bugsy is mourning a LOT. He looks for her 24hrs a day.... I am spoon feeding him again, and making sure to take his dry food plate to him, otherwise he won't really eat - he is always on his area, looking for her
Hopefully he will be better soon..... She didn't love him too much, but he was so so in love with her :heart3:

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Loads of hugs back to you I still think of you everyday and am amazed at your strength (yes, strength) and courage it took to try to manage Gracie during the last days of her life ..... Such love, just love :heart3: :heart3:.... I too never thought about a cough meaning "heart" ever..... But now I know. I am keeping a very, very close watch on Wendall. It's odd, because he will only cough (and mildly, I tend to over-react at everything these days ) in the morning and maybe once or twice a week and it sound's more like phlegm. Vet is suggesting we put him on antibiotics too - as could be bronchitis that is just hanging on :dk: It is just scary now to me to hear any coughing - BUT at least I am aware of what a "cough" can mean and take proper and swift action :nod.....: OH AND - for the tip about taking the xray from a different angle. I guess you mean NOT laying on their side ????

For you still, I know how hard each day can be and the reminder's that linger on... Also For Bugsy too - poor little man - but he couldn't have a better meowmy to help him through this grief

LDG said:

Yeah, I really regret having assumed Flowerbelle's cough was hairballs. She does have such a problem with them, but I'm pretty sure now that she has/had bronchitis. I hope it's not chronic... we'll see. The vet put her on doxy after the cardiologist and radiologist reports on the xrays came back, and she hasn't been coughing. :cross: I still need to get her cardio report to Stan for his opinion.

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Laurie I know that regretful feeling and you are not alone. The good news is - you are doing something about it for beauty Flowerbelle NOW - and that is what matter's. I think we all have learned a bit more about coughing in cat's lately. For Miss FlowerBeauty :rub::rub::rub:

That was very difficult to watch, and must have been even more difficult to post. Thank you Carolina, Gracie, I know will be proud to help other kitties. I'm sorry to hear Bugsy is taking it so hard, I know how heartbreaking that is to watch.

Feralvr said:

for the tip about taking the xray from a different angle. I guess you mean NOT laying on their side ????

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With Gracie they took from several different angles..... Not only one side - That first one (side only) showed inconclusive - that's when she was diagnosed with Tracheitis (by the attending vet). Bugsy's vet, Dr. Escobedo, looking at her history, that x-ray, talking to me, etc, told me to take her back immediately if the cough got worst..... and if she stopped eating. He then ran several x-rays. Even the side views were in different angles. There was top view also. This was an x-ray series.

This is a good tip from Tricia I didn't know:

In addition to X-rays, there's a blood test called Cardiopet proBNP Test that a vet can perform to screen for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

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Thank you so much for posting this!  Rest in peace, Gracie.  My baby was diagnosed with a heart murmur and thickening of a wall (I can't recall which) last year.  On our follow up appointment a couple of months ago, the cardiologist wanted him to start beta blockers, but, as I mentioned when we came in, he had been throwing up for a few days, so the doctor said hold off until his stomach gets better.  We're now thinking about starting the pills.  He coughs every once in a while (not too badly-- when he's not posturing, you can barely tell if it's burping or coughing).  I have been nervous about the coughing and don't really know how to distinguish the hairball cough with the heart failure cough.  So thank you so much for posting this.  xo