Kitten Hacking, no hairball

I currently have a 4 month old foster with me.  Last night he ate some wet food, then hacked for about 10-15 seconds as if he were going to cough up a hairball, but didn't.

It definitely wasn't asthma (or at least highly unlikely) because he immediately (and I do mean immediately) went back to playing in a very energetic way after this, seeming totally unfazed. I have heard him give a dry little cough a few times since then.  He has also nipped me a few times which is somewhat unusual for him, but all he times may have been due to over stimulation by petting. He remains very active and is eating, playing, cuddling, and using the litterbox as normal.  Eyes and nose are clear.  He does sneeze occasionally but has since I got him and I have already seen a vet about that and been told not to worry.

My instinct is that it is not necessary to haul him to a vet at this time, but I wanted to check in here and make sure I am not off base.  I anticipate that it is a hairball and he will be hacking it up presently but wanted to make sure you guys don't think it's cause for more serious alarm.

Did he gobble the food like kittens usually do? He may have gotten a little bit stuck in his throat and dislodged it by hacking.

catspaw66 said:

Did he gobble the food like kittens usually do? He may have gotten a little bit stuck in his throat and dislodged it by hacking.

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Yes he did.  He and his brother are both with me and though I feed them wet on separate plates or in separate bowls they seem desperate to wolf it down as quickly as possible almost like they are in a race... and whoever finishes first usually tries to have a go at the other one's food.  I do have medium-high quality dry out for them all the time which they share just fine (I know it is not ideal but I can't break the bank for fosters) and in addition to this I feed them both wet once a day so I know it's not that they aren't getting enough food.  I think maybe it's just that they REALLY like the wet.

I'm just going to monitor him for now and see.  If a repeat happens or he develops any other symptoms I will take him to the vet to make sure all is in order.

tulosai said:

Yes he did.  He and his brother are both with me and though I feed them wet on separate plates or in separate bowls they seem desperate to wolf it down as quickly as possible almost like they are in a race... and whoever finishes first usually tries to have a go at the other one's food. 

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My ladies are well fed and still whoever finishes first always has to see if they can get a nose into another one's plate. Sugar and Spice eat from the same plate, sometimes sharing one portion and then going on to the other one.