Cat coughing, but no hairball? (video)

bjornsbjorn

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Hi everyone!

For the past month or so, my 1.5 year-old cat has been coughing like she's going to cough up a hairball, but nothing comes up. Other than this, she acts totally normal. She isn't acting sick, or eating less, she's still super energetic, and she doesn't seem like she's distressed or in any kind of pain. This coughing has been happening more and more frequently (~2-3 times a day now) and the cough attacks have been lasting longer (sometimes a few minutes long). This is very distressing to me, and I would normally take her to the vet, but I am in the midst of a big move my car recently broke down twice in a row, I'm staring a new job, and I'm just going to be so short on money for the next few weeks I don't know what to do. I was hoping that someone would read this and watch the video of her and maybe be able to recognize what the issue is. I understand that it is probably not possible to figure out what's wrong without x-rays or blood work, and I feel so so guilty, but I can afford to pay 100's of dollars right now. Normally I would take her into the vet in a heartbeat, but I can't for a few more weeks :(                                                      Any help would be so appreciated, I can't imagine what I would do without her.  
 

carolina

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Hi everyone!

For the past month or so, my 1.5 year-old cat has been coughing like she's going to cough up a hairball, but nothing comes up. Other than this, she acts totally normal. She isn't acting sick, or eating less, she's still super energetic, and she doesn't seem like she's distressed or in any kind of pain. This coughing has been happening more and more frequently (~2-3 times a day now) and the cough attacks have been lasting longer (sometimes a few minutes long). This is very distressing to me, and I would normally take her to the vet, but I am in the midst of a big move my car recently broke down twice in a row, I'm staring a new job, and I'm just going to be so short on money for the next few weeks I don't know what to do. I was hoping that someone would read this and watch the video of her and maybe be able to recognize what the issue is. I understand that it is probably not possible to figure out what's wrong without x-rays or blood work, and I feel so so guilty, but I can afford to pay 100's of dollars right now. Normally I would take her into the vet in a heartbeat, but I can't for a few more weeks :(                                                      Any help would be so appreciated, I can't imagine what I would do without her.
 
It is hairball season, and this year it has been particularly bad...... however that cough doesn't strike me as a hairball cough...
I lost a cat to congestive heart failure, and the biggest symptom I missed was a cough - I also thought it was a hairball. By no means I am saying this is what she has.... But that's a cough, and not a hacking, which is more typical of hairballs.
Also, any cough that gets worse and doesn't produce the passage of hair warrants a vet visit - it can be a sign of something very serious.

I am sorry you are going through so much.... But I would highly recommend you going to the vet and getting some chest x-rays.
Apply for care-credit if you need, get the money from someone, or ask the vet if you can pay later.... But I wouldn't put this off.
:vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 

nora1

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I agree with @Carolina, a vet visit is a must, especially if this is happening 2-3 times a day, for minutes! Borrow the money, or ask if your vet does care credit. The sooner you go and get her checked out, the better!

best of luck! 
 

stephanie42

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looks like asthma to me.  piglet was doing that same exact thing from time to time - my vet diagnosed it as asthma and wanted piglet on liquid prednisolone (steroid) daily.  since she's already immunocompromised, i opted to find other ways to help.  we started vacuuming mid-week in addition to on the weekends and changed litter - and piglet hasn't been coughing like that.

asthma in cats looks a bit different than in humans, but is caused by the same stuff.  since there's a lot of stress going on now, that could be contributing to her frequent attacks.  i would try changing litter immediately - we switched to arm & hammer essentials and now use world's best, both are basically dust and fragrance free but work great.  that made a huge difference for piglet.  if she continues having 2-3 attacks a day after changing the litter, i would really consider getting her to a vet ASAP.  if you have a regular vet, call and explain your situation and see if you can work out paying a bit now and paying off the rest.  another option would be to call a local shelter and see if they can recommend a low cost/clinic in the area.
 
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