Coughing

Polly is 9 years old and spayed. She started coughing at the first of the year. I assumed hairball and treated with Laxatone. No improvement. So, since then we have done: xrays, blood work, heartworm test, pro bnp, fecal, fecal Baermann, Clavamox, predef and depo injections, and now synanthic just in case for lungworms even though the test was negative. Everything has been negative.

The coughing is random, 1-2 times a day. She eats/drinks fine. Litter box is fine. Nothing else is off except this random cough. I haven't changed anything in the house. I don't use chemical cleaners..mostly white vinegar. No air fresheners or strong candles because I can't handle them myself.

Next step is a tracheal wash. My vet has done them before and has had results. I'm not sure though. Has anyone dealt with anything similar?

Does the blood tests show any infection in her body? Ultrasound of hearts and lungs would be my path, I think. I dont have much experience with this in cats apart from my cat that has a lung infection right now, but in dogs, thats what I'd ask for. Its not an uncommon thing for elderly dogs. I'd want to check for conditions involving heart and lungs. Those arent necesarrily of the type that will shorten the life span, if you're just aware of them and cat treat it

Welcome to TCS! Sounds like you've been doing a lot to try and help her!

What does the vet think it is and what has he/she ruled out? Had heart disease been ruled out entirely? When does your cat cough - is it after she's been eating or drinking, or after exercising, or maybe sleeping? 

The Pro BNP test ruled out heart disease. Chest xrays look good. No infection or any other abnormality in her blood work. The coughing is really random. She can be sleeping and she wakes up, is calm and it starts. She gets worked up and it starts. It's only a couple of times a day. She swallows a lot after and sounds bubbly.

I work for a vet. I've had 2 of them on this and now the practice owner. The first vet said it was odd because the cough starts out dry then ends wet. He was perplexed and sent video I took to a colleague. No input there either.

My fear is that she's eaten something she shouldn't have and it's stuck but I've repeatedly been told that would not be the case in it lasting this long.

She gets clingy afterwards. She's ok but just wants to be on my lap. She's turning into a mama's girl and she never has been before. I just hope we can figure it out soon.