Kitty coughing

Hello fellow cat lovers! I am so glad I found this site! This is my first post, and I would like to see if anyone has any suggestions for me on this problem.

I have a two-year old very healthy, happy cat. For the last year or so, he takes spells several times a day of crouching low and making a wheezing, coughing sound. I had him checked at his vet, and was told he probably is trying to cough up a hairball. Very rarely does anything ever come up when he is coughing.

The vet suggested I give him Hairball Remedy, which is really nothing more than flavored petroleum jelly to help the hair pass easily through his digestive tract instead of lodging in his throat. I did this immediately and religiously give it to him. He loves the taste and gobbles it right up, but the coughing is still going on.

Just wondering if anyone else has any suggestions for eliminating hairballs or if there is reason I should worry about another reason for this coughing. (The Dr. checked his lungs and heart and said they were in good condition). He has always been current with all vaccines and is strictly an indoor cat, so I don't feel he is at risk for communicable diseases.

If anyone has had an experience with this type of behavior and has any pointers that might be of help, they will be greatly appreciated.

From what you describe, it sounds like an inhaled allergy or possible asthma. In order to rude out asthma they need to do a chest x ray. An allergy can also cause or trigger an asthma attack even though they dont have chronic asthma.
Also have you noticed any vomiting with any of this at all? These episodes can also be caused by an upset tummy. Although they don't actually throw up, their body still tries to get rid of whats upsetting thier tummy. If your vet is chalking your concerns up to hairballs and yet it continues, you may want to seek another vet.