7 month old coughing/panting after exercise

I caught my 7 month old using my 17.5 year old's tail as a toy so I decided I needed to wear him out. I grabbed a wand toy and guided him up and down one of the cat trees several times and had him doing flips in the air. We were at this for under 10 minutes when he began to pant, which is what I was aiming for, but then he started coughing as though he had a hairball.

I have heard him cough for a very short period of time like this a few times before but didn't think much of it. This time it was more prolonged and accompanied by some panting. I have two cats with asthma(one very very mild; does not require meds) so that's one concern. A heart condition is another. :/

Does anyone have a kitten or cat who coughs like that and doesn't have a medical condition? I suppose hairballs are a possibility.

He's had a number of health concerns since I adopted him and had swollen lymph nodes & elevated lymphocytes at his last appointment. His recheck is this week and I'll definitely be bringing this up with the vet. I really hope it's nothing major but I can't help but worry..

Strenuous excercise can cause heavy panting and gasping in cats, similar to that when Humans excercise. As long as your cat gets some rest in between playing, he's perfectly fine My Aby did the panting and gasping and coughing all the time as a kitten while playing. I took a video of it and sent it to the vet who said it was normal for super active kittens to do this. You should definitely talk to your vet about it, though.

It's very normal to worry when we feel something isn't right. After exercise like that, it is very normal to be panting, the coughing means it was a little too much, but it is not as normal and should be checked out with your next visit. If it only happens with extended exercise, that is not as worrisome, but if it happens when he is at rest, then a worry. An x-ray should reveal if the heart is normal size, etc. and is very cheap. I would not go through a CT scan or invasive measure unless the vet sees something that is not right. He could be fighting a small virus too, so I wouldn't worry until he is checked out. I had a kitten that fought a 'cold' for months and I really didn't think he would ever get over it, he wheezed and had discharge constantly from his mouth and nose. But you wouldn't know nit to look at him today, he is healthy and sassy. I'll pray for your little one to be all right, you will be blessed for loving that little boy so much.