Cat coughing

[Edward Trunk]

We have a ten-year old neutered female cat. In the past year she has started coughing a lot. I know that cats cough occasionally to bring up hairballs etc, but she never brings anything up, and recently the coughing bouts have been getting more frequent. Her appetite and digestive apparatus are OK, and in between bouts she seems OK, if more subdued than she used to be. We took her to the vet, who ruled out heart problems and worms and X-rayed her and said there was something wrong with her lungs and it wasn't going to get better. He gave us steroids to give to her. She is still coughing. We love her a lot and wonder if there is anything more that we can do. 10 seems very young for a cat to die. Any clues, anyone?

[Clair]

Do you worm her regularly? Some worms can affect the lungs.

I use ProFender skin-drops (from the pharmacy) on my semi-wild one.

[Just Chris]

One of our cats seems to be coughing in a similar way, as you say it's occasional, but can be quite violent at times, otherwise she seems OK, and still quite active (but also seems to have gone profoundly deaf recently).  She is 17 years old, has had a good life and is still otherwise kittenish and friendly.  We think the coughing seems to stem from a problem in her throat, (particularly when she starts purring) rather than in her lungs.  There is no obvious evidence of worms.

We've toyed with the idea of taking her to the vet, but at her age, is it worth the stress?  She's a bit highly strung when there are strangers about, so we think that a visit to the vet may do more harm than good, especially as she seems in pretty good nick for her age, otherwise.

Chris

[M]

Could be lungworms - we had a cat which developed a cough, and when we took him to the vet the cat very considerately coughed up a load of them on the table [+o(]- easy diagnosis, and easy treatment.

M

[JohnRoss]

We have an elderly cat, 17, who has developed a cough due to bad teeth infecting his throat. The vet says he is too old and frail to operate on his teeth and gives antibiotic when the cough is bad which seems to work for a month or two. I understand that a cough may be associated with kidney disease which he also has and our other elderly cat was lost to kidney disease last year and he also had a cough. I would have though 10 was a bit young for kidney disease but bad teeth are a possibility............................Good luck..................................JR 

PS cats with kidney disease often drink and pee a lot see http://www.catsofaustralia.com/cat-kidney-disease.htm which indicates that young cats can get this though more usually older cats fall victim to it.

[val douest]

I think it is a bit worrying that the vet merely said there is something wrong with your cat's lungs and that it isn't going to get any better, without being more specific as to what the problem actually is.  It might be worth asking if there is an animal heart/lung specialist in your region who you can be referred to.  Our cat has always had skin problems but shortly after arriving in France they became so severe that he was having to spend most of his time in a plastic 'lampshade' collar to stop him scratching himself raw.  Our vet suggested referring us to a 'local expert' (local turned out to mean a 200-mile round trip to Bordeaux!) for specialist advice and treatment.

I can't pretend this produced a miraculous cure but the specialist and his team did succeed in establishing it was a dietary problem and over the last  couple of years we have modified his food intake according to their suggestions and his skin is much better.  We were bracing ourselves for the bill, but including some very expensive drugs to kickstart the healing process, the whole bill came to under €150 which being used to English vets' charges, we thought was very reasonable.  I assume you have the x-rays, test results etc which you could take along to a specialist, which should save the tests having to be repeated and so save unnecessary expense.

Good luck!

Val

[Jo]

[quote user="M"]

Could be lungworms - we had a cat which developed a cough, and when we took him to the vet the cat very considerately coughed up a load of them on the table [+o(]- easy diagnosis, and easy treatment.

M

[/quote]

The OP said the vet had ruled out worms, shame as that would have been an easy if slightly yucky, solution.[:(] I think it would be worth asking for a referral.

[Edward Trunk]

We took the cat plus her X-ray plates to a second vet, who examined the plates, listened to her breathing with an stethoscope and said that it was "grave". We are taking her back next week. She is still on the steroid tablets, but she seems to be getting slowly worse. We could take her to a veterinary hospital - it's a question of balancing the stress she would undoubtedly experience getting there (she doesn't travel well) plus all the tests and procedures - against lettingthings take their course. It's a very difficult time for us.

[ali-cat]

I'm really sorry to hear your latest news.  You're doing all you can for her & I know will continue to do so - knowing what is best & not to stressful for her.  I really hope that your vet will be able to give you better news next week & that continuing the steroids will improve her condition.  I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

[landentaylor]

hi am landentaylor newbee to this forum… hope you all friends be with me to over flow here

[WJT]

[quote user="Edward Trunk"]We took the cat plus her X-ray plates to a second vet, who examined the plates, listened to her breathing with an stethoscope and said that it was "grave". We are taking her back next week. She is still on the steroid tablets, but she seems to be getting slowly worse. We could take her to a veterinary hospital - it's a question of balancing the stress she would undoubtedly experience getting there (she doesn't travel well) plus all the tests and procedures - against lettingthings take their course. It's a very difficult time for us.[/quote]

I am so sorry to hear your news. I too will keep my fingers crossed for you.[:(]

[Edward Trunk]

We had to have her put to sleep this morning. She had deteriorated rapidly over the last few days; yesterday she stopped eating and last night I could hear her fighting for breath all night. We are very sad.

[Jo]

" If it should be that I grow weak and pain should keep me from my sleep,

Then you must do what must be done for this last battle can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand, don't let your grief then stay your hand

For this day, more than all the rest, your love for me must stand the test.

 We've had so many happy years what is to come can hold no fears

You'd not want me to suffer, so the time has come, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend and please stay with me till the end

Hold me firm and speak to me until my eyes no longer see.

 I know in time that you will see the kindness that you do for me,

Although my tail it's last has waved, from pain and suffering I've been saved.

Please do not grieve it must be you who has this painful thing to do,

We've been so close, we two, these years, don't let your heart hold back it's tears."

This helped me when I was in the same situation, I hope it helps you. Thinking of you.

[WJT]

I am so sorry Edward.

[val douest]

I too am so sorry that you had to have her put to sleep and I know how very sad you must feel.  But it sounds as though in the end her deterioration was very swift which left you no choice.  When you really care for an animal you cannot bear to see them suffer and the right course of action, albeit hard to follow, is quite clear.  You will have so many memories which may make you sad at the moment but as time passes there will be lots of happy ones of her time with you. Thinking of you tonight,

Val

[Edward Trunk]

Thank you for all your kind thoughts, everybody. We think about her about ten thousand times a day. The house is empty without her. We are going away for a while.