My British Shorthair cat is having coughing fits. Vet visit?

Hello and thank you for reaching out about your cat. The most common causes for coughing in a cat of his age are: heart disease and bronchitis/asthma. Other, but less likely causes: infection or parasite. When a cat is coughing it is very important to get him to the vet so a doctor can listen to his heart and lungs and take an xray. This will help to determine which medication(s) would be best to treat his cough. Thank you.

If it is a very occasional cough then no, he doesn't need to see the vet but if it starts happening on a daily basis then yes, it should get checked by your vet ASAP, feline asthma is usually the main cause of cough in cats.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Coughing can be a sign of many conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, heart disease, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Wolfgang evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Likely diagnostics to be performed include thoracic radiographs and bloodwork. Treatment would be dependent on findings. Good luck and have a good night!

She could have an infection or asthma causing the cough and wheeze so she should be examined by a vet. Your vet can take an x-ray to evaluate her heart and lungs and then prescribe medications to treat. She may need an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and/or a bronchodilator to help with the cough and wheeze. Your vet can also check her teeth to make sure she doesn't have a dental problem.

A chronic cough or wheeze may be due to allergies, polyps, infection or even heart disease just to name a few causes. Ideally, Shadow should be physically examined by your veterinarian to diagnose the underlying cause. This way the most effective treatment can be administered.

He could have a respiratory infection, allergies, or heart disease. If it continues, have him examined by a vet to diagnose. Your vet can take an x-ray to evaluate his heart and lungs. He might need an antibiotic, anti-histamine, corticosteroid, bronchodilator, or other medications.

Poor kitty. Coughing in cats can be caused by many things unfortunately, including: underlying heart disease, asthma (if wheezing also present), fungal infection, lung worms, etc. We need more information in order to narrow things down. I would suggest taking Mac in to your vet, especially since this cough has been persistent for more than a day or two. The vet will likely want to start off with a radiograph and bloodwork to hopefully diagnose the problem so that we know what Mac needs for treatment. I do hope that your furry friend Mac gets better soon! Best wishes and take care.