My cat keeps coughing after neuter surgery. What could be wrong?

Cornelius is a very handsome cat! It sounds like he picked up a cold which can be viral but can also have a secondary bacterial component. If it is just a virus it can take a full two weeks to get through his system. If he is lethargic, not eating, the sneezing gets worse or he has nasal/eye discharge I would recommend a veterinarian. At that point he may need antibiotics. I would try to call the spay/neuter clinic you had him neutered at to see if they have a veterinarian that would be able to look at him also. I hope Cornelius feels better soon and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

If the cough was not there before the endoscopy, then it is likely that it has been caused by the procedure or by the intubation that might have been done for the anaesthesia. This is not uncommon and it could last a week or so.

These may be signs of a upper respiratory infection or tracheal irritation if she was intubated for her surgery. Either can cause inflammation in their throat and affect their sinuses. IF this pattern is still occurring, then i would have your vet rechecked. SHe is likely already on an antibiotics since she had an infection prior to the c section, but they can add medication to help with the sneezing and coughing/retching to help her comfort and recover.

While being a little groggy and sore post-surgery is normal, what you are describing may be due to trauma from intubation (or keeping the airway open during surgery). I recommend having Winston seen by a vet as soon as possible to determine what is going on. However, if you believe that Winston is having trouble breathing (gasping for air, gums turning blue) he should be seen by a vet immediately.

A mild post intubation cough can sometimes be present for a day or 2 from irritation but it should resolve quickly. If the cough is persistent and especially if the cough is productive, moist, or accompanied by nasal discharge, decreased appetite, or lethargy than this would be more concerning. With recent anesthesia we would then consider aspiration pneumonia and heart failure as possibilites. The easiest thing to do is to have a recheck for chest xrays to rule out something more serious. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi. The tube that go down the throat for anesthesia can cause irritation to the throat area for a few days, but not this bad. It may be something totally unrelated. She could have an upper respiratory infection, allergies, hair ball, cardiac disease, and more. If it has been 4 days, i recommend that you see your veterinarian as soon as you can. If they aren't open, I would recommend the ER

I'm glad you decided to have the operation done, and I hope that it went well! It could be that he now has a respiratory infection causing the cough. Tonight you can try using a humidifier (steam only) or bringing him into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections. If he is still having problems with coughing in the morning, I would have him seen by the vet again, as he may need medications to help with his cough which the vet can prescribe.