Why is my cat coughing, sputtering, and drooling blood for days?

I am so sorry Boxer is having a problem. I don't see Boxer's age listed, and some possible causes are more likely in older cats; but I will answer as though we are answering for a cat of any age. (If Boxer is 8 months old, for example, I"m not terribly worried about cancer). If the blood and fluid is, indeed, coming from his airways, I would be concerned that he may have a severe allergic bronchitis or asthma, tracheal irritation resulting from an frequent heavy cough, or he may have pneumonia, lung cancer, or even heart failure. The other possibility is that the blood and drool may be coming directly from the mouth, and we are incidentally seeing it come out when he coughs. Take a peek in his mouth as much as he will let you (but don't risk getting bit!). Severe gingivitis, cancerous oral tumors, or a diseased tooth could all result in intermittent bleeding from the gums. Regardless, get Boxer in to see your vet so he can do an exam. X-rays of his chest will likely be recommended and will help your veterinarian determine the next steps in both diagnosis and in treatment. If heart disease is suspected, an echocardiogram (sonogram of the heart) and starting heart meds may be recommended. If asthma or allergic issues are suspected as the cause for the cough, a steroid may be recommended. Your vet will be able t help you decide the best path moving forward to see if Boxer can get some relief from this cough. I hope thats helpful for you! Thanks or asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

He needs to be seen by a veterinarian. He looks like he really doesn't feel well from the photo. The red spots on the tongue could be ulcerations (due to a toxin ingestion or kidney disease for example) or they could be cancer (very common in cats). This is not something you can fix at home. Please get him to a vet as soon as you can. Best wishes.

Hello. I am concerned that Snowball may have some issues with the tissues deeper in his mouth. There is a condition called stomatitis, which can cause bleeding, inflammation & significant pain. Your cat will be reluctant to eat as it hurts to swallow. Your veterinarian can discover the cause of the blood & hopefully make some recommendations for treating Snowball & hopefully get him feeling better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Unfortunately, drooling can be caused by a number of issues which is why it is important to seek out veterinary care, especially if it has been ongoing several days. Drooling can be related to nausea caused by stomach upset or illness, problems with the mouth, tongue, or gums such as infections or broken teeth, or issues such as something caught in the throat or mouth. While a bland meal of some boiled chicken may help with minor nausea, the fact it has been ongoing for days is cause for concern and warrants a vet visit. If you're having trouble affording veterinary care, this site can help give you some ideas/options so that Baby can get the help he need: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/having-trouble-affording-veterinary-care

I would be most suspicious of a calicivirus infection causing these signs. Calicivirus is a vaccine preventable disease that is mostly seen with kittens. This virus will cause ulcers in the mouth, which will cause it to bleed a little. This disease is often self-limiting, but can cause severe ulcers in certain cases, so it will definitely be good for the vet to check them in the next day or two. It's likely not an emergency though, so they should be fine to wait until then. I hope that helps and all is well with the cats.

Although a picture of it would help to determine the underlying cause more specifically, this presentation seems to be likely related to a tooth abscess/infection. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

I am so sorry to hear about your kitty. Chipotle sounds like and appears to be quite ill based on your description/photos. The drooling could be do to nausea (which can be due to many different diseases), infection in the mouth or the throat or nasal passages, tumors in these areas. He needs to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible to determine what is causing these symptoms.