Why is my cat coughing like he's vomiting, not eating, and lethargic?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Mittens has been vomiting and is now coughing. Cats can vomit for a number of reasons, including trying to vomit a hairball, eating something they shouldn't have, gastrointestinal obstruction, infection, inflammation, or even cancer. From the information you provided, my concern is that Mittens may have aspirated (taken fluid into the lungs) during one of these vomiting episodes, and is now coughing as a result. Aspiration pneumonia can be a scary thing in cats, and especially if Mittens is not acting himself or wanting to eat, I would recommend bringing him to your veterinarian to be examined. If your veterinarian determines that he has abnormal lung sounds, he/she may recommend blood work and chest x-rays to look for evidence of pneumonia. If present, they will likely start Mittens on some antibiotics. There are other possibilities for Mitten's cough including bronchitis or an upper airway infection, which should also be managed by a veterinarian. I hope this is helpful!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. With your description I am concerned that Cookie is not interested in eating and is trying to vomit. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine Cookie so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I would definitely consider having abdominal x-rays taken to ensure that this is not from something Cookie ate (string, stuffing, toy, etc.). I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’m sorry to hear Lil Man isn’t feeling well. Coughing is usually a sign of respiratory disease and that is very concerning in a cat. There could be a problem in the lungs like fluid build up or asthma or a problem with the heart like heartworms or something congenital. There are many different possibilities and without seeing him it’s hard to say what the cause is. I recommend taking Lil Man to a vet right away for an exam and possible xrays and blood work. Try not to stress him out while transporting him because this could make him worse. Put him in a carrier and cover it with a blanket. Good luck and kisses to Lil Man!

While a hairball could cause vomiting I wouldn't expect diarrhea or coughing. A true cough can be a sign of asthma or a respiratory infection. If he can't rest at night and his appetite is affected I'd recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian. They may recommend an x-ray of his chest and abdomen.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I definitely understand your concern. Vomiting and inappetence are concerning symptoms as they could occur with things like a gastrointestinal obstruction, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, dietary indiscretion, among many other possibilities. The fact that he is also breathing fast is also concerning. I recommend that you have Pedrito evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like Mel is having chronic vomiting, increased thirst, but decreased appetite. Unfortunately, these signs are rather vague, and can be caused by a number of conditions including hair balls, intestinal parasites, inappropriate diet, and other more serious conditions such as certain cancers. I recommend having Mel seen by his vet to determine exactly what is going on. You can try feeding a bland diet at home, making sure he gets plenty of water, and grooming Mel to limit hair balls. I hope all is well!

Hi, thanks for your question. It's unusual to see vomiting and coughing at the same time, although it's possible. Typically, though, the cat is just retching and nothing is coming up. It's likely, especially if your cat is bringing up stomach contents from time to time, that this is solely a GI problem. Vomiting can have a number of causes. Depending on how old your cat is, whether it goes outside, etc, one possibility might be more likely than another. Here are some possibilities: parasites, food intolerance/dietary indiscretion (eating something that made her sick), exposure to a toxin, a blockage either in the stomach or intestines, kidney disease, liver disease, diseases of the pancreas, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer. As you can see these are all very different diseases. Your vet can help you figure you what's going on with a good physical exam and some tests, probably blood work and x-rays to start with. Get your cat seen as soon as you can.