My cat has a dry cough for months, but seems healthy. What's wrong?

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.

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 Mylo 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 day!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. If you got him as a feral cat, you most likely do not have a full history on him. Since you don't have a full history, I would get him tested for FeLV and FIV. These infectious diseases are not curable and can cause cats to become prone to secondary infections such as respiratory infections. I would get him seen by your vet to have additional tests performed to figure out the source of the cough. Some cats are prone to herpes viral respiratory infections and these typically resolve on their own. He may need a course of an antibiotic to get over this. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me with any further questions or concerns you may have. I am also available via consultation if needed.

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.

Hello. It could be bronchitis, feline asthma, a lung infection, heart disease or heart worms. Please have Nova examined as soon as possible by your veterinarian so you can start to resolve this coughing & make her so much more comfortable. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Molly. It could be her throat is a little irritated leading to the coughing, but it could also be a sign she is starting to get sick. I would keep an eye on her for the next couple of days. If the coughing increases in occurrence, she has a loss of appetite, has discharge from her nose, sounds congested, or is lethargic, then you should be concerned and have her seen by a vet asap. If the cough continues over 48-72 hours without change, I would also have her checked out by a vet to be safe. I hope this helps!

Without an exam, it would be hard to say if there is an underlying health issue. If you believe the air may be too dry and is causing irritation, adding in a humidifier and checking your home's humidity levels may help resolve the issue. If Luka continues to cough, seems in distress like he can't breathe, or has other symptoms appear (changes to appetite, energy levels, nasal or eye discharge, etc) then it is best to seek out veterinary care to rule out any more serious health issues.