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Why is my cat heaving, stretching her neck, and swallowing mucus?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Female | spayed | 1 year and 1 month old | 9 lbs

My cat will stretch out her neck and start heaving, and it sounds like mucus comes up and she will swallow it?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on June 21st, 2018

It sounds as if your cat is trying to cough up a hair ball or something similar. I would recommend feeding her a food that is formulated for hair balls and/or try giving her Laxatone daily to help the hair balls pass on their own.

If the problems persists you should have her checked by a veterinarian to make sure nothing else is going on.

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on August 25th, 2018
Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If you suspect Mo has a hairball, you can use a supplement called Laxatone and see if this helps. You can find this online or at your local Petco. If this does not help or the coughing / heaving is worsening, I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at him so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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