Why does my cat hiccup and gasp after using the litter box?

Poor Lilly Rose! It could be that she is suffering from a respiratory infection, which can happen even in indoor only cats. Cardiac problems can be another cause of breathing problems, but they are rare in kittens with it occurring in only 1-2%. I simply mention cardiac problems because Ragdolls are prone to them genetically. I would have Lilly seen by a vet for a physical exam, blood tests, urinalysis, and x-rays. The vet can determine what has caused these episodes and can discuss treatment options with you.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern! If feeding smaller portions and more frequent meals has not helped, this could potentially be a hairball problem. I would recommend a product such as Laxatone and give this 3-5 days of treatment to see if there is a difference. Sometimes, stress or anxiety can lead to hiccups, so using a product such as Feliway (which you can find online or at your local pet store) can sometimes help and put an end to the hiccups. If the hiccups are still there after trying these methods or they become more distressing for Jicky, I would recommend taking her in to be seen by a veterinarian for an examination 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!

Your kitten will need to have an exam by your veterinarian. She could be suffering from a congenital malformation of the blood vessels near the heart or have a hole in the septum of the heart. This would often not show when the kitten is resting, but when it exercises, runs and plays there is not enough oxygen being pumped to the lungs and muscles because oxygenated and used up blood mixes. Problems often do not occur until 3-4 months of age. Please make an appointment with your vet for an exam.

It is possible that Susie may be regurgitating which could be due to a disease called megaesophagus which, although more common in Siamese, can occur in other cats. If Susie does have megaesophagus, she will need to be examined by a veterinarian who will be able to discuss treatment options with you.

This is not normal behavior. I would be worried that Mister has an abnormality in his heart or his lungs that could eventually become life threatening. I would recommend to have him examined by his vet. Depending on the physical exam findings, there are a number of things that may be needed as the next steps to diagnose his condition and to provide the appropriate treatment. I hope this helps!

Based on his age I would be very concerned. I don't know if it is related to the diffuser or not. That is not normal behavior though so he should see a vet. I am worried about respiratory disease especially with the wheezing you described.

I would wonder if the dry heaving is actually a cough - the two can sound very similar in a cat. Feline asthma, some infections or parasites like lungworms can cause a cough. I would recommend making an appointment to see your vet - they may recommend a chest x-ray to look for evidence of asthma. If you can take a video to show your vet it could help!