Cat Coughing At Night

Although coughing in cats is not common, it occurs. If you suspect your cat has a cough, it is important to find out when the cough occurs, potential triggers and what the cough sounds like. This information will help your cat's veterinarian determine the underlying cause of the cough and prescribe the correct medical treatment.

  1. Significance

    • Cats cough at night for a variety of reasons--some more serious than others. If you notice your cat has been coughing for more than five nights in a row, you should contact your veterinarian and have him seen immediately. Some potential causes of nighttime coughing include lung edema, heart disease and tracheal collapse.

    Sound

    • The sound your cat makes when coughing at night will tell your veterinarian a lot about the underlying cause. In general, dry, hacking coughs are due to an irritation of the airways, while a moist cough is often due to congenital heart failure. In cats with tracheal collapse, a "goose honking" sound is a hallmark symptom. Tracheal collapse is rare in cats but can be caused by the animal's collar being tugged.

    Accompanying Symptoms

    • Evaluate your cat's overall health and appearance to determine if there are any other symptoms besides the cough. In cases where an infection is present, you may notice your cat has watery eyes, a runny nose or fever. In addition, listen to your cat's cough carefully to determine if she is experiencing a dry, hacking cough or whether she is expelling pus or mucus from her lungs while coughing.

    Diagnosis

    • Your cat's veterinarian will diagnose the cause of your cat's nighttime coughing through diagnostic procedures. Most likely the veterinarian will take blood samples, do a urinalysis, give your cat an X-ray of the trachea or chest, and examine your cat's bronchial tubes with a bronchoscope. Veterinarians also may give your cat an ultrasound, test for feline leukemia or perform a fine-needle aspirate to remove cell samples from a diseased portion of the lung for examination.

    Treatment

    • The treatment for cats coughing at night will be determined by the veterinarian's diagnosis. In cases of lymphoma or heart failure, surgery may be necessary to repair damaged organs, cure nighttime coughing and restore your cat's health. Steroids may be prescribed to treat allergic lung disease, and antibiotics will be necessary for bacterial infections. To treat you cat's symptoms, cough suppressants also may be prescribed.