Respiratory Cat Problems

The cough is not very frequent in the cats. The origin of the problem is being normally in the lungs or in the heart and (with less frequency) in the trachea, the conduit of the air that goes from the mouth to the lungs. A dry occasional cough is not normally a motive of worry, but any persistent cough that increases in frequency or gravity, has to study the veterinarian. It will be useful that we could describe the cough: when we notice it for the first time, if it is dry or humid, how is the frequency, if it is more obvious when the cat is in movement or resting the veterinarian will want to know also if the cat is  recently vaccinated with anti-flu vaccine, if he shows other symptoms of bad health as loss of appetite- and if they are other affected cats in the house

It is probable that he does a X-ray of the chest to him and that he wants to examine behind of the throat and the larynx with an endoscopy, to see if there are obstructions or other abnormalities or to take a sample of the mucosity for its bacteriological examination or to the microscope.

Hard breathing
A cat in rest breathes for the silent nose and normally to a pace from 25 to 30 inspirations per minute. The normal purring does not have anything to do with the breathing – usually is a sign of satisfaction but when a cat has pains or to be sick it is possible to hear sometimes a stronger purring of more serious tone. It is rare that a cat breathes with the opened mouth: it's happening when the cat is nervous and aching or can be a symptom of infection of a latent sickness or of a pulmonary disease.

You must see if the orifices of the nose of the cat are covered by snots, blood or pus and cleaning it careless with cotton in branch humid. It is not necessary to put anything for the orifices.

A cat that has a great difficulty to breathe (disnea) is in the habit of stooping, extending the neck forward, separates the elbows of the chest and uses his abdominal muscles to help to inspire and to expire the air of the lungs (it can turns how the muscles of the belly move). A cat in this condition, it's to handle with much careless, because if he becomes more nervous or he scares it will be difficult to him to breathe. If it seems that our cat stops breathing completely, to knock down side ward, pull softly the tongue ahead to allow that the air enter to the throat and see if there is something in the behind of this one (carefully that he does not bite us).Sometimes, to throw with smoothness the tongue stimulates the breathing (see " The First Aids " and "Emergencies"). In a case like that, it is necessary to take immediately the cat to the veterinarian. It will be useful that give him clear and concrete information on the access. It was sudden or struck little by little throughout certain time? Did it happen when the cat was in movement? Does the cat have a fight or an accident? Does he seem to have pains in another part of the body? Is there some another sign of respiratory disease, as disburden of the eyes and the nose, cough or lack of appetite?

The most probable thing is that it is necessary to have an X-ray of the chest. Since the cats with respiratory difficulties have a risk in the superior anestesis to the normal, the initial examinations are doing only sedating him. However, sometimes can be necessary to have surgical reparation, for example, if the diaphragm is ruptured in street accident it will be necessary to anesthetize him.

Q/A My cat of 2 years, Gem, has spring accesses in which she breathes with the opened mouth and the tongue become a bit bluish. They last a little time What could it be?

Gem can be very sensitized to the allergens, as the pollen, which they produce a short attack of asthma to her. Till now, it doesn't disturb too much to Gem, but every year can be worse. A treatment of steroids every spring can avoid or reduce the accesses.

My cat of 18 months- Elmo- have had cough always. When he has 6 months my veterinarian and he told me that the chest seemed to be clean. He has grown well, has the brilliant eyes and the day passes hunting out of house. Should I worry for his cough?

If Elmo has had cough so much time and it does not seem to be reason for start doing analysis to him. However, since Elmo is a hunter, I would advise you to take him to the veterinarian in order that he tests him, if he has parasites in the lungs.

My old Roman cat, Zoe, has slimmed lately and has a dry cough. I know that she has some small swellings under the belly skin, but it seems that they don't hurt her on having felt them, What can I do?

Zoe could have a cancer of the mammary glands. It spreads immediately and sometimes to the lungs, so that, for the health of Zoe, it is necessary to examine these small swellings as soon as possible. If they turn out to be malignant, the veterinarian can advise a X-ray of the chest; later, he will study with you a palliative treatment.

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