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RE: cat sneezing and weird sort of gag/cough

SuperCat — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:14:25 GMT

Kennel Cough Symptoms consist of:

Fever (can be feverish)
Nasal discharge
A cough that sounds like he or she may have something caught in their throat.

Although by itself kennel cough is not a serious disease it can lead to pneumonia.

If you decide to let the disease run its course it can last up to 6-7-weeks. It is very contagious among cats but not humans. Watch your kitties to look for more serious symptoms that might require antibiodics for them to recover. I understand that kennel cough is resistant to amoxicillian.

To encourage your cats to get enough fluids warm (not hot) chicken broth, and tuna fish juice (the water packed kind, not the oil packed).

You can also add hot tap water to their portion of canned food to encourage them to eat it. The reason cats often quit eating when then have a cold is because they cannot SMELL their food. Adding hot tap water releases the fumes in the food making it smell stronger and more appetizing to them. (Don't make it too hot to eat - the hot tap water will cool down right away when mixed with the food - don't boil water.)

It is very important that your cats continue to eat and drink fluids. Very very important.

RE: cat sneezing and weird sort of gag/cough

gallen2002 — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 09:19:15 GMT

Update. 4 of my 5 cats are doing this now. I went to the shelter I got him at and they said they didn't have anyone with kennel cough. I took him to vet again but he doesn't do it there. I read that kennel cough will go away on it's own. I am pretty sure they do have kennel cough but can't seem to convince anyone else. I am wanting meds to treat all 5 of them.

RE: cat sneezing and weird sort of gag/cough

SuperCat — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:06:59 GMT

At the animal shelter they can catch "kennel cough" FELINE BORDETELLA (KENNEL COUGH IN CATS) is spread through the air and is very contagious!

Cats are believed to become infected by breathing the bacteria into their noses. Cats residing in or entering rescue shelters and multiple-cat households have the highest risk of exposure, especially if respiratory tract disease has occurred in the environment.

If you have multiple cats you should isolate the coughing one. A Vet can treat kennel cough with antibiotics and sometimes a trachel wash.

Call the shelter where you got your kitty and see if they have diagnosed kennel cough in any of their cats around the time you adopted.

If this is what your kitty has and it is caught early chances of complete recovery are very good.

I've been to shelters where cats were isolated for kennel cough and it was the deep coughing like you described. Let us know!

RE: cat sneezing and weird sort of gag/cough

Maria3 — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:27:27 GMT

My cat has chronic rhinitis and makes a sound. You can hear it in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyJxsJLG3Ow

It's because she is full of mucus, Sometimes she sneezes. Is your sound similar to this one? you can hear it clearer at the end

RE: cat sneezing and weird sort of gag/cough

LN — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:36:43 GMT

If you are concerned you should take him to the vet for another look. Cats can have asthma just like people can, so that might be something to have the vet look at.

cat sneezing and weird sort of gag/cough

gallen2002 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:37:59 GMT

We got our kitten saturday before last and took her to the vet due to sneezing. He said it was an URI. She has gotten better with clavamox but she is still doing a weird thing where it sounds like a cough/gag. Her stomach goes in and she forcefully expels air out. It doesn't really sound like a cough but he does it for awhile and then stops. He seems scared when he does it. Anybody have any clue what this could be? He is a shelter cat and may have caught something there. Please help

Gena