You're going about your day when you hear it — a short, repetitive hacking sound coming from somewhere in the house. You follow the noise to find your cat crouched on the floor, neck extended, clearly mid-cough. Or is it a hairball? The two can look and sound surprisingly similar. A moment later, they’re back to normal, washing her face as if nothing happened. Either way, you're left wondering — should you be worried?
An occasional cough-like episode may be harmless, but true coughing in cats can also be a sign that something needs attention. The tricky part is knowing which is which.
In this article, we'll walk you through the most common causes of coughing in cats, what to look out for, and when it's time to call your vet — so you can keep your feline friend happy, healthy, and (mostly) dignified.
First, Is It Actually a Cough?
It may sound simple, but identifying a cough in a cat isn't always as straightforward as you might think. Coughing, sneezing, and retching can all look remarkably similar — especially when your cat is doing it at speed on the kitchen floor — so it's worth knowing what to look for.
Coughing in cats looks much like it does in humans: a sudden, forceful expulsion of air from the lower airways, usually with a characteristic "hacking" or "honking" sound. Your cat may crouch low, extend their neck, and appear to be straining.
Sneezing, on the other hand, originates in the nasal passages and tends to produce a sharp, short burst — often accompanied by a spray of mucus (lucky you).
Retching or gagging is another common impersonator of coughing — and is often the precursor to bringing up a hairball. If your cat's "cough" ends with a soggy deposit on your favorite rug, you're likely dealing with a furball situation.
Getting clear on which is which matters, because it points you in the right direction when it comes to care.
Common Causes of Coughing in Cats
1. Upper Respiratory Infections (Cat Flu)
If your cat’s “coughing” is accompanied by sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, mouth ulcers, fever, or generally looking sorry for themselves, an upper respiratory infection — often called cat flu — may be involved.
URIs in cats are most commonly caused by feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) and feline calicivirus (FCV), both of which are highly contagious between cats. You may also hear feline herpesvirus referred to as Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, or FVR. These terms are closely related: FHV-1 is the virus itself, while FVR is the disease (clinical symptoms) that can be caused by that virus.
The good news? Most healthy adult cats recover well with supportive care. The less good news? Feline herpesvirus can remain dormant in the body and reappear during times of stress — a bit like a very unwelcome houseguest who keeps coming back.
Kittens, senior cats, and immunocompromised cats are more vulnerable to complications, so always consult your veterinarian if symptoms are severe or prolonged.
2. Feline Asthma
Feline asthma is more common than many cat owners realize — it's estimated to affect around 1-5% of cats. It occurs when the airways become chronically inflamed and hypersensitive to certain triggers, leading to episodes of coughing, wheezing, and in more serious cases, breathing difficulty.
Triggers can include cigarette smoke, dusty cat litter, aerosol sprays, air fresheners, pollen, mold, and even certain cleaning products. The cough associated with asthma tends to be dry and repetitive, and your cat may crouch down with their elbows out, trying to get air — a posture that's quite distinctive once you know what you're looking at. Open-mouth breathing, blue/pale gums, or obvious effort to breathe should be treated as an emergency.
Feline asthma is a chronic condition that requires veterinary diagnosis and management, but identifying and eliminating triggers in the home environment can make a significant difference to your cat's quality of life.
3. Hairballs
Ah, the humble hairball. The bane of carpet owners everywhere!
Hairballs are one of the most common things mistaken for coughing in cats. Strictly speaking, though, a hairball usually causes gagging, retching, or vomiting rather than a true cough. Because the two can look and sound so similar, they’re still worth including here.
Cats are meticulous groomers, and in the process, they swallow a remarkable amount of fur. Most of the time, this passes through the digestive system without issue. Sometimes, however, fur can accumulate in the stomach and come back up as a hairball. The gagging or retching you may see beforehand is your cat’s body trying to bring it up.
Occasional hairballs are normal, particularly in long-haired breeds. Frequent hairballs, however, or ones accompanied by loss of appetite, constipation, or repeated unproductive retching, are worth discussing with your vet. Regular brushing and a hairball-specific diet or remedy such as our FELINE HAIRBALL FURBALL may help reduce their frequency. You can read more about hairballs and how to help in our furball guide.
4. Environmental Irritants
Cats have highly sensitive respiratory systems, and sometimes a cough is simply their body's way of objecting to something in the air. Common irritants include:
- Cigarette or wood smoke
- Scented candles and air fresheners
- Household cleaning products and aerosol sprays
- Dusty cat litter
- Pollen and outdoor allergens
- Mold or damp environments
If your cat's coughing seems to flare up in particular rooms or at particular times of year, it's worth playing environmental detective. Switching to an unscented, low-dust cat litter, improving ventilation, and avoiding aerosol products around your cat can all make a meaningful difference.
5. Bordetella Bronchiseptica — Sometimes Compared to “Kennel Cough”
While “kennel cough” is usually a dog term, cats can also develop respiratory infection with Bordetella bronchiseptica, particularly in shelters, catteries, rescue settings, or multi-cat households.
Bordetella in cats often clears up on its own in healthy adults, but again, veterinary advice is recommended, particularly for kittens or vulnerable cats.
6. Heartworm
This one tends to surprise cat owners, since heartworm is more commonly discussed in dogs — but cats can and do contract it, and the respiratory symptoms can be significant. Feline heartworm disease can cause a syndrome that closely mimics asthma, and is sometimes referred to as Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD).
Heartworm in cats is difficult to diagnose and there is no approved treatment, so prevention is absolutely key. If you live in an area where heartworm is present — even if your cat lives mostly indoors — discuss prevention with your vet.
7. Pleural Effusion or Other Lung Conditions
In some cases, coughing or changes in breathing can point to a more serious underlying condition, such as pneumonia, lungworm, tumors, or fluid around the lungs. These are less common, but worth mentioning, because a cough that is new, persistent, worsening, or accompanied by labored breathing, lethargy, or weight loss should always be investigated by a vet.
Cats are, famously, experts at hiding discomfort. By the time they're showing obvious signs of breathing difficulty, something may have been going on for a while.
What Does Your Cat's Cough Sound Like?
Different types of cough can give you useful clues:
Dry, hacking, or honking — often associated with asthma, kennel cough, or environmental irritation.
Wet or congested-sounding — may suggest infection, inflammation, or fluid involvement, although cats often swallow secretions rather than coughing them up.
Gagging or retching with nothing produced — could be a hairball, or in some cases, an obstruction.
Wheezing between coughs — often a sign of airway narrowing, as seen in asthma.
Coughing after eating or drinking — Coughing, gagging, or regurgitation after eating or drinking — could point to swallowing difficulty, throat or oesophageal issues, or aspiration risk.
None of these are diagnostic on their own, but noting what the cough sounds like — and when it tends to happen — will be genuinely useful information to share with your vet.
When Should You See a Vet?
As a rule of thumb:
- If your cat has coughed once or twice with no other symptoms, monitor closely but don't panic.
- If the cough is persistent (more than a day or two), worsening, or accompanied by breathing difficulty, lethargy, loss of appetite, or any discharge, book a vet appointment promptly.
- If your cat appears to be struggling to breathe at any point, treat this as an emergency and seek veterinary care immediately.
Kittens and senior cats warrant a lower threshold for concern, as their immune systems are less robust. The same applies to cats with any known underlying health condition.
Feline COUGH - A Natural Option
If your cat is experiencing a cough that isn't an emergency — a mild, acute cough following a cold, or some post-infection irritation — you may be looking for a gentle, natural way to help support recovery.
We're delighted to introduce HomeoPet Feline COUGH — our brand new, veterinarian-approved natural medicine for cats. Safe and gentle for cats of all ages, from kittens to seniors, Feline COUGH is super easy to dose, making it a stress-free option for both of you.
Like all HomeoPet remedies, it can be safely used alongside other medications or supplements, and is available without a prescription. You can explore our full feline natural remedy range here, or visit our Pet Care Center for more information on how to help keep your cat happy and healthy, naturally.
As always, if you're ever unsure whether your cat needs veterinary attention, please do seek professional veterinary advice.
If you have a question about your cat's health or our range of natural feline remedies, our Customer Care team is always happy to help.
This article was vet approved by Tom Farrington MRCVS., MVB., VetMFHom. Chief Veterinary Medical Advisor for HomeoPet. Tom has been a practicing veterinarian in Ireland for over 35 years and employs complementary therapies in a multi discipline approach to healing medicine. Tom is an honors veterinarian, holds advanced degrees in homeopathic medicine, lectures internationally and leads clinical research teams.