Have any of your cats had this type of cough? If so what kind of cough medicine was given to your cat? Can it be bought over the counter?



I took him to the Vet today. My cats weight is fine, no fever, no urine problems, etc. He's healthy except for this occasional cough.



The Vet gave him Lasix ( a water pill ) for this cough. Then to top it off the Vet wanted to keep him for two days to run tests, make xrays, etc, and charge $519.00 plus meds.



I thanked him for his help, paid the bill, took the medicine, and left. I will never go back to that Vet again.



I feel the cough will go away after the cat stays in the house for a couple nights. It's been kind of damp out side. He has a cat bed full of warm blankets, and it sits inside a childs small play tent. But maybe it isn't enough to hold back the damp air.



He's in my bedroom until the weather warms up. My cat prefers to be outside, besides my 78 yr old mom is allergic. (she lives with me).

it's more than enough, dont worry he should be fine. ive had quite a few cats do that because they were old, i think it's more of an old age thing than anything else really. he'll be okay, if the vet gave you meds all ready then give him the meds. no big worries, just give him the meds and dont let him outside for a ll while, and give him lots o lovin!!^^ that'll do it

NEVER give any form of aspirin to a cat.

It causes intestinal bleeding,... dogs can tolerate ASA , NOT cats.



Benylin pediatric cough syrup is safe and effective in some pets' coughs.

Dosage is approx 1/4 tsp. (no more) once to twice a day.

Gd. luck.

I understand why you might not want to go to the extra veterinary expense for a complete diagnosis of what's bothering your cat. And, coughing can be an indication of heart problems in a cat so that is why the vet probably suggested it. Vets do make more money by doing diagnostic tests and they also feel it is necessary to pursue a complete diagnosis to see what is wrong and what they might be able to help you do about it.



I have never had a cat with a cough and none of mine has ever been outside all night in cold or damp weather. So hopefully the medicine and being warm inside will clear up the problem for your cat.



Human cough medicines could be fatal for your cat so don't go that route. Most of them contain substances that can destroy a cat's liver in short order. If you don't want to spend money for medication recommended by a vet DON'T think you are qualified to treat him on your own.

NEVER give cats human medicine.



I agree with you, I think he needs to spend a few nights indoors and warm.

Cats get colds (sort of) like humans.



This will probably last about 10-14 days, and will get worse before it gets better. Just like when you have a cold. (Poor kitty!)



Steam helps with congestion. Let him hang out in the bathroom with the shower running.



The vet just gave you all possible options. He wasn't trying to make you do anything. X-rays and blood work are actually a good idea for a 13 year old cat.

It's your decision to see a different vet, but I don't think (with the very limited info you gave) that he did anything wrong or out of the ordinary.



Good luck

Being 13 your cat is considered geriatric. It should be worked up b/c it could be anywhere from a virus to heart problems to asthma. Do not give aspirin b/c if it is asthma they may give her a steroid and they should not be given together. Most likely, they gave you this high estimate to rule out asthma and heart problems with xrays. Also, a bloodscreen is a good idea just in case they have to put her on long term meds. Some meds when used long term (like Lasix) can affect they kidneys and liver. They just want to make sure they are not going to cause her more problems. Upper respiratory problems can turn bad fast. I would at least have xrays done to rule out terrible diseases that can be controlled in some cases like asthma and heart conditions. Good luck!!

I would also suggest the x-rays, because they can obviously show you more than the average vet exam. Did the vet rule out Asthma? Most of the time there coughing and sometimes sneezing and vomiting. But then cats with Heartworms also cough similar to cats with Asthma. Also 2 days is a little long to keep him to run tests... the x-rays alone should take no more than 30min. You may be surprised by the 2nd opinion, but you sould really get 2nd opinion because cats wait until they feel very sick before showing any symptoms and it is recommended that blood work is done every year once the cat turns 9 or 10 so they can catch diabetes, lung/heart/liver problems early. Good luck.

It really sounds to me, and I am sorry to say this, that your cat may be suffering from congestive heart failure. There is fluid getting in the lungs preventing them to breath properly and causing strain on the heart. The water pill the vet prescribed will cause the coughing to subside making the cat breath easier.



A friends dog sounded just like this and he did it for a couple of years before he finally had to be put down but he had a good long life too.

Do NOT give cats human medicine without asking a vet first. Some medications, like aspirin, aceminophen, and others can be extremely toxic to cats!

If you're not satisfied with your vet's recommendations, seek a second opinion. Go to aafponline.org and consider seeing a feline practicioner. If they're board certified by the American Assoc. of Feline Practicioners, they know their stuff about cats.

Also, consider keeping him indoors since he's 13. With his age, he could start having health issues that being outdoors would aggravate. You could ask your mother to take Claritin or Zyrtec for her allergies. My ex-spouse took one so that our cat didn't bother him.

in some of these cases they will not tell you but liquid baby asprin is good.