Kitty Question

[ammayernyc]

I am currently the step-mommy (and hopefully soon the ''real'' mommy) of my bf''s 8 year old cat. I love him more than I thought I could ever love a cat, as I have only had dogs my whole life. However, I know nothing about hairballs or any cat related illnesses.

Yesterday, my kitty started coughing and heaving and it looked like he couldn''t breathe. This went on for a couple of minutes with me in hysterics since he''s never done this before. I even considered calling 911, but then he stopped. I called the vet that I used to go to with my dog and the tech told me it was normal and consulted a doctor who said that if he continues to do it for the next two or three days, then I should bring him in. But otherwise, I shouldn''t worry. Ha! So, obviously, I''m worrying and I figured that I''d ask all the kitty loving people here what their experence/advice is.

I don''t want to overreact, but I want to make sure my sweetness is okay...

 

[fire&ice]

There is some stuff on the market to give your cat that eases the coughing up of hairballs - kinda like a grease. Made us feel better to feel like we were doing something - but - I really don''t know how much it helped the cat.

 

[Morticia]

It was probably a hairball. When my cat has issues with them, she is heaving, etc, and it looks so awful and scary. I feel so bad for her.

Brushing your kitty and hair ball management food should help but I don''t think you should worry at all.

 

[MissAva]

I dont have a cat (scared to death of the things). However I have noticed in Wal-Mart and other groceries that there are always treats that have something to do with hairball prevention. I think they are made by friskes? Not 100% about that. I bet if you went to your local marker that they would have something along those lines to help ease your kittys throught and your mind.

 

[AmantdeChat]

I wouldn''t worry too much. It was probably a hairball that he didn''t actually cough up. My cats have done that before, where they will cough and wheeze like they are going to throw something up, but then nothing comes up! Normal cat antics!

Keep an eye on him, but I''m sure it''s just a hairball that got stuck.

 

[ammayernyc]

Thanks! In the 3.5+ years I''ve been around the kitty, I have never seen him do this before. I stayed home practically all day making sure he was okay.

 

[FireGoddess]

It was very likely it was a hairball. It''s freaky to watch because it''s much more violent heaving than when they puke, and they make awful noises when doing it. Usually a hairball comes out, but I guess s/he couldn''t get it out. I give my cat either the greasy hairball medicine, or the treats (Pounce? Whisker Lickins? can''t remember) that are crunchy and have hairball medicine inside them. Also, give her/him a good brushing...it gets rid of a ton of hair that they would otherwise swallow when grooming themselves.

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Sounds like a hairball to me...

Just to let you know, we have a cat who has allergies and constantly gets a fat lip at the end of his allergy attacks. He''ll run around the room like a mad-cat trying to outrun the tingling or whatever he''s feeling and licking his coat in areas where the sensations are "painful" (?). When he first started doing this, we''d take him to the vet constantly for treatment. However, I would watch his daily routine at home. He would still eat, drink and play like he normally does...there was no difference in daily routines.

I reported this to the vet and we agreed that as long as his routine wasn''t being interrupted and his coat was healthy (which it''s never been anything but!), then to let it go and don''t traumatize the poor thing with vet visits. So this is what we do with both our cats now...if they have any symptoms out of the ordinary, we immediately begin to watch their routines and personalities...if there is absolutely no change, or the symptoms cease, then we let it go...if there is a major change in routine, personality or the symptoms don''t cease, then we take them to the vet...

It might be a good rule of thumb for new "cat mommas" to help you gauge when it''s time for treatment versus allowing the cat to work it out for themselves...it''s helped us immensely with our cats (and I''ve had cats for a LONG time!)...

 

[abradabra]

I''m sure it''s a hairball...

The first time I saw one of my cats coughing one up, I tried to give him the heimlich manuever because I thought he was choking!

 

[ammayernyc]

Date: 7/19/2005 12:28:39 PM
Author: abradabra
I''m sure it''s a hairball...

The first time I saw one of my cats coughing one up, I tried to give him the heimlich manuever because I thought he was choking!

That''s what I thought it was! I was afraid to touch him though for fear of hurting him.

He seems to be back to his normal routine, albeit a bit more reclusive than usual. He didn''t go hide and his tail didn''t get big and I saw him drinking later on in the day.

Thanks everyone for your help!

I couldn''t live without my kitty!