Natural Cures for Cat Coughing

Asthma is caused when pathways in the lungs are constricted and inflamed. According to most veterinarians, coughing and wheezing is sign of asthma in cats. It is usually caused by pollen and dust in the air that collects in the lungs, making it difficult for air to get through. While it is sometimes possible that a cat may need medication, there are some natural cures for cat coughing that you can do at home to make sure your cat breathes a lot easier.

If your cat is overweight it may worsen its coughing brought on by asthma. Cats that have been spayed or neutered have a greater tendency to become obese, but if you slowly decrease the volume of their food intake, it will help them lose weight and help control the cough.

Felines that are “indoor cats” seem to be affected less by cat coughing from asthma. If your cat is allowed outdoors during the spring, or the heavy pollen season, then hay fever may be making your cats’ asthma worse. Try to keep them indoors more, at least in the early morning and late afternoon, when the amount of pollen in the air is at its’ highest.

Humidifiers and air purifiers may also help with cat asthma, especially if someone in your home is a smoker.  Most pets are very vulnerable to the effects of smoke, cats included, so either restrict your smoking to an area of the home with an air purifier, smoke outside, or quit altogether.  Also use a humidifier or vaporizer to get your humidity levels between 30 and 40 percent.  Be careful not to exceed those levels though, too much humidity may cause the growth of dust mites and mold, which may also cause asthma attacks.

Controlling what products you use in your home may also help lessen cat coughing.  Using dust-free kitty litter or sandbox sand would cut back on airborne particles, as well as using vinegar or baking soda based cleaning products.  If you’re cleaning an area that may have mold spores, use a diluted bleach solution and then rinse it well.  Also try to clean and dust more, but keep your pet out of the area until you are done.

If your cat just recently started having symptoms of asthma, you may need to see if you recently changed perfumes, shampoos, or detergents on yourself, or have recently purchased furniture that may have some chemical on it that is affecting your cat.  Felines have sensitive noses, and may be affected by very subtle changes. One of the most natural cures for cat coughing is for the owner to change or replace some everyday items around the house.