Hi, my shorthair cat coughs all the time. He appears to be in no discomfort other than the frequent coughing; I have never seen him throw up. I thought the problem was hairballs but the treatments I have bought haven't been working. Online I read about Vaseline in his food would help but it hasn't. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Ashlyn,
Eugene, Oregon

Hi, Ashlyn --

The two most common conditions that cause chronic recurring bouts of coughing in cats are hairballs and bronchial asthma.  Sometimes both conditions can be present at the same time.  When I suspect hairballs, I will have the owner administer Petromalt or Laxatone medication two or three times per day.   

If relief is not apparent within forty-eight hours, I begin to suspect asthma.  This diagnosis can be confirmed on physical examination, whereupon listening to the lungs, one can hear high pitched sounds (known as dry rales).  An X-ray of the chest will usually confirm the diagnosis.   

These cats are usually treated with an injection of steroids (methylprednisolone 20 mg)  which relieves the inflammation that was constricting the air passages in the lungs.  Depending on the severity of the signs, oral prednisone is often used as a follow up.   

We have also attempted the use of inhalers but found them not to be effective, as our patients wouldn't cooperate and inhale deeply at the time the inhaler was discharged.