Why does my kitten cough when I hold him upside down? Is it normal?

Hello, and thank you for your question. The most common cause of coughing in kittens is an upper respiratory infection, due to an underlying viral infection such as herpesvirus. Along with this, you may notice sneezing, runny eyes or runny nose. Other possibilities would include pneumonia (lung infection), hairball cough, or feline asthma (which would be rare in a young kitten). If Ash's coughing is continuing overnight, I would recommend taking him in to the vet tomorrow morning. They can perform a full physical exam, check for fever or dehydration, and prescribe the appropriate antibiotic medication if an infection is suspected. If Ash seems to be getting worse tonight, is having trouble breathing, or is lethargic, I would suggest getting him to the emergency vet tonight. Kittens can decompensate quickly, so it is important to get him stabilized soon if he is worsening. Hopefully this is not the case with Ash. I hope this helps, and that Ash feels better soon!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Timone. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. It is unusual for cats to cough. Typically they sneeze with afflicted with an upper respiratory tract infection. While this could be still be the case, he could also have asthma or a hairball. I hope this information helps!

It is hard for me to tell you what is going on without examining your kitten. There is the possibility for internal trauma from a fall that high in a very young kitten. I would recommend that you keep a close eye on her. I would be more concerned if the cough continues or worsens for 72 hours, or if she is not eating or panting more than normal. Keep her as still and calm as possible so that her body can heal. Kittens can heal very quickly if you can manage to let them do it!

Anything irritating in the air could potentially cause a transient cough, but if the polish is the cause I would expect it to stop in the next few days. If the cough continues however you should have Cuddle's examined by your vet. Asthma, certain parasites, and some infections can all cause a cough. If Cuddles seems to be having difficulty breathing either while coughing or in between coughing episodes you should see a veterinarian right away.

I am sorry to hear about Orchid! Coughing in cats is a concern and he should be examined by a veterinarian. We worry about a variety of issues ranging from a respiratory infection, feline asthma, heart disease, and more. The vet an examine Orchid, listen to his heart and lungs to check for abnormalities, and may recommend an x-ray to look at the lungs and heart. Based on their exam findings they can prescribe medication to help treat what is causing Orchid's cough.

It sounds like Loki may have some rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal passage) issues. It sounds stable for now, but it is still best to get him examined by your vet for just an overall health assessment sometime in the next week or so. Definitely get him seen sooner if the coughing becomes more frequent. The coughing could indicate a parasite problem or an undelrying issue with his heart/lungs. I hope that Loki does well moving forward. Best wishes and take care.

In cats, this is usually related to asthma, hairballs or a heart problem. Because of his young age, I would not rule out a respiratory infection. If it persists for more than a day, I would recommend taking him to the vet in order to get it checked.