Hi Reddit! Wondering if anyone's cat does this. My cat likes to drink out of a faucet, but when she is finished she will spend a few minutes coughing and acting like she is going to throw up. Afterwards she is just fine but this seems to happen every time she drinks. Anyone else have this experience? Thanks! Show
My cat Sophie— since she was a just-rescued kitten— has always displayed an odd behavior of wheezing after drinking water, not all the time though, but enough for us to be curious about it. We took her to the Vet when we noticed this behavior and the Vet said it was not something to worry about and it may just be an “idiosyncrasy” of her. Years passed by and our cat Sophie kept wheezing after drinking water, but again, not all the time. When she did, it was right after drinking, with a minute duration or so, and once the wheezing ended she would be back to being a totally normal cat. Watching our cat looking so OK after each attack, back to her business like nothing even happened, (plus the Vet telling us about this “idiosyncrasy” thing) we never gave a thought about this being a problem. Wheezing but no water drinking being involvedThings changed this year when our cat started wheezing without drinking water. One time she was just sitting on the couch and started doing it. This behavior was rare though, about twice a month. However, I started thinking a lot about it and connecting the dots that maybe the issue was not as trivial as we were told. My cat during a coughing episode after drinking water Two things that made me suspect the wheezing was a health issue:
The cause behind my cat coughing when drinking waterThe Vet did a physical examination on Sophie, then he took an X-ray and determined that she didn’t have asthma, her lungs, throat, and esophagus were normal, and her heart too. Everything seemed normal. Now what? The Vet after watching a video we recorded of Sophie having this wheezing attack, said the only explanation would be that our cat was experiencing some sort of inflammation process somewhere in her respiratory path. The way to discard whether inflammation was present or not was by giving her an anti-inflammatory shot to see if this wheezing stops. We agreed and the Vet gave Sophie the shot. We observed Sophie the following weeks and the wheezing episodes stopped completely. That was it! Sophie had a mild inflammatory process somewhere in her respiratory system. The treatmentThe treatment the Vet suggested (and the only one) was putting Sophie on steroids. I did a little research and I wasn’t a fan of this idea. Steroids are somehow corticoids that stop mild inflammation by lowering the immune response in case of inflammation or due to allergies. I just didn’t feel right about this treatment and I started researching a natural alternative for my cat. A natural alternativeAfter extensive research, I found an excellent supplement that helps cats to clear the airways and relieve the symptoms of allergy or inflammation. The name is Wapiti Labs Chest Herbal Formula for Respiratory Function. The dose for cats weighing between 6-10 lbs is one full dropper, twice a day. My cat weighs under 10 lbs so we started giving her one full dropper per day and then we increased it to twice per day to give it to her gradually.  So far the wheezing attacks have stopped and I am so happy to have found a natural treatment for her. If your cat has this same problem I recommend you to take your kitty to the Vet and discard asthma or any other condition before treating your cat naturally. Update: My cat went from having these wheezing/coughing attacks 3 or 4 times per day to almost once every 10 days. The problem didn’t stop completely but it got reduced dramatically. I still totally recommend it. I found it on Chewy which was great because we needed it fast and they delivered it in no time. Get the Wapiti Labs Chest Herbal formula on Chewy here.
Coughing and gagging are abnormal behaviors in cats that can be quite serious, though some causes are less concerning than others. If your cat frequently gags after drinking water, they could develop an aversion to water or even refuse to drink entirely, so you’ll need to take your feline to the vet to figure out what might be going on.
Sometimes the reason for a cat’s gagging is simple. Maybe they just drank too much too quickly. Other explanations, like an infection, can be pretty serious. Below are some of the most common reasons why your cat might be gagging. They drank too muchDrinking too much at one time can cause a cat to cough. Your cat might also be excessively thirsty if they have a health problem such as diabetes, Cushing’s disease, or kidney disease. These conditions can cause your cat to drink large amounts of water and then gag. They drank too quicklyCats have small stomachs, and they typically sip water instead of gulping it. If they drink a large amount of water too quickly, this can cause them to gag because they simply aren’t used to drinking that amount of water in one sitting. They have an empty stomachCats also have very sensitive stomachs. If they drink water when their body is anticipating food instead, they may gag or even vomit. The water tastes strangeCats, like most animals, are pretty sensitive to temperatures, tastes, and smells. You might notice your cat’s a bit picky about their food or water. Exposure to certain flavors and textures of food early in life can shape your cat’s dietary preferences later on. The material of a cat’s bowl can also affect the taste of their water, so if you notice your cat isn’t drinking enough, you might want to offer them a few different dishes to see what they like best. Their collar is too tightIf a cat’s collar is too tight, this might make it difficult for the cat to swallow water. Adjusting your cat’s collar will fix the problem. You should be able to slip two fingers between your cat’s collar and their skin. They have a hairballA hairball might be causing your cat to gag and retch. Often, cats are coincidentally drinking water right before they cough one up. They have a disease or infectionRespiratory infections can cause symptoms such as coughing and difficulty breathing. Gastroenteritis (inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract) would make a cat dry heave or gag shortly after eating or drinking, while lower airway disease can cause a cat to cough, too.
Wheezing is different from coughing or gagging. This term refers to a cat that’s having significant trouble inhaling and exhaling — meaning they aren’t getting enough oxygen to their lungs. Wheezing can indicate your cat is in respiratory distress. If your cat is truly wheezing, this respiratory problem is something to be concerned about. Conditions such as feline asthma and heart failure can cause wheezing, so it’s a good idea to get this symptom checked out by a vet.
Choking is also different from gagging. If you think your cat is choking, you’ll want to ensure their throat is clear. Food or even toys can get lodged in a cat’s throat and restrict their airways. This can have serious consequences and is an emergency situation. If your cat is exhibiting symptoms like excessive drooling, gagging, regurgitation, and repeated attempts to swallow, you should go to a veterinary clinic immediately. The vet will take an X-ray to look for any foreign objects stuck in your cat’s esophagus. You can also learn first aid and the Heimlich maneuver to help a choking cat. Prevent choking by picking up things like hair ties, rubber bands, and string, and make sure you don’t have a cat toy with any small, detachable pieces.
There are several steps you can take to help prevent gagging in cats, some of which are below: Make sure their water is the right temperature — Aim for room temperature or lukewarm liquids. Most cats don’t like extremely cold water. Refresh their water frequently — Your cat’s water should always be fresh, so make sure to change it out at least once a day. Ensure their collar fits properly — Collars that are too tight pose a choking hazard to both cats and dogs. It’s best to make sure your kitty’s collar is never too tight. Stay on top of your cat’s health — Regular vet checkups are the best way to ensure any underlying medical conditions will be detected as soon as possible.
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Your cat might gag because their collar is too tight. Or they might be attempting to throw up a hairball. In other cases, cats gag when they drink too much water too quickly. What should I do if my cat is choking?If your cat is choking, you can perform a “finger sweep” by gently sweeping your cat’s mouth with your index finger to remove the obstruction. Make sure to look and feel under the tongue; often, that’s where the foreign object can be found. If this doesn’t help, immediately go to the nearest veterinary clinic. Why does my cat cough like they’re choking?Your cat might cough because of a hairball or a sensitive stomach. However, if your cat is also drooling, gagging, and repeatedly attempting to swallow, they’re likely choking and will need emergency assistance. Why does my cat vomit after drinking water?A cat’s stomach is small and sensitive. Quickly drinking a large amount of water might stretch or upset their stomach and cause them to throw the water back up. What should you do if your cat is choking on water?It’s unlikely that your cat is choking on water. Coughing after drinking can be a sign of a too-tight collar or a sensitive stomach. But, if you also notice symptoms like drooling, gagging, and repeated attempts to swallow, immediately go to a clinic so a veterinarian can look for a foreign body or obstruction. |
Why does my cat cough after drinking water
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