Ok. So I adopted a cat about 2 months ago from a family that just couldn't take care of her. Anyways, she keeps wheezing and coughing...kinda raspy sounding. And she hasn't coughed anything up. At first I thought it was hairballs so I got her some stuff from Petsmart but it doesn't seem to be working. Any thoughts/suggestions before I take her to the vet?

3/23/2008 5:21:28 PM

how old is she? is she up to date on her vaccines? is she indoor/outdoor or indoor only? how long has this been going on... did it happen while the previous owners had the cat? is it constant, random, or only after eating or drinking or playing? how is her breathing otherwise? is it getting worse, better, or staying the same?

3/23/2008 5:30:45 PM

She's 4 years old. UTD on all vaccines. The previous owner gave me her vet records when I adopted her and it seemed like she was very well taken care of. She is indoor only. I contacted the previous owner and he says that he never noticed her doing anything...coughing, wheezing, etc. It seems to be random, maybe slightly more common after she has been playing but not enough to make me think that would be a cause and it seems to be staying about the same.

3/23/2008 5:44:44 PM

my mom recently adopted a rag doll cat. same situation. 2 weeks later the cat starts peeing blood around the house. turns out the cat has some kinda urinary disease/genetic defect that has her form crystals in her urine if she doesnt eat special food.

it would have been better if the lady told us this up front. but then we prob would not have adopted the cat. anyway now on special food and she's good to go.

case in point, some ppl just pass on problems and dont tell u a/b them

3/23/2008 6:31:57 PM

sounds like an upper respiratory infection.

on the other hand, i have a cat who often goes into hacking/sneezing fits and the vet has never been able to determine WHY. her lungs sound fine, she eats fine. but sometimes she just gets wheezy and starts hacking.

allergies?

feline herpes?

who knows. if you're concerned, take her to the get and let them listen to her lungs and make sure she doesn't have some sort of infection.

3/23/2008 6:54:36 PM

I know. That's immediately what I thought when this first started happening. I dunno. Nothing on her records show any kind special health condition or anything. I dunno, if it keeps up much longer I will take her to be checked out.

3/23/2008 7:05:04 PM

Post more pictures of yourself in your gallery. You look hot in the stripes.

3/23/2008 7:06:33 PM

um...no

3/23/2008 7:08:23 PM

http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/diseasesconditionscat/Diseases_Conditions_Cats.htm

http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/catdiseasesc/a/catcardio.htm

Drop me a line if you wanna meet up for drinks some time. You can pick the place

[Edited on March 23, 2008 at 7:13 PM. Reason : .]

3/23/2008 7:11:07 PM

i can't win

3/23/2008 7:19:16 PM

ahaha, E-GAME!!!1!

3/23/2008 8:09:04 PM

lol

but srsly

more pics

3/23/2008 8:41:41 PM

upper respiratory infection? cats can get colds. you can always call the vet and ask, too.

3/23/2008 9:12:45 PM

yeah, probably respiratory infection....

my cat had been sneezing for months, and I had problems with him having uti's and crystals and blood in his urine...

I started feeding him more wet food -- the quality kind with less fillers and more real meat-- and now he doesnt seem to have any problems, tho I still check his bladder once in a while to make sure he's peeing and doesnt have blockage.

Just saying, a good diet can make alot of difference. Before I just fed him dry food. The vet never once recommended changing his diet, tho everywhere I read said that wet food helps keep cats hydrated since they naturally dont drink much.

[Edited on March 23, 2008 at 9:38 PM. Reason : ps-- just to add to the egame.... is the guy in your photos single by chance? ;D]

3/23/2008 9:37:19 PM

I adopted a kitten and she was doing the same thing when I brought her home. I took her to the vet cause I was really nervous about it and they gave me some meds for her. I would suggest doing this if she is not better in a few days. They said that some cats have this problem because of the change in their environment!

3/24/2008 9:45:29 PM

my cat had this issue and it turned out she was allergic to the flea medication i was using.

3/24/2008 11:15:28 PM