- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
If your cat makes an unusual whistling or other high-pitched sound when breathing, they could be wheezing. Cats may wheeze as a result of dust in the environment, allergies, asthma, or a blockage in their airway.
Wheezing isn’t always an emergency, but in some cases it may require an immediate trip to the veterinarian. You’ll want to contact your vet right away if your cat keeps wheezing, wheezes often, or has other trouble breathing.
Read on to learn more about the causes of wheezing in cats and the treatments your vet may recommend.
1. Feline Asthma
Cats can get asthma, too—in fact, feline asthma is common among cats of all ages. Some limited evidence suggests Siamese cats may be more likely to develop asthma.
Experts believe cats develop asthma when they inhale an allergen and experience an allergic reaction. This condition can be chronic (ongoing) or acute (short-term).
Symptoms can range from mild to severe and include:
- Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
- Breathing with an open mouth
- Wheezing
- Coughing and hacking
- Vomiting
Cats can also have asthma attacks. If your cat hunches low to the ground and extends their neck forward with any of the above symptoms, you’ll want to get them emergency veterinary care.
If your cat has mild symptoms, like an occasional cough or wheeze, you’ll want to check in with your regular vet. They can diagnose asthma, along with any other health concerns, and recommend a helpful treatment approach.
There’s no cure for asthma, but cats with asthma can still live long and healthy lives. Your vet may prescribe a treatment of oral, injected, or inhaled corticosteroids. This medication helps reduce inflammation in the lungs to make breathing easier.
2. Respiratory Infections
Cats may wheeze if they have a respiratory infection, which can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Feline herpes virus, calicivirus, and feline viral rhinotracheitis are a few examples.
These infections are pretty common in cats, especially cats who live in close quarters, like a colony or animal shelter.
Respiratory symptoms may include:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Wheezing
- Swollen eye glands
- Conjunctivitis
- Lethargy
- Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
- Fever
- Mouth sores
- Appetite loss
Some mild infections will clear up on their own. You can take care of your cat at home by making sure they have a quiet place to rest.
Certain viruses can be very dangerous, however. If your cat has severe symptoms, or symptoms that last longer than a day or so, you’ll want to take your cat to a vet right away.
Make sure to share all of your cat’s symptoms with the vet. Respiratory infections are very contagious, so the vet will take extra precautions to prevent the infection spreading to other pets.
Your vet may prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection, but treatment will depend on the type of infection your cat has.
3. Hairballs
Most cats get hairballs from time to time, but breeds with longer, fluffier coats may get them frequently.
Hairballs happen when the hair your cat ingests during grooming builds up in their stomach, according to Dr. Robert Downing, Director of The Downing Center for Animal Pain Management.
Symptoms of hairballs include:
- Wheezing
- Gagging and retching
- Coughing
- Vomiting
- Change in energy
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Appetite loss
While it might be slightly alarming to watch your cat cough up a hairball, you usually don’t need to worry. However, if they have hairballs often, it’s worth checking in with your vet. They might recommend switching your cat’s food or offer other tips to reduce hairballs, like more frequent brushing or hairball laxatives.
If your cat consistently retches but nothing comes up, and they avoid eating, you’ll want to have them checked out by a vet right away. In some cases, a hairball can develop into a trichobezar, or very large hairball that can’t come up or be passed out on its own. Trichobezars require emergency surgery, Dr. Downing says.
4. Allergies
Cats may wheeze and sneeze when they have allergies—if their immune system has overreacted to an allergen, in other words. Common allergens for cats include pollen, grass, dust mites, mildew, and mold.
Symptoms of allergies include:
- Sneezing
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Discharge from the eyes or nose
- Severe itching
If your cat is wheezing and having difficulty breathing due to an allergic reaction, it’s important to contact your vet right away. Your vet can also diagnose and treat more mild allergy symptoms.
Treatment options include:
- Corticosteroids
- Antihistamines
- Fatty acid supplements
- Immunosuppressive drug therapy
- Allergy shots
5. Anxiety Or Stress
Cats can become stressed or anxious in unfamiliar situations, including moving, meeting new people or pets, visiting the vet, or spending time in a shelter or kennel.
Along with wheezing and changes in breathing, you might notice other symptoms, such as:
- Hiding, withdrawing, or trying to escape
- Crying or other vocalizations
- Increased clinging or attachment to you
- Reduced activity
- Licking or biting themselves
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Urinating outside of the litter box
- Scratching and other destructive behavior
- Appetite loss
Stress in cats can also play a role in the development of upper respiratory diseases—which is why a stressed cat might also develop a wheeze or other breathing difficulties.
Removing the source of the stress can help your cat feel better. This isn’t always possible, though, so giving your cat a quiet, safe space to rest and relax may also make a difference.
If your cat continues to have symptoms of stress or anxiety, it’s a good idea to talk to your vet. They can help pinpoint the cause and offer guidance specific to your cat’s unique needs.
6. Obesity
Obesity can cause wheezing in cats because the extra weight puts stress on their lungs and airways. Heavier cats may also be less active, more lethargic, and have trouble breathing when physically active.
If your cat has recently put on some weight, your vet can recommend a change in diet or feeding plan to help them reach and maintain their ideal weight.
It’s important to discuss any changes to your cat’s diet with your vet before swapping their food or reducing their meals. Simply giving your cat less food may mean they no longer get enough of the nutrients they need to survive.
7. Heartworms
Feline heartworm disease is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis.
This worm can enter your cat’s body via mosquito bites. A mosquito can pick up heartworm larvae from another animal and then transfer larvae into your cat’s bloodstream when they bite.
Symptoms of feline heartworm disease include:
- Fast or labored breathing
- Coughing
- Gagging
- Vomiting (food or blood)
- Diarrhea
- Appetite loss
- Weight loss
If you suspect your cat has heartworm disease, you’ll want to take them to the vet immediately. There’s no direct treatment for this condition, but your vet can monitor your cat and keep them comfortable. In some cases, the condition may resolve on its own.
Your vet can prescribe preventative medications to protect your cat against heartworms, especially if you live in a warm or muggy region with a lot of mosquitoes.
8. Foreign Object
Some cats love to sniff, lick, and even chew things. If they ingest or inhale something too big for them to swallow, the object may get stuck in their throat and obstruct their breathing.
Along with wheezing, your cat may also:
- Cough and choke
- Vomit
- Have trouble swallowing
- Drool
An object stuck in the airway is a medical emergency, so you’ll need to get your cat treatment right away. A vet can examine your cat’s mouth and do X-rays to find the object and determine the best way to remove it.
Takeaway
It’s always a good idea to visit the vet if your cat is wheezing, especially the wheezing lasts more than a day or keeps coming back.
Your vet can recommend tests to find the cause of the wheezing and the best treatment to relieve your cat’s symptoms.