Feline coughing and sneezing may indicate different medical conditions varying from allergies and respiratory diseases to a dental abscess. It is important to keep your cat indoors and monitor him closely for other symptoms. If the condition is not serious, there are a few home remedies that can eliminate the coughing and the sneezing.
Home Remedies for Coughing
Coughing can be caused by hairballs, when the cat wants to vomit these, but may also be caused by allergies or a more serious medical problem such as a tumor in the throat or mouth.
Dry coughing is more common in cats. If the coughing is wet, the cat has a respiratory infection and you should administer some immunity boosters such as echinacea. If your cat coughs and often eliminates fur balls, you should add some fish or olive oil, butter or mayonnaise to his food. This will ease the elimination of the hairball, but may also help the stomach digest the accumulated hair.
If you suspect a respiratory infection, you need to keep the cat hydrated. Chicken soup can be given to cats with a cold also.
Fresh water is also important; if your cat has ingested a small object, this may obstruct his airways, causing coughing. The water can help send the object towards the stomach. If the object is sharp, you need to visit the vet.
When the coughing is accompanied by wheezing, the cat may have asthma. You should use an air humidifier in the room of the cat. Also, you can keep the cat in a steamy room for a few minutes can open up the respiratory passages and make him feel better. Use a saline spray which can clean the nose and air passages of your pet.
Heartworms may also cause coughing. This is a condition that needs to be handled by a vet. However, to keep parasites away, administer wormwood and cloves, which will also cleanse the blood.
If the coughing persists or the cat coughs up blood, you should visit the vet.
Home Remedies for Sneezing
Sneezing can be due to allergies or a feline cold or other more serious diseases.
You should detect a possible source of allergies (i.e. strong smelling foods, litter, pollens, smoke, chemicals) and eliminate these, if possible. This is the best remedy.
Allergies affect cats with a weak immune system, so boosting the immune system can also help eliminating the sneezing. Add some fatty acid supplements to the cat’s food.
Saline nose drops may also be used to clear the cat’s air passages. Add an air humidifier, which could stop the sneezing episodes.
If the sneezing is chronic and the cat presents other symptoms as well, you should visit the vet. The cat may have a serious upper respiratory infection or sinusitis, which need to be treated with traditional medication.
When sneezing or coughing, avoid giving your cat human medications, as these may harm your cat. Acetaminophen is toxic for cats.