Why Can’t a Cat Cough Up the Phlegm in Its Throat?

1 Cat Coughing With Stuck Phlegm: Causes and Solutions

1. Why a cat can’t cough up phlegm

1) Phlegm that won’t come up can be from a cold. Take the cat’s temperature and watch for nasal discharge or low spirits.

2) A dry cough with no phlegm is often from a hairball in the stomach; the cat clears it by dry coughing or vomiting.

3) Phlegm that won’t clear can also be inflammation, usually from a respiratory infection — this needs hospital treatment to avoid worsening.

4) An overly dry throat also causes coughing, and a swallowed foreign object stuck in the throat looks similar to stuck phlegm — tell the two apart and act promptly.

2. How to help

1) First confirm the throat really is full of phlegm; it may instead be a foreign object lodged there. Hold the cat upright and gently pat its back to ease the cough.

2) Don’t feed chunky food; soft food like rice broth or rice paste is better, since it leaves less residue in the throat and relieves the cough.

3) If a hairball is the cause, give hairball paste or cat grass promptly, or switch to a kibble formulated for hairballs.

4) A cat’s respiratory tract is very sensitive; germs invading cause coughing and phlegm, and then it needs anti-inflammatory, cough-relief, and phlegm-loosening care — but don’t overuse antibiotics.

5) Offer more water to help the cat swallow, ease the cough, soothe the throat, and clear the lungs, which also aids digestion.

Coughing with stuck phlegm means something is wrong, so the owner must find the cause in time to help the cat recover. We hope this helps; for other questions, you can consult an online vet.