Maine Coon Cat Coughing

Coughing in cats can be caused by a variety of different factors. While a cough is not a medical ailment or disease in and of itself, it might be a symptom of a more serious underlying problem.

Cat Coughing

When foreign objects such as irritants, dust, mucus, or other particles enter the cats’ respiratory system, they cough as a protective response. Coughing is the result of this reflex, which is an attempt to keep the airways free. Other causes of coughing in cats include asthma, respiratory infections, allergies, passing hairballs, and heartworm.

Coughing in Maine Coons is a reflex action where the cat forcefully expels air from its lungs, often accompanied by a hacking or gagging sound.

Unlike sneezing, which clears the nose, coughing is usually a response to irritation, inflammation, or an obstruction in the airways.

Coughing is a symptom of an underlying issue that can range from minor to serious. While occasional coughing might be harmless, frequent or persistent coughing shouldn’t be ignored.

Below, we’ll dive deep into the various causes of cat coughing, how to recognize them, and when to seek veterinary help.

What Does It Sound Like?

🔹 Dry Cough – A short, hacking sound, often linked to asthma or allergies.
🔹 Wet Cough – A phlegmy, gurgling noise that may indicate a respiratory infection.
🔹 Gagging Cough – Often confused with vomiting, this may be due to hairballs.
🔹 Wheezing with Coughing – A sign of breathing difficulties, commonly seen in asthma.

Causes

Here are some of the most common causes for a Maine Coon cat to cough and sneeze:

1. Hairballs: The Most Common Cause

Maine Coons are heavy shedders with long, thick fur, and they groom themselves frequently. As a result, they swallow a lot of hair, which can accumulate in their stomachs.

Usually, the fur passes through their digestive system, but sometimes it forms a hairball that needs to be expelled.

Symptoms

• A hacking, retching, or gagging sound
• Head and neck stretching forward
• Coughing that ends with vomiting up a clump of fur

When To Be Concerned

If your cat is repeatedly trying to cough up a hairball but nothing comes out, it could be a sign of an intestinal blockage. This requires immediate veterinary attention.

Prevention

• Regular brushing to remove loose fur
• Hairball control cat food or treats
• Laxative-based hairball remedies

2. Asthma and Allergies

Maine Coons can suffer from feline asthma, which is a chronic condition where their airways become inflamed, making it difficult to breathe. 

Allergies, caused by dust, pollen, smoke, or scented products, can also trigger coughing fits.

Symptoms

• Dry, wheezing cough
• Coughing during or after exercise
• Open-mouth breathing or panting
• Episodes of labored breathing

When To Be Concerned

If your Maine Coon has sudden, severe difficulty breathing, it could be an asthma attack, requiring urgent veterinary care.

Prevention And Management

• Use dust-free litter
• Avoid aerosol sprays, candles, and scented cleaning products
• Consider an air purifier to remove allergens

3. Respiratory Infections

Like humans, cats can catch upper respiratory infections (URIs), often caused by viruses such as feline herpesvirus or calicivirus. Bacterial infections, such as Bordetella or chlamydia, can also lead to chronic coughing.

Symptoms

• Wet, phlegmy cough
• Sneezing and nasal discharge
• Watery or goopy eyes
• Loss of appetite and lethargy

When To Be Concerned

If your cat has green or yellow nasal discharge, refuses to eat, or has a fever, it may have a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics.

Prevention

• Vaccinations can help protect against common viral infections
• Keeping your cat indoors reduces exposure to contagious diseases

4. Heart Disease

Heart disease, especially hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), is common in Maine Coons and can cause fluid buildup in the lungs, leading to coughing.

Symptoms

• Persistent, soft coughing
• Lethargy and weakness
• Rapid breathing, even at rest
• Sudden collapse or fainting

When To Be Concerned

If your cat’s breathing becomes labored, or they cough and collapse, seek emergency vet care immediately.

Prevention And Management

• Routine veterinary checkups to detect early signs of heart disease
• A low-sodium diet may be recommended for cats with heart conditions

5. Lungworms & Parasites

Parasites like lungworms and heartworms can infest a cat’s lungs, leading to chronic coughing. Outdoor cats are at a higher risk of infection through contaminated water, prey, or mosquito bites.

Symptoms

• Chronic, dry coughing
• Wheezing or labored breathing
• Weight loss and lack of appetite

When To Be Concerned

If your Maine Coon develops a persistent cough that doesn’t go away, ask your vet to check for lungworms or heartworms.

Prevention

• Monthly flea and parasite treatments
• Keeping your cat indoors reduces exposure to infected animals

6. Foreign Objects

Maine Coons are curious and playful, and sometimes they accidentally inhale dust, food particles, or small objects, which can trigger coughing.

Symptoms

• Sudden, forceful coughing
• Pawing at the mouth
• Gagging or choking sounds

When To Be Concerned

If your cat is struggling to breathe or choking, seek immediate veterinary help.

Prevention

• Avoid giving cats small toys or objects that can be inhaled
• Ensure food is the right size to prevent choking

Types Of Cat Coughing

While occasional coughing in Maine Coons (or any cat) isn’t always a sign of a serious problem, persistent, frequent, or severe coughing can indicate an underlying health issue.

It’s important to monitor the type of cough, frequency, duration, and accompanying symptoms to determine when veterinary attention is necessary.

1. Dry, Hacking Cough (No Phlegm)

• Sounds like a harsh hacking or wheezing
• The cat may stretch its neck forward while coughing
• May occur in fits or attacks
• Common Causes:
  • Feline asthma
  • Allergies (dust, pollen, perfume, cigarette smoke)
  • Irritation from dry air
  • Heart disease

When To Worry:

• Coughing episodes become frequent (more than 1-2 times a week)
• The cat struggles to breathe or breathes with an open mouth
• Worsens after exercise or stress

Vet Visit Needed: 

If wheezing, labored breathing, or open-mouth breathing occurs, asthma or heart disease may be involved. Seek emergency care if your cat appears to be gasping for air.

2. Wet, Phlegmy Cough

• Sounds gurgly, congested, or moist
• May be accompanied by nasal discharge
• Can cause difficulty swallowing
• Common Causes:
  • Upper respiratory infections (viral or bacterial)
  • Pneumonia
  • Fluid buildup from heart disease

When to Worry

• The cough is persistent for more than 3 days
• Cat has green/yellow nasal discharge
• Lethargy and appetite loss accompany the cough

Vet Visit Needed

If the cough is wet and frequent, a respiratory infection, pneumonia, or heart disease could be the cause.

3. Wheezing or Coughing Fits

• Can sound like a whistle or high-pitched wheeze
• Often linked to asthma or allergies
• This may happen after exposure to dust, smoke, or cold air
• Common Causes:
  • Feline asthma
  • Allergic reactions
  • Airway constriction from irritation

When To Worry

• Wheezing occurs regularly or during exercise
• Cough lasts more than a few weeks
• Open-mouth breathing happens after minor exertion

Vet Visit Needed

Asthma can worsen over time and lead to a life-threatening attack if untreated. If breathing is rapid, labored, or open-mouthed, seek emergency care immediately.

4. Sudden Coughing or Gagging (Choking-Like)

• A cough appears suddenly and violently
• The cat may paw at its mouth or appear panicked
• May sound like a retching noise
• Common Causes:
  • Foreign object in throat (toy, string, grass)
  • A hairball stuck in the airway
  • Swallowing difficulty

When To Worry

• The cough is severe and sudden
• The cat is choking or gasping
• No hairball is expelled within a few minutes

Vet Visit Needed

Choking is an emergency. If your cat cannot breathe or swallow, get to a vet immediately.

5. Deep, Honking Cough

• Sounds similar to a goose honk
• May occur at night or during rest
• Often associated with heart disease
• Common Causes:
  • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
  • Fluid buildup in the lungs (Congestive Heart Failure)

When to Worry

• Cough is consistent at night
• Cat shows lethargy, poor appetite, or rapid breathing
• Breathing rate exceeds 30 breaths per minute at rest

Vet Visit Needed

A honking cough can indicate serious heart issues. A vet will need to perform an ultrasound and possibly prescribe medication.

Why Does My Cat Only Cough At Night?

If your Maine Coon only coughs at night, there are a few possible reasons behind this pattern. The timing of the cough could be linked to posture, environment, or underlying health conditions that worsen at night.

Here are the most common causes:

1. Post-Nasal Drip or Respiratory Infections

At night, when your cat is resting, mucus from a respiratory infection can build up in the airways, triggering coughing. This is similar to how humans with colds often cough more when lying down.

Signs to watch for:
✔ Wet, phlegmy cough
✔ Sneezing, watery eyes, or nasal discharge
✔ Occasional wheezing or congestion

What to do:

• Use a humidifier in the room to keep airways moist
• Ensure good ventilation to reduce airborne irritants
• Visit a vet if the cough lasts more than a few days

2. Feline Asthma Or Allergies

Maine Coons are prone to asthma and allergies, which can be worse at night due to:

• Dust
• Bedding Materials
• Air Quality

If your cat sleeps in an area with dusty carpets, scented candles, air fresheners, or cigarette smoke, nighttime coughing can be triggered.

Signs to watch for:
✔ Dry, wheezy cough that sounds like a hairball but produces nothing
✔ Coughing fits after moving or jumping
✔ Open-mouth breathing or panting after exertion

What to do:

• Switch to dust-free litter
• Wash bedding regularly to remove allergens
• Use an air purifier to reduce airborne irritants

Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening. If your cat is struggling to breathe, seek emergency vet care immediately.

3. Heart Disease (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy – HCM)

Heart disease in Maine Coons can cause fluid buildup in the lungs, leading to nighttime coughing. This happens because lying down makes it harder for the body to drain fluid from the lungs.

Signs to watch for:
✔ Soft, persistent cough at night
✔ Rapid breathing, even when resting
✔ Sudden lethargy or weakness

What to do:

• Schedule a vet checkup to rule out heart disease
• Monitor their breathing rate (over 30 breaths per minute at rest can indicate heart trouble)

4. Hairballs and Digestive Issues

If your cat grooms excessively before bed, swallowed fur may tickle the throat at night, causing them to cough. This is more common in Maine Coons due to their long fur.

Signs to watch for:
✔ Hacking or gagging sound
✔ Occasional vomiting of fur clumps
✔ Normal behavior between coughing fits

What to do:

• Brush daily to reduce loose fur
• Give hairball remedies or a fiber-rich diet to help digestion
• Encourage hydration to keep the digestive tract moving smoothly

5. Cold Or Dry Air

If your home gets colder or drier at night, it may irritate your cat’s airways. Central heating in winter can also make the air too dry, leading to a dry throat and coughing.

What to do:

• Use a humidifier to keep the air moist
• Keep your cat warm and cozy in a draft-free area

When To See A Vet

If your Maine Coon’s nighttime coughing is:
❌ Persistent or getting worse
❌ Accompanied by labored breathing or wheezing
❌ Causing loss of appetite or lethargy

…it’s time for a vet visit. It could be asthma, heart disease, or a respiratory infection needing treatment.