Can a cat get a cough as a reaction to a new food?

Question

I've adopted two cats last month and a few weeks in I wanted to change their food to something better. A few days later I noticed a slight very infrequent cough with one of the cats. I thought it might just be a hairball so I got some of that paste, now the cough sounds more phlegmy and she's coughing more often and I'm worried. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Since you adopted your cats from a shelter, I would DEFINITELY take the cats to the vet. Many shelter cats get upper respiratory infections while within shelters, not because of unsatisfactory housing and treatment, but because there are so many other animals around. Symptoms may not show up for weeks after initial infection.

If you adopted both of them from the same shelter, and you have not separated the two of them, I suggest taking both cats to the vet at the same time. The second cat may also be infected, and simply not showing any symptoms yet. The vet can prescribe antibiotics for the cats, which will clear up most infections within a week or so, and will give your cats' immune systems a boost.

You might want to take along a sample of their food, as well, for the vet to test, just in case it does wind up being a food allergy. [:

Answer 2

Take the cat to the vet.  There are all sorts of problems that could make your cat cough, even asthma, but it would take the vet to help you out in any case.  And if it's something catching, you don't want the other cat to get sick.

Answer 3

Sounds like an upper respiratory problem, and you should take your cat to the vet to get checked out before it gets worse.  Food, unless the cat is allergic to it, should not cause "coughing".  Get it checked out. :)