When a cat shows signs of drowning we immediately become worried and wonder what could be happening to it. In this article on our site we are going to expose the common causes that can cause our cat to drown or, at least, seem like it. We will analyze the pathologies associated with these drownings and we will see what can be done to solve this situation. As always, we recommend consulting with our veterinarian, since he is the professional capable of diagnosing and prescribing the appropriate treatment. However, to get to the consultation well informed, keep reading and discover with us why your cat drowns
Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
This type of infection is very common in cats, although, thanks to the development of vaccination programs, its incidence is decreasing. The causative agents of this group of diseases are mainly feline rhinotracheitis virus, calicivirus and Chlamydia. They can be associated with bacteria and other organisms that will cause secondary infections. One of the traits they possess is that they are highly contagious and are transmitted between cats through their secretions. They are more common in young kittens, those with leukemia or immunodeficiency, or cats that are experiencing stressful situations, such as those living in animal shelters or hatcheries, or those that have just undergone an operation or illness. Having a compromised immune system, they are not able to resist the pathogen. Depending on the attacking virus, this will be the symptom picture. It is possible for the same cat to be infected by several of these agents at the same time. In short, the frequent symptoms are:
- Recurring conjunctivitis which may be caused by Chlamydia.
- Mouth ulcers and stomatitis, related to calicivirus.
- Corneal ulcers due to herpesvirus.
- In general, these infections produce discharge from the nose, eyes, sneezing, fever, lethargy or anorexia. The cat cannot smell food, so it does not eat it, in addition to the fact that it can have ulcers in the mouth that make it difficult to eat.
- Regarding the symptom at hand, these conditions can cause cough with a choking sensation and mouth open with the tongue sticking out in an attempt to improve breathing. The animal stretches its neck, adopting a characteristic posture, when it seems that the cat is drowning.
This symptomatology is so clear that no tests are usually necessary. It is recommended to test for immunodeficiency and leukemia if the disease occurs recurrently. Being a virus, there is no treatment other than support, that is, antibiotics for secondary infections and fluid therapy if necessary, in addition to keeping the animal clean of secretions and fed. The sooner treatment is started, the better chance there is of recovery. Let's not forget that these cats, if not treated, can end up dying. Even when restored, viruses usually remain dormant in the body and can cause symptoms again at times of immunocompromise.
Feline Asthmatic Syndrome
Our cat may also appear to choke if he suffers from feline asthmatic syndrome. Asthma produces bronchoconstriction that causes breath sounds and choking, or breathing difficulties. The symptoms include:
- Cough of severity and variable frequency.
- Respiratory difficulties and choking (dyspnea).
- Sometimes, fever, lethargy and anorexia, either due to secondary bacterial infection, or due to shortness of breath and cough that make it difficult to ingest both liquids and solids.
The diagnosis can be made from the symptoms because there are few diseases that cause dyspnea and cough in cats. The treatment will depend on the severity and frequency of the symptoms and, as always, should be prescribed by the veterinarian.
Cough, vomit and hairballs
Sometimes intense coughing spells in which the cat seems to be choking can lead to vomiting. In no case should these episodes be confused with vomiting aimed at expelling hairballs. For cats, eliminating these balls is normal, not pathological, so it is a process that has nothing to do with coughing fits. We can facilitate the expulsion of hairballs by supplying products such as m alt, which will favor this transit. So, if our cat chokes and coughs, or we observe that the cat is gagging and does not vomit, we must consult our veterinarian
