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My cat coughs and sneezes. Could it be asthma if allergy meds fail?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | neutered | 3 years and 7 months old | 8 lbs

My cat has been to a vet for his sneezing and coughing he said maybe allergies. Tried antihistamines didn't work. He's been coughing worse now. Still eating and playing normally. How do I know if it's asthma? What can I do for him? He is three years old.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on March 2nd, 2017

There are no specific diagnostic tests for asthma, so it's a diagnosis of exclusion. The vet can do a physical exam, blood work, x-rays, parasitic tests, and evaluation of bronchial secretions to rule out other causes of his sneezing and coughing. I would take Blaze back into the vet tomorrow because the antihistamines aren't working. The vet may prescribe a stronger drug in case he has allergies, such as steroids, or they may decide to further testing to diagnose what is causing his symptoms.

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