HELP! Kitten coughing and Hacking

[alliluv00]

Hi. I am a veryyyy stressed cat mom and I do not do well when my babies have strange symptoms.

About 3 months ago my boyfriend and I found a stray kitten in out apartment complex and adopted him. We have been taking him to the vet for all of his shots. About a month and a half ago he started experiencing Upper respitory infection symptoms (really bad stuffy nose) so we got him on an antibiotic and he seemed to get better. But shortly after that he would cough every once in a while and sneeze. He ate and drank water and played like normal. He did not have runny eyes or a runny nose anymore. Just coghing and sneezing which I thought was maybe a temporary issue or allergies. Well now a month and half later he is still sneezing and coughing. The coughing seems to have gotten a little worse. It sounds like a hacking noise as if he is chocking and it comes in intervals. Sometimes its one cough as if he is clearing his throat or other times its like he is chocking. He did throw up one time last week but it was only foamy mucus. I thought he was having trouble passing a hair ball but I know longer think that is the case. Other than that he is a happy kitten no lethargy or any other series symptoms but overall I am extreamly stressed that this could be signs of asthma or more alarming feline heatworms. I am taking him to the vet thursday but I am honestly so stressed I am going to ask to take him in earlier. If anyone has any thoughts or advice to help calm my nerves or get a better idea of what the issue may be would be great. Thank you.

[Ruth B]

Its always a worry when there seems to be something wrong and you can't quite work out what. Unfortunately the vet is the best person to try and diagnose what it might be.

I don't know a lot about heart worms, but coughing like that could well just be a hairball that is being stubborn, or just normal worms. It could just be that he had a bit of a rough start in life as a stray and now he is being taken care of it is giving his body a chance to actually try and fight any bugs or parasites and the coughing is just a symptom of that.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that it is nothing more serious.