Vet warns pet parents about hacking cat sound that may signal asthma

A veterinarian shared a video of her cat making a hacking sound and said the noise together with an outstretched neck and hunched posture can indicate feline asthma; she urged owners to contact their veterinarian and bring a recording. Other pet owners reported similar sounds linked to lung fungal infection or food allergy.

A veterinarian and cat owner posted a short video after her black cat began making a concerning hacking sound. She described the posture—an outstretched neck and hunched body—alongside the noise as a notable sign raised in her practice. The clip was shared to illustrate how a brief recording can help veterinarians reach an accurate diagnosis. Several other cat owners responding to the post said the same sound in their pets had different causes. Key points: - The veterinarian reported the hacking sound plus an outstretched neck and hunched posture as an indicator she associates with possible feline asthma. - She advised that owners bring a video of frequent or abnormal sounds to veterinary visits and said many people mistake the posture for vomiting. - Other owners described different diagnoses after similar episodes, including a fungal lung infection (histoplasmosis) and a food allergy; the article notes medications exist for feline asthma. Summary: The veterinarian presented the video to highlight that a specific hacking posture and sound can signal respiratory illness in cats, and she reported that recordings can aid diagnosis. Undetermined at this time.