Your cat crouches low, stretches out their neck and starts making a hacking sound. It looks like they are trying to bring up a hairball — but nothing comes out.
Is it really a hairball, or is your cat coughing?
The two can look surprisingly similar. However, coughing and retching come from different parts of the body and may require very different responses. Learning to recognise the difference can help you describe the episode more clearly to your veterinarian and know when your cat may need medical attention.
Important: A video or desciption alone cannot diagnose the cause. If your cat has repeated coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing, contact your veterinarian.
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Why does my cat look like they are coughing up a hairball?
Many cat parents assume that any repeated hacking or heaving must be caused by a hairball.
That is understandable. During both coughing and retching, a cat may lower their body, extend their neck and make repeated sounds. The episode may last only a few seconds, making it difficult to see exactly what is happening.
The main difference is where the action begins:
- Retching or vomiting involves the stomach and digestive system.
- Coughing is a reflex involving the airways and lungs.
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, coughing in cats is commonly confused with attempts to bring up a hairball.
Hairball, coughing or vomiting: what is the difference?
| What you notice | Hairball / Retching | Coughing |
|---|---|---|
| Where it begins | Stomach and digestive tract | Airways and lungs |
| Body movement | Noticeable abdominal contractions or heaving | Often crouched low with the neck extended |
| Sound | Gagging, gulping or retching | Dry hacking, coughing or wheezing |
| What comes out | Hair, food, foam or fluid may be produced | Usually nothing is produced |
| If it keeps happening | Discuss recurring episodes with your vet | Arrange a veterinary assessment |
These differences can provide useful clues, but they cannot confirm a diagnosis. If you are unsure, record the episode and show the video to your veterinarian.
Signs it may be a hairball
Hairballs begin when a cat swallows loose fur while grooming. Most swallowed hair passes naturally through the digestive tract, but some may collect in the stomach and eventually be brought back up.
An episode may be more consistent with retching or a hairball if you notice:
- Repeated abdominal heaving
- Gagging or gulping movements
- Hair, foam, food or fluid being brought up
- The episode ending after material is produced
- Frequent grooming or increased shedding
However, repeated vomiting should not automatically be considered normal, even if hair is present. Frequent episodes can sometimes be associated with an underlying digestive, skin or grooming problem.
For more information, read our Complete Guide to Hairballs in Cats.
Signs your cat may actually be coughing
A coughing cat often lowers their body, extends their head and neck and produces several short, forceful hacking sounds. Nothing usually comes out at the end.
Signs that may be more consistent with coughing include:
- A low, crouched posture
- The neck stretched forward
- Dry hacking sounds
- Wheezing or noisy breathing
- Nothing being produced
- Similar episodes happening repeatedly
Coughing can have several possible causes, including airway inflammation, asthma, infection, inhaled irritants, parasites or other respiratory conditions. It is not possible to identify the cause reliably from the sound alone.
Could it be feline asthma?
Feline asthma is an inflammatory airway condition that can cause coughing, wheezing and breathing difficulty.
During an episode, a cat may crouch low and extend their neck, which is one reason asthma is sometimes mistaken for an unsuccessful attempt to bring up a hairball.
However, not every coughing cat has asthma. Your veterinarian may need to consider the cat’s history, physical examination and diagnostic tests before identifying the cause.
Cornell Feline Health Center explains that feline asthma can range from occasional coughing to serious breathing difficulty and should be evaluated by a veterinarian.
When should you call your veterinarian?
Contact your veterinarian if:
- Your cat keeps coughing or the episodes are becoming more frequent
- You hear wheezing or other unusual breathing sounds
- Your cat seems tired, hides more than usual or loses interest in food
- Vomiting or retching happens regularly
- Your cat appears uncomfortable or unwell
Breathing trouble can be an emergency
If your cat is breathing with their mouth open, breathing rapidly or struggling to breathe, seek urgent veterinary care. Do not wait to see whether a hairball appears.
Open-mouth breathing is not considered normal in cats. Difficulty breathing, bluish or very pale gums, collapse or severe weakness requires immediate veterinary attention.
What should you record for your veterinarian?
Cats do not always repeat the behaviour during a veterinary appointment. A short video can therefore be extremely helpful.
If it is safe to do so, record:
- Your cat’s posture during the episode
- The sound they make
- Whether the abdomen is contracting
- Whether anything is brought up
- How long the episode lasts
- How often it happens
- Any changes in appetite, energy or breathing
Do not delay urgent care to film a cat that is struggling to breathe.
How can you support a cat with occasional hairballs?
If the episodes have been identified as occasional hairballs rather than coughing, a consistent routine may help reduce the amount of loose fur swallowed and support its natural passage through the digestive tract.
A practical routine can include:
- Regular brushing to remove loose fur before it is swallowed.
- Good hydration through fresh water and an appropriate diet.
- A complete and balanced diet suited to your cat’s needs.
- Daily digestive and hairball support when appropriate.
You can also compare the main hairball-management options in our guide: Best Hairball Remedies for Cats: Paste, Treats or Supplements?
Daily support for occasional hairballs
MIHIJO Hairball Control combines fibre and digestive enzymes to support normal digestion and the natural passage of swallowed fur.
It is designed for hairball and digestive support—not coughing or respiratory conditions.
The bottom line
Hairball retching and coughing can look similar, but they are not the same.
If your cat brings up hair after noticeable abdominal heaving, the episode may be related to a hairball. If your cat repeatedly crouches, extends their neck and produces a dry cough without bringing anything up, do not keep assuming that a hairball is stuck.
Record the episode, watch for changes in breathing or behaviour and speak with your veterinarian. When breathing looks difficult, treat it as urgent.
