Older cat appears sick

Question
My 13 year old domestic shorthair started coughing/sneezing/dry heaving and there is a dark brown discharge coming out of her mouth. Her teeth/gums/throat look OK. Symptoms have lasted for ~10 hours so far. She doesn't look uncomfortable. Could she have eaten a toad or something?

Answer
Hi Emily,

It's possible she may have eaten a toad. You are usually going to notice very excessive salivation if this is the case, as toads secrete an irritant that will lead to drooling. Very few toads are actually poisonous, and this will pass (if other symptoms develop, you may have an emergency situation). But it's best to have your kitty checked by a vet to the safe.

I would suspect that your kitty is more likely suffering from an upper respiratory infection. Coughing, sneezing and heaving are consistent with a germ that causes upper airway disease, such as bordetella. The brown discharge that collects around the mouth might indicate that saliva is collecting on the fur and that your kitty is salivating excessively. This is seen with many respiratory infections. It can also be the result of some open-mouth breathing due to a stuffy nose, or because she's not grooming her face well. There is a dark pigment in saliva called porphyrin. When the fur around the mouth becomes stained, it's often because of prolonged contact of the fur with this pigment.

But regardless of my speculations, your kitty should definitely see a vet. Swallowed foreign bodies and even fecal impaction could cause symptoms like this, too, and no matter the cause, a vet is still needed to treat her.

Best of luck!
Jessica