please help please!

Question
I couldn't find any vet people here. They all seem to be on vacation. I'm sorry but please at least tell me a little about my cat!

I pick him up in the drain last year July. He always sleeps and is quite playful. For half year having him in my home, I heard him sneeze for only once.

But today, he seems to be coughing. It doesn't sound like normal human cough but he went in the toilet, sit there and make sounds like "Khuhh Khuuh". It's not like how he sneeze so I assume that he's coughing.

What can I do to at least mitigate his situation? Is he sick? I tried google about it and there's soooo many diseases about it. Heartworms? Does that mean he has worms in his hearts?

Please help. I love him alot..

Answer
Hi Soely,

First off, relax. Your cat coughing doesn't mean it is sick. Cats cough for different reasons. He could be coughing because he is bringing up a hairball. It could be he smelled something he didn't like. It could be for a number of reasons. Besides his cough what other signs is he showing? Has he lost his appetite? Is he lethargic? Is he running a fever? Are his eyes runny? From all these other things you narrow down if your cat is really sick or just coughing. Keep an eye on him. If he seems sick then bring him to the vet. And unless it is an emergency he should be able to wait to Monday to see a vet. If he doesn't continue coughing with any of these other signs then I wouldn't worry about it. Good luck.

Ciao, Karen