Conference misery::feline_v1

    If your kitties go out, they eat the grass and then vomit to get
    the hairballs out of their stomach and throat.  It sounds awful,
    but it seems to be a natural thing for cats to do to get rid of
    hair balls.  If they don't go out and are still choking, please
    take them to the vet, as they may have a stomach virus.
    
    Good luck!
    Nancy
    

    sounds like hairballs - they sound like they are going to
    give you back their lunch, and TRY, but DON'T.  Why, I'm 
    not sure - maybe the hairball passes the other way, but
    not up and out.??  Or, maybe it moves the hairball further
    up, and they may wait until later on to move it up and out
    on to your nice living room carpet !!  It's a sound I hear
    every now and then from 19 kids - and every other day or
    so find a hairball.  Not as many as I would expect to find
    from 19 - surprise surprise.
    
    E.T.

    I have a cat with asthma and the symptoms sound the same as you
    describe.  His condition is very mild and is easy to control with 
    cortisone pills.  Sometimes if he is running around and a little over
    excited he will start to cough.  It happens more often in the
    springtime.  It only happens once or twice a year now.  However,
    when we lived in an appartment with oil heat,  it happened 2 or three
    times a week in the winter.
    
    					Mary

    Thanks for the info...oh I hope it is only hairballs and not Asthma.
    
    Is Asthma catchy?  Out of 7 kitties...I have seen approximately
    4 of them gagging/coughing!  They all love the outside and spend
    most of their time eating bugs, little animals, and the grass.
    I very seldom see hairballs around the house, but like I said they
    spend alot of time outside.
    
    sandy
    
    
    
    

    From what you've said it sounds like a straightforward case of
    hairballs.
    
    Asthma is a different thing entirely.  My cousin just recently found
    out that her Rolypoly is suffering from it quite seriously, and it's
    worse around Spring/Summer and is coupled with anxiety attacks every 
    time she goes on holiday.  
    
    The poor thing seems to be unable to breath at times and is really 
    panting (not gagging or coughing).  I was going to enter a separate
    note to see if there is a known cure for this.  Anyone know?
    
    [Ruth, Henri and Sophie-who-are-playing-more-than-fighting-now]
    

    What you described sounds like a classic case of hairballs to me.
    Try some laxatone - don't give it within an hour of a meal tho as
    it will interfear with digestion.  If it doesn't clear up in a week
    see the vet.
      Nancy

    Sandy,
    
    Rereading your note that mentioned 4 out of 7 coughing made me
    think that maybe some of them could have an upper resp. infection.
    If this has been a problem for a week or two, it might be wise to
    bring one or two of them in to the vet - vet might be able to 
    check out the 2 you bring and prescribe medication for all if
    you tell them that all symptoms are the same.  
    
    It does sound like hairballs, but if it persists and you don't
    see any upchucking with the hairball visible, it may be vet time!
    
    E.

    Just wanted to give you an update....I believe it is hairballs.
    Last night poor Barkley went into a gagging fit and low and behold
    this very large piece of chewed grass and a hairball came out.
    
    I hate the sound they make....they look at you with those sad eyes
    as if to say "help my mommy".  I'll keep my eyes on the other ones,
    but it seems they haven't been choking as much.
    
    Thanks for all the info.
    
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco, Barkley and friends)