Cat coughing occurs due to irritation in the airways, including the trachea (windpipe), airways leading into the lungs, or the lungs themselves. The cough can be dry, or the cough can sound wet.

Your younger cat could be coughing from any given irritant or dust, including cigarette smoke if you smoke, or it may have caught a virus from the older cat. However, ...

Cats routinely throw up hairballs since they groom and clean themselves so much. Throwing up — and the resultant acid reflux — can lead to simple throat irritation, resulting in a cough.

But if your cat is coughing up hairballs frequently, it might be time to see your vet. If a hairball gets lodged in your cat’s digestive tract and causes a blockage, it can be a serious problem.