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.

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.

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, ...

If your cat is reverse sneezing frequently, the vet may check for conditions such as: Allergies. Just like humans, cats can develop allergies to pollens, dust, mold, or certain foods.

Symptoms might include a sneezing or coughing cat, discharge from the nose or eyes, sniffling, a fever, a hoarse meow, or ulcers in the mouth, according to PetMD. And yes, steam can help.