Actually, Brenda is not sure whether Tabitha is coughing or gagging. Initially, Brenda was pretty sure Tabitha was trying to vomit up a hairball.

The veterinarian prescribed medication, which seemed to eliminate the problem. But after about two weeks, the symptoms returned. Brenda thinks Tabitha may be coughing more than gagging, and the frequency and duration of these episodes has increased. Tabitha's appetite and overall attitude seem to be unchanged, although Brenda thinks she seems more reclusive lately.

Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish coughing vs. gagging vs. retching. In fact, they may all be occurring concurrently depending on what might be the underlying cause.

Based on experience with other patients and the time of the year, I believe Tabitha is coughing.

The coughing indicates, as coughs usually do, that there is an insult to Tabitha's respiratory tract. There can be many causes, but for the sake of discussion, let's go with feline asthma.

This is a bronchial disease that results from the cat's immune system reacting to something that has been inhaled into the breathing tubes, or bronchioles. This reaction is inflammatory in nature and can cause narrowing of the bronchial tubes. This can lead to coughing and, with progression, quite serious constriction of the tubes to the point where some of these patients cannot breathe effectively. Let untreated, these severe cases can lead to respiratory arrest and death.

Tabitha is not to that point, but the disease can be progressive. In fact, it is very similar to asthma in humans.

It is thought that feline asthma has an allergic component, something in the air that the cat's immune system is ultrasensitive in responding against. When exposed, the asthma signs ensue, coughing being a hallmark symptom.

Diagnosis of asthma involves radiographs of the lungs, which will demonstrate prominence of the bronchial tubes. There can be infectious causes of bronchitis that can also cause a similar pattern on the chest films and, in fact, there can be secondary infections involved in cases of primary feline asthma. To diagnose definitively the cause of the bronchitis, we collect small wash samples from the bronchial tubes and examine them microscopically.

Treatment for feline asthma involves muting the hyperactive immune response using corticosteroids such as prednisone. In the cases that involve secondary bacterial infections, we also treat with appropriate antibiotics. The prognosis with treatment is good; however; we do not cure this condition. As in humans, it is treated as episodes occur.

Recall that I mentioned that the season of the year is right for asthma. Those of you who suffer from this disease will relate that this time of year, asthma episodes are much more frequent. The same holds true for cats, owing, I suspect, to the increased amount of allergens in the air.

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(Jeff Kahler is a veterinarian in Modesto, Calif. Questions can be submitted to Your Pet in care of LifeStyles, The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto CA 95352.)