The challenge is always to determine what the causes are and then work to treat or prevent them in the future. We can have asthma-like symptoms that may have a hacking sound associated with environmental items such as smoke, dust, pollens, certain aerosol sprays, etc. We have foreign body ingestion that can have a similar sound, but usually the continual attempt to dislodge the foreign body gives clues indicating the need to seek veterinary care. We have a number of upper respiratory conditions that can cause drainage in the back of the throat which can lead to a hacking sound. If your cat is hacking there are important things to consider. The grooming behaviors are learned from their mother at an early age, and if she is not present those kittens may never be good at self grooming.

We also see cases where a kitten that was orphaned at an early age will not be the meticulous groomer that we would like. If your cat cannot clean under their tail or over the top of their back, it can indicate they are overweight or having arthritis, making it painful to reach those areas. Also being able to groom under their tail is an important attribute to have. We are all amazed that they can get into something sticky and/or messy and after a few hours return to find everything cleaned up. The causes can vary, but a large percentage are related to excessive hair consumption associated with normal grooming behaviors.Ī cat’s ability to groom themselves is an important trait to have. It is never a fun one to discuss, since it can have some very undesirable side effects. This topic comes up often in conversations with clients about their cats. Therefore, today I feel compelled to discuss the ever-present concern about cats and hacking - why they do this and what are the causes are. It appears I have neglected our furry feline friends as I review the different topics discussed over the last year.

Kitty cat clicker hacked