Learn how to tell whether your feline friend is just coughing or if he’s experiencing a more dangerous lack of air. If your cat is choking, it's an emergency. But it can be difficult to tell whether your cat is just coughing, or actually choking. Learn how to distinguish the two and what you can do at home if your cat loses consciousness. What Causes Cats to Choke? Things like dry kibble, pills, tinsel, or string can get stuck in a cat's throat or trachea (the tube connecting the throat to the lungs) and block air flow. An obstruction in the esophagus (the tube that goes from the throat to the stomach) can also cause choking if the stuck item is large enough to press on the nearby trachea, Aimee Simpson, VMD, medical director of VCA Cat Hospital of Philadelphia, explains. How Can You Tell the Difference Between Coughing and Choking? Coughing is often mistaken for choking. Cats may cough if they have hairballs, asthma, or heartworm disease. If your cat is coughing, you should have it checked out by your veterinarian. Choking, on the other hand, is a dire situation for which you should seek immediate veterinary care. "Cats that are truly choking have difficulty inhaling," Simpson says. "A choking cat may have reduced oxygen delivery resulting in cyanosis [bluish color of the tongue and gums] and may lose consciousness within two minutes if the airway is completely obstructed." Other signs of respiratory distress include: Noisy breathing (snoring-type sound or high-pitched noise) Increased breathing movement in the abdomen Open mouth Salivating What Should…