A cat gagging can be pretty alarming to hear. Gagging is healthy. It is a cat’s natural response when it attempts to expel something ingested; hence, the sound produced similar to coughing and about to vomit. Cats gag when they swallowed something unpleasant, toxic, or anything foreign. The most common reason why cats gag is hairballs, which they get when they groom themselves. Cats usually expel hairballs out of their bodies successfully. They also gag when they smell something powerful. The smell of perfume, essential oils, laundry products, cigarettes, scented litter box liners, or even food can overwhelm their keen sense of smell. If gagging often happens, along with vomitings and other symptoms like lethargy, breathing difficulty, weight changes, or appetite changes, a visit to the veterinarian is necessary. If a cat did not ingest something but is frequently gagging, it may be suffering from respiratory or digestive problems, which need medical treatment. Call your vets London, ON for more information.