If he is eating, drinking, and acting normal otherwise, I would watch him closely for a few days. Cat litter should definitely not be used as bedding material, as it can be extremely harmful if ingested. Given the sound that you are describing, he most likely has eaten some, and it may have scratched his throat on the way down. Keep a close eye on him, and if it gets worse, does not improve, or he begins to show other symptoms of lethargy or lack of appetite, I would take him to be examined by a veterinarian.
As far as being lonely, hamsters tend to do well on their own. However, if raised with other hamsters, they will tolerate a companion sometimes, though not always. If he is handled often, and has plenty of toys in his cage to keep him occupied, he is most likely not lonely or bored. However, if you get him a friend, you would have to get another male, as opposed to a female which would constantly be pregnant. The problem with this is, adult male hamsters typically fight each other once they hit puberty, so housing two males is usually impossible.
As far as his coughing sound, make sure to just keep a close eye on him as mentioned above. If it does continue, get worse, or is accompanied by other symptoms, he should be seen by a veterinarian. They will then need to examine him in order to diagnose, or rule out, any possible illness he may have, and determine an appropriate course of treatment.
Hope this helps!
Edited by spookyjr on August 6 2006 at 11:58pm
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