While most pet owners are familiar with human asthma, many are surprised to learn that cats can develop a similar chronic respiratory disease. Feline asthma, or allergic bronchitis, affects cats of all ages and breeds, causing wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing. If left untreated, it can significantly impact a cat’s quality of life.
What is Feline Asthma?
Like its human counterpart, feline asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the lower airways and lungs in cats. It causes the airway tubes to become inflamed and overly sensitive to certain triggers like allergens or irritants.
When exposed to these triggers, the airways swell further, restricting airflow and making it difficult to breathe. Mucus production also increases, leading to bouts of wheezing and coughing as the cat tries to expel the mucus and open the airways.
The exact underlying cause isn’t fully known, but both environmental irritants and genetics likely play a role. Some cats seem more predisposed to developing asthma, while exposure to cigarette smoke, dust, pollen, aerosol sprays, or certain litters can trigger flare-ups.
Symptoms of Asthma in Cats The key symptoms of feline asthma attacks include:
Some cats experience only occasional, mild bouts of asthma, while others have more persistent, moderate to severe flare-ups that can become medical emergencies if left unaddressed.
Mild, Intermittent Asthma For some feline asthmatics, symptoms may only appear occasionally – perhaps seasonally when pollen levels are high or after exposure to a trigger like dust or smoke. These mild bouts are typically limited to:
- Infrequent coughing or wheezing, especially with exertion
- Short periods of rapid breathing that resolve relatively quickly
- No obvious lethargy between episodes
Cats in this category can often go weeks or months between asthma flare-ups. Their symptoms may be little more than an annoyance that resolves with avoidance of triggers.
Moderate, More Frequent Asthma Other cats experience more frequent and pronounced asthma signs that significantly impact their daily lives. Moderate flare-ups can involve:
- Regular bouts of harsh coughing and wheezing, often brought on by triggers
- Labored breathing with excessive panting at rest
- Lethargy and fatigue after asthma episodes
- Decreased appetite if flare-ups are prolonged
These cats may require daily medication to get their asthma under control. Even with management, they still experience frequent symptomatic periods that stop short of a true emergency.
Severe, Acute Asthma Attacks In severe cases, asthmatic cats essentially experience a feline version of acute asthmatic crisis:
- Struggling to breathe, with severe open-mouth breathing efforts
- Barely able to exhale fully due to extreme airway constriction
- Coughing incessantly with episodes lasting 15 minutes or longer
- Lethargic or unresponsive due to lack of oxygen intake
Without immediate intervention, these patients may cease breathing altogether. Emergency oxygen therapy and aggressive medication can be critical.
Cats in severe distress often require hospitalization to get their acute crisis under control before transitioning to long-term maintenance medications and rigorous environmental control at home.
While some cats experience only mild, intermittent asthma, the condition can rapidly progress to a life-threatening situation when flare-ups are moderate to severe. Vigilance in monitoring breathing issues is essential for all feline asthmatics.
Diagnosing Feline Asthma
There is no single definitive test for asthma in cats. Veterinarians use a combination of the cat’s history, their clinical signs, physical exam findings, and diagnostic tests to rule out other potential causes.
Radiographs or CT scans are essential to visualize the lungs and rule out other respiratory diseases, masses, or congenital defects. Bloodwork and other tests check for heartworm, parasites, bacterial infections, or viruses that could be causing the symptoms.
If no other triggers are identified and symptoms point to an allergic component, the vet may recommend attempting treatment for asthma and see if the cat improves.
Managing Feline Asthma
While there is no cure for allergic bronchitis, there are several ways to manage the condition:
- Environmental Control – Eliminating triggers like smoke, dust, sprays, and harsh liters is key
- Medications – Anti-inflammatory steroids like fluticasone help reduce airway inflammation
- Therapy – Supplemental oxygen stabilizes breathing during acute attacks
- Long-term management focuses on identifying and avoiding triggers, maintaining ideal weight, and administering daily preventative medications like inhaled steroids to control inflammation.
Some cats require only intermittent treatment during seasonal allergies or periods of exposure to triggers. Others need daily medication to keep their asthma well-controlled. Regular vet monitoring is essential.
Living With an Asthmatic Cat With patience, effort to minimize triggers, and good compliance with medication, most cats with asthma can live relatively normal lives between flare-ups. Stress reduction through environmental enrichment and activities like play therapy can also make a positive difference.
Like their human counterparts with asthma, cats can still thrive with proper preventative care and medical management of their condition. The key is partnering closely with a veterinarian to give your little one the best care possible.
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