Asthma in Cats

Every cat lover can certainly agree that cats are sensitive creatures, but cats with asthma can probably be said to be more sensitive than others. Though most asthmatic felines live out relatively normal lives, asthma episodes are unpredictable and can quickly become life-threatening. Fortunately, with careful management, affected cats, just like affected people, can enjoy a good quality of life.

What is feline asthma?
At its core, asthma is an allergic reaction to inhaled airborne particles. The small airways deep within the lungs become inflamed, produce more mucus, and eventually narrow. These changes cause coughing and can make breathing difficult.

Many different allergens have been implicated in feline asthma, including dust, air fresheners, potpourri, cigarette smoke and even certain cat litters.

What are signs of feline asthma?
The hallmark of feline asthma is a long-standing cough. It may occur daily or less frequently, and is often mistaken for “hacking up a hairball”. In severe cases, cats may present as an emergency. 

Below is a list of other signs associated with feline asthma. Those highlighted in red are emergencies and warrant immediate veterinary attention.
•    Wheezing
•    Lethargy
•    Breathing difficulty (often quick, shallow breaths)
•    Open-mouth breathing

This cat is having severe difficulty breathing. Note the open mouth, extended neck and crouched body posture.

How do vets diagnose feline asthma?
Vets start by taking your cat’s history and performing a full physical examination. Chest X-rays are often also taken to evaluate the lungs.  

Asthma is not always straightforward to diagnose as several other things can cause coughing; moreover, a subset of asthmatic cats have normal chest X-rays. In such cases, further testing may be warranted, such as taking samples of your cat’s lung secretions under general anaesthesia or simply trying medication to see how your cat responds.

How is feline asthma treated?
If your cat has presented as an emergency, vets will focus on stabilising them first, often by providing oxygen and injections to stop inflammation and reverse the changes in their lungs. They may require hospitalisation before they are stable enough to return home. 

Newly-diagnosed asthmatic cats are often started on oral steroids such as prednisolone to control inflammation in their lungs. Some vets also add other medications such as terbutaline or theophylline to open up their airways. 

In the long term, many vets aim to transition cats to inhaled steroids such as fluticasone. These are given with the help of a suitable mask and chamber, such as the AeroKat (made specially for cats) or a chamber made for infants. The use of inhalers allows many affected cats to cope with less frequent oral medication. You may even be able to limit the use of oral medications just to times of flare-ups.

The long-term outlook
Close monitoring is essential as feline asthma cannot be cured and affected cats are always at risk of severe episodes. However, with management, asthmatic cats can still live out long, happy lives. 

Here are some steps you can take to reduce your cat’s risk of asthma attacks:
•    Do not smoke or use air fresheners or potpourri in your cat’s environment.
•    Use dust-free cat litter.
•    If possible, do not use “spot-on” products for parasite control (avoid sprays, too).
•    Consider the use of an air purifier (remember to change filters regularly).

Thank you for reading and we hope the information in this article has been useful for you and your pet. As always, please consult your veterinarian if you have specific queries about your pet’s health.