Cat Asthma: Causes, Signs & Treatments

Can cats have asthma? Just like humans, our feline friends can indeed have asthma. So if your cat is prone to wheezing, it might not simply be a hairball. According to the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, feline asthma affects an estimated 1% of cats. Keep reading to learn the signs of asthma in cats and find out what you can do to help.

What Is Cat Asthma?

Cat asthma is now known to be part of a bigger problem called Feline Atopic Syndrome (FAS). This is where cats become allergic to various environmental allergens such as pollen, dust mites, trees and grasses. These allergens may produce skin signs like itching and excessive grooming, along with intestinal signs such as diarrhoea. And when inhaled, certain allergens can trigger asthma in your cat.

These irritants trigger an immune response that causes the individual bronchi (tubes) in the lungs to constrict and the surrounding tissues to swell, sending the cat into respiratory distress.

Although cats sometimes recover from asthma attacks on their own, the situation can be life-threatening, so a cat experiencing an asthma attack should be taken to a veterinarian as quickly as possible.

Causes of Asthma in Cats

Cats begin to develop asthma when the immune system develops antibodies to a particular inhaled allergen. Then, when the cat inhales that allergen again, these antibodies go into overdrive, causing inflammation in the lungs that triggers swelling, irritation and airway constriction. As a result of this, thick mucus accumulates in the lungs, further inhibiting the cat's ability to breathe. While exercise and stress can also trigger an attack in a cat with asthma, the following irritants are the most likely to cause an asthma attack:

• Cigarette smoke
• Fireplace smoke
• Dust and pollen
• Mould and mildew
• Household chemicals and cleaning agents
• Aerosol sprays
• Cat litter dust

How to Recognise a Cat Asthma Attack

A cat asthma attack can be tough to spot because the signs can easily be mistaken for a hairball, especially in the early stages. One way to tell the difference is to note your cat’s body posture, says the Blue Cross. During an asthma attack, your cat will be hunched lower to the ground than when coughing up a hairball, with head and neck fully extended in an attempt to take in more air. Listen for any wheezing, coughing or sneezing.

Another difficulty is that attacks might not happen that often, at least in the beginning, making them easier to dismiss as signs of something less worrisome. Other signs of asthma to watch for include wheezing or laboured breathing following exercise, or exercise intolerance — meaning that your cat easily becomes too tired for vigorous activity. This sign alone is a good reason to have your cat checked by a vet.

Diagnosing Cat Asthma

While there's not a diagnostic test specifically for cat asthma, your vet will likely run a battery of tests to rule out other causes. They may also gather information on your cat’s medical history and your own observations at home.

In addition to blood and allergy tests and a cytology test (that looks at the mucus secreted from the cat's airways), your vet might perform an X-ray and a CT scan to view the condition of the lungs. If necessary, a bronchoscopy (examination of the airways) might be performed, which will require your cat to be placed under general anaesthesia.

Feline Asthma Treatment

If your cat has persistent asthma, they are likely to be started on a steady course of corticosteroid medication to reduce lung inflammation. A bronchodilator similar to a human inhaler might also be prescribed, to be administered as needed. These inhalers can be accompanied by a breathing chamber specifically made for cats to help with their breathing.

In addition to medication, it's important to do everything you can to eliminate triggering allergens from your home. If you're a smoker, this means that for your cat's sake you should take your habit outside and thoroughly wash clothing with pet-safe detergents. For both your sakes you could consider stopping altogether! Your cat will also need to be kept away from any wood-burning stoves or fireplaces. Give your home a thorough clean to eliminate mould, mildew and dust, and make it a habit to dust and vacuum regularly.

It's also a good idea to switch to pet-safe cleaning solutions with ingredients like plain vinegar and baking soda. You should avoid burning candles and incense or using scented plug-ins or air fresheners. Finally, if you use a clay-based cat litter, consider switching your litter to a dust-free formula or an alternative litter that uses dust-free elements like pine pellets, recycled newspaper or silicone crystals.

Unfortunately, cat asthma is not a curable condition. It is manageable, however, and with proper care and due diligence on your part, your asthmatic cat can go on to live a long and happy life.

Contributor Bio

Jean Marie Bauhaus

Jean Marie Bauhaus is a pet parent, pet blogger and novelist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she usually writes under the supervision of a lapful of furbabies.

 

Reviewed by Dr. Hein Meyer, DVM, PhD, Dipl-ECVIM-CA and Dr. Emma Milne BVSc FRCVS