Can My Cat Have Asthma?

It is possible for cats to get asthma, just as we do. And the evidence is showing that cat asthma is on the increase, just like in humans. Genetics can play a role in feline asthma, but it can be triggered by allergens in the atmosphere.

What is Feline Asthma

Asthma in cats or humans is an upper respiratory disease that occurs when the flow of air through the airways is constricted. This can be due to a tightening of the airway muscles, an excess of mucus or even the airway itself swelling. Any of these will reduce the flow of fresh air into the lungs.

Symptoms

These can include wheezing, trouble breathing, a dry cough that is very similar to bringing up hairballs but persists, and either not being able to play for long periods or not wanting to play or exercise at all. If you notice any of these symptoms occurring over a period of more than a few days, schedule an appointment with your vet. It is important to have this checked as early as possible to have a correct diagnosis.

Causes of Feline Asthma

An asthmatic attack can be caused by something as simple as pollen or something as complex as exposure to various chemicals in the home. It is an allergen, or something that your cat is allergic to that triggers the attack. Other allergens could be smoke of any kind, dust, some aerosol sprays. Sometimes, cool or cold air can cause the muscles in the airways to tighten in an effort to keep the cold air out of the lungs.

Treatment

Your vet is the only person who can diagnose and treat feline asthma. If you cat is in severe distress, he will want to give some form of treatment that will re-open the airways. This could be via injection, followed by a bronchodilator. Unfortunately asthma is not curable. However, your vet can give you medications to alleviate the symptoms and tips on how to reduce the possibility of further attacks. This could be changing the strong chemical cleaning products you use, using an air filtration system to eliminate some of the smaller particles that could irritate the lungs, not using aerosols, or even installing an enclosed wood heater to prevent smoke triggering an attack. If you are a smoker, he may suggest not smoking anywhere near your cat or giving up smoking altogether. Your vet may also prescribe some corticosteroids, either orally or through an inhaler. You need to be aware of possible side effects of oral steroids. Speak to your vet about this and the best way of treating your cat's asthma. A simple way you can help reduce the severity of an attack is to put your cat in the bathroom with the hot water running in the shower. The steam will help open the airways. You can also use a vaporiser or humidifier to keep the air moist.

Feline asthma is treatable. It is the same as many other diseases such as diabetes or heartworm, or bacterial infections. Your cat is a much loved member of your family. It is depending on you to look after it when it is sick, just as you would do with your other family members. Remember, your cat will be frightened during an attack. Be gentle and use a soothing voice to calm it down. Try massaging between the shoulder blades as this has been proven to help with breathing problems in cats. By holding and massaging or stroking your cat during an asthma attack, it should become calmer, especially if you have developed a strong bond with it over the years.