Caring for a Cat with Asthma

Yes, cats can suffer from asthma. Somewhere between one and five percent of the UK’s cat population are thought to have asthma. It can affect cats to different degrees, and some may need very little treatment while others will have quite a severe case and need a lot of help with it.

While there is no cure for the disease, with a mixture of treatment and management, you can help your beloved pet live a full and happy life.

Feline asthma affects the lower airways. It’s an allergic reaction to breathing in specific allergens. Cats can be sensitive to different allergens and different degrees so every cat’s asthma may look a little different and be triggered in different situations. Common allergens include:

Anything that can be breathed in can be a trigger for asthma. When your feline friend very first encounters breathing in these allergens, their immune system will trigger a response that will be repeated every time they are exposed to it. Their immune system will try to attack the allergens to protect your pet, but this reaction causes unwanted inflammation and irritation of the respiratory system.

Since asthma is a respiratory disease then owners will need to be watching out for symptoms that are predominantly to do with their airways. Any kind of breathing issue may indicate that they have asthma. Symptoms to watch for include:

These signs can vary in severity and even if they’re not presenting many signs, they will be sensitive to a trachea pinch. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should seek veterinary advice to help keep your feline friend comfortable and get them fighting fit again.

There is no single definitive test that allows a vet to diagnose asthma. Instead, it’s usually a case of collecting information and history from the owner or old clinical records and various tests to allow them to gather a better understanding of what’s causing the symptoms in your beloved pet.

Cat asthma can be tested in several different ways. First, a vet will always listen to their chest, even if they’re not currently having an attack to see if their airways are currently clear. They may want to perform some allergy tests to try and better understand the triggers your companion might have.

Other ways to investigate and help them reach a diagnosis include x-rays, CT scans and a bronchoscopy which is when a vet will sedate your cat and use a tiny camera to look down their respiratory tract for any signs of irritation and swelling.

Vets will usually prescribe one or a combination of two different kinds of drugs. One is a steroid to reduce the inflammation of the airways and helps to relieve the symptoms. A steroid can either be used on its own or with a bronchodilator that helps to dilate the airways. By using both, it can reduce inflammation while opening the lungs up to be able to draw in more air and help them catch their breath. These drugs come in different forms including tablets, injections or inhalers.

Your beloved pet may get their very own inhaler that looks similar to one that people who suffer from asthma will have but it has a chamber attached with a mouthpiece that goes over the mouth and nose to make sure they inhale all of their treatment with as little escaping as possible.

Outside of seeking treatment from your vet, there are ways in which you can help to avoid asthma attacks at home. Some minor changes to what you provide for your four-legged friend can help alleviate any breathing problems.

Feeding a diet that is made for sensitive cats can be a great start as asthma can be triggered by food intolerances as well as inhalants. If you get an asthma diagnosis for your family pet, then you should consider what kind of litter you’re using. It should be a dust-free kind like the World’s Best Original Cat Litter which is 99% dust free and less likely to trigger an asthma attack.

Other things you can do to help avoid unnecessary attacks include using pet-friendly cleaning sprays and making sure your home is as dust and hair free as possible to avoid anything unwanted being inhaled. Regularly cleaning areas that your moggy likes to rest in will help to keep them comfortable.

Signs that your furry friend is having an asthma attack and may need some help will all revolve around their breathing. You may notice they sound a little wheezy, to begin with, and are just generally having a little difficulty breathing. They can be coughing or hacking a little bit if they’re struggling to catch their breath and they might even be breathing with an open mouth which is quite uncommon to see in cats. If they can’t catch their breath, you may see them vomiting up bile from the stress of coughing so much.

If your cat has previously been diagnosed with asthma and they’re having an attack, this is likely when you would have been told to give them their treatment to alleviate the symptoms and help them breathe easier. After treatment and while they recover, keep them calm, quiet and in a well-ventilated and cool environment to prevent them from overheating.

If you suspect your cat is having an asthma attack but has never been diagnosed and you don’t have treatment, then you should call the vet to try and get them seen as soon as you can. While you wait or travel with your cat you should try to keep them cool and as free of stress as you possibly can.

For everything you need to help avoid asthma attacks at home and all of your other feline essentials, take a look at our wide range of stock in-store and online.