A cat’s occasional coughing might initially be mistaken for a hairball or a minor incident of food getting stuck. However, if coughing occurs repeatedly, it’s likely to concern the owner. While early stages of asthma may cause intermittent coughing without other noticeable symptoms, it’s a progressive condition that needs treatment. Any cat that coughs frequently should be seen by a veterinarian to diagnose the problem and manage the condition properly.
What Is Asthma?
Similar to asthma in humans, feline asthma is a respiratory condition triggered by allergens that leads to difficulty in breathing. In some cats, the immune system overreacts to inhaled allergens, which results in the release of substances into the bloodstream that cause severe inflammation in the airways.
Symptoms of Asthma in Cats:
Detecting early asthma symptoms can be challenging, and severe episodes might be infrequent, often leading to them being mistaken for hairballs. Over time, symptoms typically become more frequent and noticeable.
Symptoms:
- Wheezing.
- Tiring easily.
- Coughing/choking sounds.
- Gagging.
A key sign of feline asthma is faint wheezing during breathing, especially after active play. This contrasts with hairballs or other obstructions.
Asthma causes the airways to become inflamed and constricted, producing excess mucus and making breathing difficult. This results in rapid fatigue due to reduced oxygen intake.
During a severe asthma attack, a cat may hunch low with its neck and head extended, possibly gagging, sneezing, coughing, or vomiting. Immediate veterinary care is crucial for severe attacks, and even early symptoms warrant an examination. With a proper diagnosis, you can take steps to help manage the condition during attacks.
Causes of Asthma:
Many of the allergens that trigger asthma attacks in humans can also provoke asthma attacks in cats, including:
- Cigarette smoke
- Mildew or mold
- Household chemicals
- Dust
- Pollen
- Cat litter particulates
Stress can either trigger or worsen a feline asthma attack. Therefore, it’s important to stay as calm as possible when your cat is having an attack.
Diagnosing Asthma in Cats:
Blood Tests: These tests help your veterinarian evaluate your cat’s overall health, rule out other conditions, and detect inflammation in the body.
Chest X-ray: Also known as a thoracic radiograph, this imaging test allows your veterinarian to check for lung abnormalities, such as chronic inflammation or unusual fluid buildup. Asthmatic cats may show bright, branching patterns on X-rays, indicating inflammatory cell accumulation in the airways.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL): This procedure involves inserting an endotracheal tube into the cat’s trachea under general anesthesia to collect samples from the airways. While it can diagnose asthma and other lung conditions, BAL requires anesthesia, which is not suitable for cats in severe respiratory distress or illness.
Treatment:
To manage feline asthma, common treatments include steroids to reduce airway inflammation and bronchodilators to keep airways open. These can be administered orally or through a metered-dose inhaler, like Flovent, using a special mask such as the Aerokat Feline Aerosol Chamber. Aerosol delivery targets the lungs directly, minimizing side effects compared to pills and injections.
If your cat’s attacks become more severe or frequent, consult your veterinarian for a re-evaluation and possible medication adjustment.
Prognosis for Cats With Asthma:
Feline asthma is a chronic, progressive condition with no cure. Your veterinarian will create a medication plan to keep your cat comfortable for life.
After diagnosis, you can help reduce asthma attacks by addressing environmental allergens causing respiratory issues. Effective management involves knowing your cat’s normal behavior, monitoring breathing changes, administering medications as directed, and seeking veterinary care for routine checkups or emergencies.
How to Prevent Asthma:
Reduce smoking: If you smoke, do so only outdoors, or better yet, consider quitting for your health and the well-being of your pets.
Eliminate mold and mildew: Perform a deep clean using a steam cleaner for surfaces like tile floors and walls, and hire professionals for central air duct cleaning.
Curtail dust and dust mites: Regular vacuuming and using HEPA air purifiers can help reduce dust and mites. A room purifier in your cat’s main area can also assist, especially during pollen season.
Edit household chemicals: Opt for eco-friendly cleaning products and avoid air fresheners, scented detergents, and perfumes that could trigger respiratory issues in sensitive cats.
Change cat litter: Avoid clay litters due to the dust they produce. Instead, use wood or paper-based litters without added fragrances. Gradually introduce the new litter to accommodate your cat’s preferences.
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