An asthma attack in a cat can sometimes be thought of as just another clump of fur or maybe choking on food. Asthma can cause your cat to cough and then it will seem fine, but this is a slowly developing condition with no cure. Cats with coughing should be examined by a veterinarian to diagnose the problem and ensure proper management of the situation.

What is cat asthma?

Just like human asthma, cat asthma is a respiratory disease caused by an allergen that causes breathing difficulties. The immune system of some cats overreacts to inhaled allergens. The resulting immune response can lead to an overproduction of substances in the bloodstream, which can lead to severe inflammation in the airways. The swollen and inflamed airway secretes excessive mucus and becomes narrow, making it difficult for the cat to breathe.

Symptoms of asthma in cats

Early symptoms may be difficult to detect. You may hear a faint panting sound, which is more audible after strenuous exercise. Your cat seems to tire easily.

A full-blown asthma attack may start out like a cat trying to cough up a hairball, or perhaps choking on food. The body posture is slightly different during an asthma attack. In a cat with asthma, the body is bent lower and the neck and head are stretched outward and downward in an effort to clear the airways of mucus. “Choking” may also be accompanied by a typical coughing sound and possibly sneezing or vomiting. Cats may or may not expel frothy mucus.

These severe attacks may not happen often, making it easy to dismiss them as “a hairball”. In fact, they are life-threatening, and if a cat suffers a full-blown attack, it should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. Even cats showing one or two early signs should be examined. Once diagnosed, there are a number of things you can do to help your cat during one of these episodes.

Causes of asthma attacks in cats

Stress can cause or exacerbate an asthma attack in cats. Therefore, you should try to remain calm when your cat is suffering from an asthma attack. Many of the same allergens that cause asthma attacks in humans can also cause asthma attacks in cats, including:

• Cigarette smoke
• Molds and mildews
• Household chemicals
• Dust
• pollen
• Cat litter pellets

Cat asthma diagnosis

Your veterinarian will use several diagnostic tests to diagnose your cat’s asthma. The most common diagnostic tools are :

• Blood tests:Blood tests can help your veterinarian rule out other diseases and can also show if there is inflammation in your cat’s body.
• Chest X-ray:Also called a chest radiograph, this diagnosis will help your veterinarian see any abnormalities in the lungs, such as areas of chronic inflammation or unusual fluid buildup. Sometimes cats with asthma will have a bright branching pattern on the chest radiograph. This indicates an accumulation of inflammatory cells in the airways. Hyperinflation of the lungs is sometimes seen in cases of feline asthma.
• Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL):This is a very useful procedure. Under general anesthesia, an endotracheal tube is inserted into the cat’s trachea. This allows your veterinarian to take a sample of fluid directly from the cat’s airway. In addition to asthma, BAL can also diagnose other lung diseases.The disadvantage of BAL is that it requires general anesthesia, and it is not recommended for cats with severe respiratory distress or other extreme diseases.

Treatment

Feline asthma is a chronic progressive disease that cannot be cured. Instead, your veterinarian will develop a medication management plan to keep your cat as comfortable as possible. The most basic and common strategies for treating cat asthma include the use of steroids to help reduce inflammation in the airways and the use of bronchodilators to keep the airways as clear as possible so the cat can breathe more easily.

Sometimes these drugs are taken orally, but another form of administration is using a metered-dose inhaler, usually a Flovent, to administer the drug through a special mouthpiece. the Aerokat cat aerosol chamber was developed for this purpose. The advantage of aerosol steroids over pills and injections is that it goes directly to the lungs rather than systemically, so there are fewer side effects.

If your cat is worse than you think is normal, he should be brought back to your veterinarian for re-evaluation and possible medication adjustment.

As with most feline health issues, the key to successfully managing feline asthma is knowing your cat, keeping your eyes and ears open for breathing changes, giving medications as prescribed, and getting veterinary care when needed, whether it’s a routine exam or emergency intervention.

How to prevent asthma attacks in cats

Once your cat has been diagnosed with feline asthma, depending on the severity of the condition, there are several lifestyle changes you can make to help reduce the recurrence of asthma. The first and most obvious thing you need to do is to try to eliminate environmental allergens that can cause your cat to have difficulty breathing. Some are easy; others are more complicated or more expensive. Some of the most common triggers of cat asthma include:

• Smoking:If you smoke, you’ll need to do it outdoors in the future. A better approach is to consider giving it up, for your own health and for the sake of all the creatures you share your home with.
• Mold and mildew: Perform a deep clean. Steam cleaners, while sounding contraindicated, do a great job of cleaning mold and other allergens from solid surfaces such as tile floors, showers and walls. There are professional services available for central air duct cleaning.
• Dust and Dust Mites:Regular vacuuming can help reduce dust and dust mites. Although expensive, HEPA air purifiers are excellent for removing dust mites and mold spores from the air. Consider installing a room purifier in the room your cat often occupies. High efficiency particulate air purifiers are also helpful during pollen season.
• Household chemicals:Use as little as possible. Use environmentally friendly products for the benefit of your cat, your own health and your home environment. This includes avoiding most plug-in air fresheners and lilies as they can cause respiratory problems in sensitive cats.
• Cat litter:Because clay litter raises dust in it, most are not good for asthmatic cats. Although some cats are allergic to the smell of pine, some owners have used it with good results. The same applies to scented silica litter. Consider using an unscented litter, and repeated trials may be your last resource. Remember that cats are usually picky about changes in cat litter, so introduce new litter gradually.