Feline Asthma

Feline asthma is a chronic, incurable lung disease in cats. How to recognize that your cat has asthma, what causes it, and how your cat can still lead a good life, read here.

It is estimated that one to five percent of cats suffers from feline asthma, a chronic lung disease. Feline asthma cannot be cured, but the symptoms and symptoms caused by the disease can usually be managed well with various measures.

Symptoms of Asthma in Cats

Asthma usually begins with fits of coughing and short periods of shortness of breath, which are becoming more frequent and more severe if left untreated:

1. Initially, cats have short bouts of dry coughing, which, like general breathing difficulties, can become chronic as the disease progresses.
2. In far advanced cases, the constant shortness of breath and the coughing, which does not allow the animals to rest, can affect the entire organism. The seriously ill animals appear weak and listless overall.

When cats have an asthma attack, they have trouble breathing. In order to take in enough oxygen, they breathe faster and sometimes with their muzzle open. Exhaling is usually even more difficult for animals than inhaling. Sometimes you can hear wheezing, wheezing. Coughing fits that look like the cat wants to choke up a ball of hair are conspicuous.

These symptoms can escalate to life-threatening status asthmaticus. This leads to severe shortness of breath: the animals often assume a crouching position with a low upper body and raised shoulders and crane their necks out. Strong coughing can cause retching and vomiting. The cat’s mucous membranes turn blue and it breathes through its mouth.

In the event of an asthma attack, quick action is important. Use the medication prescribed by the veterinarian and contact him or the emergency vet immediately if you are unsure.

Triggers of Feline Asthma

Exactly what causes asthma is not clear, but there is evidence that it is an allergic reaction to substances the cat inhales. These can be found in almost every household.

If the cat inhales an allergy-causing substance, a so-called allergen, its immune system is alarmed. It then reacts as if the allergen were a dangerous substance or even a pathogen and initiates defensive measures. These defenses include inflammation in the airways. The unnecessary inflammatory reaction leads to changes in the bronchial mucosa and lung tissue that impede breathing – the cat has to work harder and harder to get enough air and to exhale the stale air again.

The following allergens are commonly associated with the development of asthma in cats:

• smoke (tobacco, fireplace, or candles)
• sprays of all kinds
• household cleaning products
• cat litter dust
• plant pollen
• house dust mites
• mold
• mildew

In addition, the following factors can also trigger an asthma attack:

• parasitic infestation (lungworms)
• stress
• heart diseases
• pneumonia
• severe overweight (obesity)

In fact, any cat can develop asthma. There is evidence that Siamese cats are slightly more likely to develop asthma than domestic cats or other pedigree cats.

Diagnosis of Feline Asthma

The sooner asthma is recognized and treated, the better the symptoms can be managed. Healthy cats usually breathe completely silently and exclusively through their nose. Animals that breathe differently should be examined by a veterinarian immediately. A vet check-up is also appropriate if the cat repeatedly coughs, chokes, or gets out of breath for no apparent reason.

There is no study that clearly proves asthma. For the diagnosis, the veterinarian must rule out all other possible causes. In addition to the general examination, this usually requires various blood tests, fecal tests (lungworms), and chest x-rays. The X-rays should show whether the lung tissue has already changed.

Treatment of Asthma in Cats

There is no cure for asthma, but with medication and accompanying measures, the cat can lead a good life despite the disease. The main drugs used are anti-inflammatory preparations based on cortisone and agents that widen the bronchi – so-called bronchodilators. If the cat cooperates, some medication can also be given by inhalation. This has the advantage that the drug acts directly on the lungs.

By consistently removing the allergens from the cat’s environment, you can sometimes reduce the dosage of the medication and thus reduce the risk of side effects. In addition, the asthma therapy can be supported by accompanying measures:

• Overweight cats should lose weight under veterinary supervision because being overweight makes breathing even more difficult: slimmer people breathe easier.
• Since anxiety and stress can also increase shortness of breath, it makes sense to recognize stress triggers and eliminate or alleviate them.
• Dietary supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation or herbal products, should only be used in consultation with the veterinarian because even natural substances can cause serious side effects in allergy sufferers.
• Schuessler salts can help cats with asthma. Ask your veterinarian or alternative animal practitioner about this beforehand.

Different Degrees of Severity

Asthma in cats is divided into four degrees of severity:

• In Grade I disease, cats experience only an occasional relatively mild asthma attack. These animals can live largely normal lives, being treated with bronchodilators only when needed.
• Grade II patients have mild symptoms daily but behave normally between attacks. These patients also need anti-inflammatory drugs during an attack.
• Quality of life is already limited in grade III patients. You tire quickly and have a disturbed sleep/wake cycle. They need to be on permanent bronchodilators.
• Cats with Grade IV asthma have great difficulty breathing even at rest, avoiding activities, and often going through severe bouts of shortness of breath. These animals need both bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs on continuous therapy.