Caring for working dogs

Understanding Asthma In Cats

11 January 2021

Jose Reid

Like humans, cats can develop asthma at any stage in their lives, and the condition is characterised by significant and lasting inflammation of the small passageways in the lungs. Any cat can develop asthma, but certain breeds, including Siamese, are at greater risk of becoming asthmatic. The cause of the condition is not always clear, but it can be triggered by stress or an environmental irritant, such as an air freshener, dust mites, mould, household cleaners or cigarette smoke. There's no cure for asthma, but there are treatments available that can allow your cat to enjoy a high quality of life by reducing the severity and frequency of asthma attacks. 

Symptoms

Symptoms of asthma can flare up intermittently or be a constant feature in your cat's life, particularly if there's an environmental trigger causing troublesome symptoms that you have yet to identify. Symptoms include wheezing, breathing through the mouth, rapid breathing and a hacking cough. Your cat may also develop lethargy and you may notice an increase in how often they swallow. The symptoms of asthma can be quite distressing, so your cat may become withdrawn and lose interest in social interaction and play.

Diagnosis And Treatment Approach

To diagnose asthma, your vet will ask you to provide details of your cat's symptoms and examine their chest. There is no single test that can be carried out to confirm your cat has asthma, so your vet will instead rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as lungworm and heart disease. Blood tests will be carried out to check the health of your cat's organs and their white blood cell concentration will be measured, as a high white cell count can be indicative of respiratory inflammation. Additionally, the vet may suggest your cat has a chest X-ray to check for obstructions in the respiratory system and structural abnormalities.

The aim of treatment for asthma is to bring your cat's symptoms under control and keep them under control as much as possible. Your cat will receive inpatient care for a few days to resolve breathing issues and monitor their response to treatment, which may involve oxygen therapy, corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and antihistamines if your vet thinks an allergy could be triggering asthma symptoms. Once your cat is stable, they will be discharged with an inhaler for you to administer when they experience a flare-up of symptoms. The inhaler opens up the airways when administered, and your vet will show you how to use it.

Your cat is at risk of organ failure when there's not enough oxygen circulating through their respiratory system, so if they are experiencing any of the symptoms noted above, have them examined by a vet as soon as possible. A veterinary hospital can be a good resourse if you aren't sure whether your cat is exhibiting symptoms or not.

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