Asthma in Cats: Signs, Triggers and Treatment

At a glance

What it is	Ongoing inflammation and narrowing of the lower airways, often triggered by something breathed in
Who's at risk	Usually young to middle-aged cats; Siamese and related breeds appear more prone
Main signs	Coughing with the neck stretched low, wheezing, fast or effortful breathing, tiring easily
Contagious?	No
Can it be prevented?	Not as such, but reducing dust, smoke and other airborne irritants can cut down on flare-ups

What it is

When a cat breathes in, air passes down the windpipe into progressively smaller airways in the lungs. In asthma, these lower airways are chronically inflamed. When they react to a trigger, the muscles around them tighten, the lining swells, and extra mucus is produced. All of this narrows the airways and makes it harder to move air, particularly when breathing out.

Feline asthma is thought to be an allergic reaction to something inhaled. Possible triggers include:

• Dusty or scented cat litter
• Cigarette or wood smoke
• Aerosol sprays, air fresheners, plug-ins, scented candles and incense
• Pollens, moulds and house dust mites
• Cleaning products with strong fumes
• Cold air or stress, in some cats

Often, no single trigger is identified. The same airway signs can also be seen with chronic bronchitis and some infections, and vets sometimes group these under the broad term "lower airway disease".

Signs to watch for

Asthma can cause mild, occasional signs or sudden severe attacks. Watch for:

• Coughing. A coughing cat crouches low with the neck stretched out and the head close to the ground, making a hacking sound. This is very easy to mistake for trying to bring up a hairball — but nothing comes up. Our article on cat vomiting and hairballs explains the difference.
• Wheezing, a whistling sound when breathing
• Breathing faster than usual while resting
• Visible effort when breathing, especially pushing with the tummy muscles to breathe out
• Tiring quickly or avoiding play
• Open-mouth breathing or panting

Cats are very good at hiding illness, and many asthmatic cats have quiet spells between flare-ups. Counting your cat's breathing rate while they are asleep, and noting coughing episodes, helps you notice changes. If you can safely film a coughing episode, show it to your vet.

When to see a vet

Book an appointment if your cat is coughing — even occasionally — wheezing or breathing faster than usual. Cats don't cough often, so a recurring cough is always worth checking.

Treat these as an emergency and go to a vet immediately:

• Breathing with the mouth open or panting
• Struggling to breathe, with the belly heaving
• Sitting hunched with elbows out and neck extended, unwilling to lie down
• Blue, grey or very pale gums or tongue
• Collapse

Keep your cat as calm and quiet as possible, handle them gently, and transport them in a well-ventilated carrier in a cool car. Phone ahead so the practice is ready. Stress can worsen breathing difficulty, so avoid chasing or restraining them more than necessary.

How vets diagnose it

There is no single test for asthma, so vets look for evidence of airway inflammation and rule out other causes of coughing and breathing difficulty.

• History and examination. Listening to the chest may reveal wheezes or crackles, though some cats sound normal between episodes.
• Blood tests to look for signs of allergy or inflammation and to check general health.
• Faecal tests for lungworm, a parasite that can cause similar signs in cats.
• Testing for heartworm, in parts of the world where this occurs.
• Chest X-rays, which may show thickened airways or over-inflated lungs, and help rule out heart disease, fluid, pneumonia and tumours.
• Airway sampling. Under anaesthetic, a small amount of sterile fluid can be washed into the airways and collected to look at the cells and check for infection. A camera may also be used to view the airways.

Cats in breathing distress are stabilised first; tests come later when it is safer.

Treatment and management

Treatment aims to reduce airway inflammation over the long term and relieve narrowing during flare-ups. Your vet will tailor the plan.

• Anti-inflammatory medication. Steroids are the mainstay of long-term control. They may be given by mouth, by injection or by inhaler. Doses are usually started higher and reduced to the lowest dose that keeps your cat comfortable.
• Airway-opening medication (bronchodilators). These relax the airway muscles and are used for flare-ups or alongside anti-inflammatory treatment.
• Inhalers. Many cats can be trained to use an inhaler through a spacer chamber with a small face mask. This delivers medication directly to the lungs, which can mean fewer side effects than medication by mouth. Your vet team can show you how, and most cats get used to it with patience and treats.
• Emergency treatment for severe attacks, which may include oxygen and fast-acting medications in hospital.
• Weight management. Overweight cats find it harder to breathe, so getting to a healthy weight can help.

Never give your cat human asthma medication or adjust doses without your vet's advice.

Living with it

Reducing exposure to airborne irritants can make a real difference:

• Switch to a low-dust, unscented litter.
• Don't smoke indoors or near your cat, and avoid open fires and incense.
• Stop using aerosols, air fresheners, plug-in diffusers and scented candles.
• Vacuum and dust regularly, ideally when your cat is in another room; an air purifier may help some households.
• Keep your cat out of rooms while cleaning or decorating.
• Keep a diary of coughing, breathing rate and possible triggers to share with your vet.
• Keep an emergency plan: know the nearest out-of-hours vet and keep any rescue medication your vet has prescribed to hand.

Most cats with well-managed asthma live normal lives, with occasional flare-ups.

Prevention

Asthma itself can't be prevented, but the home changes above can reduce how often flare-ups happen. Regular parasite prevention protects against lungworm, which can cause similar signs, and keeping your cat at a healthy weight supports easier breathing. Our symptom checker can help you think through any new breathing signs.

Breeds more at risk

Asthma can occur in any cat, including moggies. Siamese cats, and breeds related to them, are often reported to be more susceptible.