Feline Asthma Symptoms and Treatments

Feline asthma appears to be becoming much more prevalent that even a couple of decades ago, and the main line of thinking is that it is due to an increase in the amount of environmental pollutants in the air.

Some cats have always been susceptible to developing asthma in response to tree or plant pollen, and to dust and mites, but there is an increased incidence in asthma being due to cigarette smoke, smoke from fires, aerosol sprays and household dust and mites.

Asthma is an obstructive airway disease and in feline asthma is a response to these irritants and is a reflexive self-protective attempt to expel the toxins or irritants that can cause it.

Cats may also have asthma attacks if they develop an allergy to flea bites or medications prescribed by their vet and in severe attacks it is essential that cats are given immediate treatment by their vet. As it is an obstructive airway disease, the cat will need emergency medication which will relieve the constricted muscles and allow air back into the lungs - without these drugs the cat is likely to suffocate to death.

An asthmatic attack is triggered by an irritant in the air, or in the blood, which causes a contraction of the involuntary muscle in the airways, particularly in the smaller bronchioles which lead off from the main branch. The air cannot get in down into the lungs, and as the gasping for air gets worse and gaseous exchange doesn't take place, so the lung sacs start to fill with fluid which further compromises the ability of the lungs to take in air and expel it again. Chronic asthma inevitably leads to chronic bronchitis.

When your cat has an asthma attack he will be extremely distressed as he cannot breathe properly. He will be coughing or wheezing, and may hold his mouth open panting for air.

Treatment involves the use of regular steroid therapy and a group of drugs called bronchodilators which ease the muscle constriction in the bronchial tree in the lungs. Cats may also be given a course of oral steroids if the symptoms are not too severe.

If your cat does have an asthma attack, he can be helped to breathe using a special cat mask attached to a humidifier to which bronchodilators can be added - he then breathes in the humidified air and this eases the bronchial spasm. Many cats may be frightened of the mask at first, simply because it represents a further obstruction to his being able to breathe, but your vet will be able to help you get your cat used to this life-saving equipment, and with adequate supervision and monitoring your cat should be able to live a happy life.

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