Feline asthma and chronic bronchitis are common respiratory conditions causing significant distress and reduced quality of life in cats, but are manageable with appropriate diagnosis and long-term medication.
Feline asthma causes genuine respiratory distress — breathlessness is one of the most distressing sensations experienced by any animal, and acute asthma attacks represent a significant welfare emergency. Cats that cough chronically and experience subclinical airway inflammation suffer a reduced quality of life even without acute attacks. Owner education is critical: many owners misinterpret asthmatic coughing as normal hairball behaviour and do not seek veterinary assessment. Environmental trigger reduction — eliminating cigarette smoke, switching to low-dust litters, and avoiding aerosol sprays — is a free and effective welfare intervention. The availability of inhaled steroid therapy via feline aerosol chambers has transformed long-term management, allowing effective control with fewer systemic side effects than oral medication.