Feline asthma is a common chronic respiratory condition causing breathing difficulty and acute attacks that significantly impact cat welfare.
Feline asthma causes significant respiratory suffering that can be life-threatening during acute attacks. Cats with chronic asthma experience persistent airway irritation causing coughing and mild breathing difficulty as a baseline, punctuated by acute bronchospasm episodes where they may become severely distressed. The sensation of not being able to breathe adequately is profoundly distressing for any sentient animal. Many owners do not recognize chronic low-grade asthma signs — misinterpreting coughing as hairball attempts — delaying treatment for months or years. During this time, irreversible airway remodeling occurs that worsens long-term prognosis. Environmental trigger management — eliminating scented products, dusty litter, and cigarette smoke — combined with inhaled or systemic corticosteroids provides effective control when implemented appropriately.