Companion Animal Respiratory Disease Welfare

Respiratory disease in companion animals causes significant welfare compromise and requires prompt veterinary attention.

Key Facts

Upper respiratory infections are extremely common in shelter cats — affecting up to 50% of cats in shelters
Brachycephalic breeds have structural upper airway problems causing chronic respiratory compromise
Kennel cough spreads rapidly in boarding facilities causing acute welfare harm
Feline asthma affects up to 1% of cats and requires ongoing management to maintain quality of life

Welfare Considerations

Respiratory disease causes welfare compromise along a spectrum from the acute discomfort of an upper respiratory infection to the chronic disability of brachycephalic airway syndrome. Cats struggling to breathe through an obstructed airway experience distress with every breath. Shelter cats with respiratory infections need veterinary treatment and ideally foster care rather than remaining in the shelter environment where infections spread. Brachycephalic pets require careful management throughout their lives.

What You Can Do

Avoid purchasing brachycephalic breeds with severe structural airway problems
Vaccinate cats against herpesvirus and calicivirus that cause upper respiratory infections
Support shelter foster programs that remove respiratory cases from shelter environments
Seek prompt veterinary attention for animals showing signs of breathing difficulty