Feline asthma affects a significant proportion of cats and causes breathing difficulty and distress that can be well-managed with appropriate treatment.
Cats with asthma experience acute distress during bronchospasm attacks and chronic welfare compromise from reduced respiratory reserve. Emergency attacks are genuinely frightening experiences for affected cats. Long-term management with inhaled corticosteroids provides excellent welfare outcomes for most affected cats, substantially reducing attack frequency and severity. Environmental trigger management through switching to low-dust litters, eliminating smoking indoors, and reducing aerosol use complements medical management. Owners trained to recognize early attack signs and administer bronchodilators can dramatically reduce welfare harms from breakthrough events.