Cat Feline Asthma: Respiratory Welfare

Feline asthma is a common, treatable respiratory disease in cats. Unmanaged asthma significantly reduces quality of life and can be life-threatening during acute attacks.

Key Facts

Feline asthma affects approximately 1-5% of cats globally
It is an allergic respiratory disease causing airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction
Siamese cats have the highest breed predisposition
Signs include coughing, wheezing, labored breathing, and characteristic crouched posture during attacks
Environmental triggers include cigarette smoke, dusty cat litter, aerosol sprays, and pollen
Treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (via feline-specific inhaler mask) is most effective and safest long-term

Welfare Considerations

Asthma attacks cause acute distress — cats experiencing bronchoconstriction show visible respiratory effort, anxiety, and open-mouth breathing. Without treatment, attacks can be fatal. Chronic low-grade inflammation reduces exercise tolerance and quality of life even between acute episodes. Inhaled bronchodilators (salbutamol) provide rapid relief during attacks; inhaled corticosteroids (fluticasone) control underlying inflammation long-term. Owner-administered inhalers using the AeroKat spacer device are well-tolerated by most cats and represent a major welfare improvement over systemic steroids.

What You Can Do

Eliminate known respiratory irritants: stop smoking indoors, switch to low-dust cat litter
Learn to use an AeroKat inhaler spacer — cats adapt to them remarkably well with training
Keep a rescue bronchodilator inhaler prescribed by your vet for acute attack management
Seek veterinary diagnosis for any cat showing recurrent coughing — do not assume it is normal