Feline asthma affects approximately 1% of cats and causes episodes of distressing bronchoconstriction that significantly impair quality of life without appropriate management.
Feline asthma causes episodic welfare emergencies — acute bronchoconstriction episodes are terrifying and distressing experiences for affected cats. Between episodes, chronic airway inflammation creates a baseline of respiratory compromise that reduces exercise tolerance and quality of life. Modern treatment approaches using inhaled medications via specially designed feline inhalers and spacers deliver medication directly to the airways with fewer systemic side effects than oral corticosteroids. Identifying and removing environmental triggers is often as important as medication management. A well-managed asthmatic cat can have excellent quality of life — the welfare goal is both acute attack prevention and chronic inflammation management.