Feline asthma and chronic bronchitis cause significant respiratory distress in cats. Proper diagnosis and ongoing management greatly improve quality of life.
Cats with unmanaged asthma experience episodes of severe breathlessness which are profoundly distressing. During acute attacks cats may feel they are suffocating. Long-term corticosteroid therapy, trigger identification and avoidance, and owner training to recognize early signs and administer rescue medication are all crucial welfare interventions.