Feline asthma affects an estimated 1-5% of cats and causes intermittent respiratory crises that range from mild coughing to life-threatening bronchoconstriction requiring emergency treatment.
Asthmatic cats live with the anxiety of unpredictable breathing crises that owners often fail to recognize as respiratory rather than gastrointestinal. The moment of an acute asthma attack - struggling to breathe, extended neck, hunched posture - is terrifying and can be fatal without rapid treatment. Chronic low-grade airway inflammation between acute episodes also reduces welfare through persistent mild breathing difficulty. The most effective welfare intervention is identifying and eliminating environmental triggers - eliminating cigarette smoke, switching to dust-free litter, and removing scented products from the home can dramatically reduce attack frequency.