Feline asthma affects 1-5% of cats and requires ongoing management combining medication, environmental modification, and owner education to maintain quality of life.
An asthma attack is a frightening, painful event for cats - acute respiratory distress causes panic, and severe attacks can be fatal. Between attacks, cats with poorly controlled asthma experience reduced exercise tolerance, disrupted sleep, and chronic airway inflammation. Owner education about trigger avoidance is as important as medication - eliminating aerosol sprays, switching to low-dust litter, and prohibiting indoor smoking can dramatically reduce attack frequency. Regular veterinary monitoring allows medication adjustments to maintain the best possible quality of life.