Feline asthma is a common chronic respiratory condition causing bronchospasm and airway inflammation that produces recurrent episodes of coughing and potentially life-threatening acute crises.
Cats in an acute asthma attack experience severe air hunger - the inability to breathe adequately despite effort. The open-mouth breathing, extended neck posture, and obvious distress of a cat in respiratory crisis reflect genuine and intense suffering. Between acute episodes, chronic coughing is distressing and physically demanding. The hyperreactive airway means that triggers as minor as a lit candle, cigarette smoke, or dusty litter can precipitate a crisis. Many cats with asthma live with chronic low-grade airway inflammation between acute episodes - a state of ongoing mild respiratory compromise that reduces exercise tolerance and quality of life. Excellent control is achievable with proper diagnosis and inhaled medication, making undertreated asthma a preventable welfare problem.