Feline asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease affecting up to 5% of cats, causing respiratory distress that severely impacts welfare and requires careful management.
Acute asthmatic episodes are profoundly distressing experiences for cats, involving oxygen deprivation, panic, and intense respiratory effort. Cats in status asthmaticus may breathe with open mouths - a sign of extreme distress in a species that normally breathes only through the nose. The chronic nature of asthma means ongoing bronchial inflammation even between visible attacks. Inhaled corticosteroids minimize systemic side effects compared to oral medications, improving long-term quality of life. Environmental control to eliminate triggers reduces attack frequency significantly. Early intervention during an attack is critical to preventing hypoxic brain damage.