Feline asthma is very similar to asthma in humans. It is described as a chronic, progressive inflammatory respiratory condition that causes narrowing of the airways leading to coughing and wheezing. According to a study by Cornell University, about 1–5 percent of felines have feline asthma. This translates to approximately 800,000 cats in the U.S. While there is no cure for asthma, there are multiple management strategies that we can use to make our furry friends more comfortable. One very important management strategy is to minimize irritants including cigarette smoke, scented candles, heavily scented cleaning products and dusty cat litter.
Diagnosis
Most cats before being diagnosed with feline asthma, will come into the office for symptoms such as coughing or sounding like they are trying to cough up a hairball without producing any hair. On a physical exam, vets will often hear wheezing when listening to their lungs. After an exam and with suspicion of asthma, most vets will recommend taking chest x-rays to evaluate the lungs. There are a few markers on x-rays that can help diagnose feline asthma like hyperinflated lungs or even changes to the bony structures of the chest. Some asthmatic cats will have normal x-rays and require other diagnostic imaging like a CT scan or bronchoscopy (a small camera inserted through the mouth and down into the lungs).
Treatment
The main goal of treatment is to minimize the number and severity of asthma attacks. Often cats are prescribed a rescue inhaler to use during attacks to lessen severity, just like humans. While it may seem complicated to get a cat to use an inhaler, they can be trained to one easily. This involves lots of treats and slow introduction. We recommend cats are given inhaled medications through a chamber or spacer. These use small face masks that you can put over a cat’s nose.
For decreasing the number of attacks, steroids are often used. Since steroids given by mouth can come with side effects, for long-term management we often recommend steroid inhalers.
Spring brings lush green grass, floral blooms and often an up-tick in feline asthma flares. Just like asthma in people, seasonal changes can mean asthma attacks at a higher rate. Some cats will require both inhaled steroids and oral steroids during seasonal changes.
There are other medications we can add in for better management when steroids are not stopping attacks. These include medications to help further open the airways (bronchodilators) and surprisingly, an anti-vomiting medication that has shown positive outcomes when used in asthmatic cats.
If you suspect your feline friend is suffering from feline asthma, I recommend you see a veterinarian to discuss diagnostic and treatment options.