Back to Disease DictionaryRespiratory
Feline Asthma in Cats
Chronic airway inflammation and hypersensitivity causing coughing and breathing difficulty. Triggered by allergens and stress, more common in Siamese breeds.
Vet Supervised
Symptoms
- Coughing (especially at night)
- Breathing difficulty
- Wheezing
- Open-mouth breathing
- Exercise intolerance
Related Symptom Pages
Causes
- Allergens (pollen, dust, cigarette smoke)
- Stress
- Genetic predisposition
- Environmental irritants
Diagnosis
1
Chest X-ray
2
Bronchoscopy
3
Bronchoalveolar lavage
4
Allergy testing
Treatment
- Inhaled steroids (AeroKat)
- Oral steroids
- Bronchodilators
- Environmental management
Prognosis
Cure is difficult, but good quality of life can be maintained with proper management.
Severity: Medium
Prevention
- Clean indoor environment
- No smoking
- Low-allergen cat litter
- Stress management
Commonly Affected Breeds
Epidemiology
Prevalence
Approximately 1-5% of all cats