Purrfect Pets

Feline asthma can be a very serious condition, if it isn’t treated appropriately. In asthma, the airways constrict either in response to environmental stimuli or spontaneously. Allergens that can lead to asthma attacks include grass and tree pollens, hair spray, deodorants, air fresheners, flea spray, smoke from cigarettes and fireplaces, and dust from cat litter.

Feline asthma affects cats of all ages all around the world. It affects approximately 1% of the adult cat population, according to the Cat Fanciers’ Association. The symptoms of asthma in cats are: wheezing, coughing (described as a dry, hacking cough), lethargy, and difficulty breathing. In addition to these symptoms, during an asthma attack, a cat will typically squat with its shoulders hunched and its neck extended and coughs or gags foamy mucus-like material. The cat typically swallows hard after this. It may appear as if your cat is trying to cough up a hairball, but nothing comes out.

The symptoms listed above are typical feline asthma symptoms; however, some cats may have just a few of these symptoms while other cats may present with all of the symptoms. Most cats do not present with asthma symptoms between periods of breathing difficulties.

If your cat is suffering with these symptoms, it is important that you get him or her looked at by your veterinarian because asthma attacks, if severe, can be life threatening. There are several medications you can utilize to treat asthma as well as things you can do around the house to prevent asthma attacks for cats. I will discuss these methods in my next post.

Sources:

Cat Fanciers’ Association: Feline Asthma - Updated Information

Feline Asthma and Other Respiratory Disorders: Symptoms

Trackback URI | Comments RSS