Definition of Asthma
Feline asthma, also called allergic bronchitis, is a syndrome in cats triggered by allergic activation of immune system cells that causes clinical signs of coughing, wheezing, sneezing and generalized respiratory difficulty.
How Asthma Affects Cats
Cats normally develop asthma between two and eight years of age. The most consistent clinical sign in asthmatic cats is coughing. However, signs of so-called “asthma attacks” can vary widely from occasional breathing problems to severe respiratory difficulty bordering upon suffocation. Wheezing and sneezing are common in affected cats.
Causes of Asthma in Cats
Feline asthma is triggered by an allergic reaction to some environmental allergen – which typically, but not always, is inhaled. The allergen itself can be almost anything. Common inciting causes include chemicals, cigarette or fireplace smoke, air pollution (smog, smoke from wildfires or crop burning), carpet cleaners or other household cleaning products, perfumes (including those in deodorant or hair spray), room fresheners, new kitty litter, fertilizers, home remodeling products, paint, landscaping materials, pesticides, pollen, grasses, weeds or other shrubbery and animal dander (new pets, kennel or veterinary visits), among other things. Often, the exact asthmatic trigger is never identified. Exposure to the allergen causes inflammation of the lower airways and associated smooth muscle constriction.
Preventing Asthma in Cats
Most cases of feline allergic bronchitis can be prevented by identifying and removing the inciting allergens from the cat’s environment. If that cannot be accomplished, drugs are available to help manage asthmatic conditions symptomatically, although medication cannot actually “prevent” the disorder.
Special Notes
Unfortunately, allergic bronchitis is rather common in cats. Because the signs of feline asthma mimic those associated with other respiratory conditions, conclusive diagnosis can only be made after extensive diagnostic assessment, including blood tests and thoracic radiographs. The prognosis for cats with asthma is good to excellent if the inciting allergen can be identified and avoided. Long-term symptomatic treatment will be necessary in most other cases to enable affected cats to lead relatively normal lives.