Health Problems for Cats Exposed to Cigarette Smoke

Most people are familiar with the dangers of secondhand smoke to humans. But did you know it can affect your cat as well? Cigarette smoke can cause certain feline diseases, and some cause symptoms that mimic other, more benign conditions. If you suspect that exposure to cigarette smoke has made your cat sick, see your veterinarian right away.

  1. Cancer in the Mouth

    • Cigarette smoke can cause a condition called feline oral squamous cell carcinoma in cats. This form of cancer in the mouth spreads very quickly and can appear to be a dental problem to the untrained eye. One possible reason why the mouth is affected is that when cats groom, they ingest the carcinogens that stick to the fur. According to the Cat Health Guide, symptoms include bad breath, loss of appetite, drooling or excessive salivating, loose teeth, difficulty in swallowing, bleeding from the mouth and swelling of the face or in the mouth.

    Lung Problems and Diseases

    • Cigarette smoke can cause a variety of lung issues in cats, ranging in severity from asthma to fibrotic hardening of the lungs. Feline asthma and chronic bronchitis fall under the category of bronchitis, a term for inflammation of the bronchi and bronchioles. Asthma as it is commonly known, in its mild form, is termed acute asthma, while a long-standing condition is referred to as chronic bronchitis. The exact causes of these conditions are unknown, but cigarette smoke is a suspect. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, lethargy and fast, labored breathing, according to PetMD.

      Fibrotic hardening of the lungs is related to pneumonia causing inflammation and scarring of the air sacs in the lungs. Heredity is believed to be a cause, as well as exposure to cigarette smoke. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, increased respiratory rate and breathing through the mouth, loss of appetite and lethargy, according to PetMD.

    Lymphoma

    • According to Pet Place, a pet information website, Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine conducted a seven-year study and found that cats living in smoking environments are at a much higher risk for lymphoma---a form of cancer---than those living in non-smoking environments. Living with just one smoker doubles your cat's risk of developing this cancer; two smokers or more put your cat at four times the risk. Cats living in smoking environments for five years or more, and those who live in homes where people smoke more than 100 cigarettes per day, are at a significantly higher risk for lymphoma as well. Symptoms include coughing, breathing through the mouth and loss of weight and appetite, according to PetMD.