Signs & Symptoms of Cat Asthma

Chronic inflammation in the small passages of the lungs causes asthma in cats. Asthma affects cats in different ways. Cats often have a mild form of asthma that produces a slight cough and mild wheezing. Severe forms of asthma in cats cause wheezing, severe coughing and intolerance to exercise. Cats who have acute attacks of asthma may be in serious respiratory distress. Feline asthma usually begins between the ages of 2 and 6.

  1. Coughing

    • Coughing is the main symptom of asthma in cats. Usually, it begins early in life and is mistaken for a minor illness or the presence of hairballs. Asthmatic coughs in cats are most often a dry, hacking cough and the cat may occasionally vomit during a coughing spell. Occasional coughing episodes may lead to persistent coughing and become more frequent as time goes on. Cats with asthma often stand up and stretch their heads forward when coughing is severe, as if coughing up an object.

    Exercise Intolerance

    • Asthmatic cats often avoid exercise or playing because it makes it more difficult for them to breathe. Difficulty breathing is the result of thickening of the passages of the lungs, which are inflamed when a cat has asthma. Exercising outside may also cause the cat to come into close contact with allergens, which can worsen asthma symptoms. Common outdoor allergens are pollen, grass, smoke and trees. Exercising outside in extreme heat or cold causes asthma symptoms to worsen as well.

    Wheezing

    • Wheezing is a common symptom in asthmatic cats. Wheezing is often mild and not bothersome to cats and can occur with coughing episodes. Severe feline asthma, however, causes serious wheezing and difficulty breathing. Cats are often in acute distress and one telltale sign is open-mouthed breathing. At times, wheezing produces a high-pitched sound and breathing is obviously labored. This is a medical emergency and requires immediate veterinary attention.