Hearing your cat cough, wheeze, or struggle for breath is undoubtedly worrying for any loving pet parent.
While several things might cause respiratory issues, feline asthma is a common condition that requires understanding and proper care from you and your vet.
Recognizing the potential signs early is the first step towards helping your furry friend breathe easier.
What Signs Should I Look For?
Feline asthma affects the small airways in a cat’s lungs, causing inflammation and making it harder to breathe.
The symptoms can appear suddenly or be subtle and ongoing, ranging from mild to quite severe. Paying close attention to your cat’s breathing and behavior can help you pick up on important clues.
1. Changes in Breathing Patterns
Take a moment to watch how your cat breathes when they are calm and resting. Are they working harder than usual to breathe?
You might notice their chest moving more dramatically or even see their tummy muscles pushing hard with each breath out. Breathing faster than normal when resting can also be a sign.
A typical resting rate is about 25 to 30 breaths per minute; rates consistently above 30, or especially over 40 breaths per minute without an obvious cause like recent play or stress, warrant attention.
2. That Persistent Cough
A cough is one of the most frequent signs of feline asthma. It often sounds dry, like a hacking noise, and might happen in short bursts or persist for a bit.
Sometimes, you might notice your cat swallowing repeatedly after coughing, as if trying to clear mucus from their throat. Occasionally, a cat might even bring up some frothy mucus.
3. Is That Wheezing I Hear?
Listen carefully, especially when your cat breathes out. Do you hear a faint, high pitched whistling or rattling sound? That’s wheezing, and it happens when air tries to move through narrowed airways.
Sometimes it’s quiet and you might only hear it if you listen very closely or with a stethoscope, but during more significant episodes, you might hear it just sitting near your cat.
4. The Asthma Posture
Cats who are having significant trouble breathing often adopt a very specific posture.
They might crouch low to the ground, hunching their shoulders and extending their neck forward, sometimes pointing their head slightly upwards.
This position helps them straighten and open their airways as much as possible to get more air.
5. Open Mouth Breathing A Warning Sign
It’s really important to know that cats, unlike dogs, typically do not pant or breathe with their mouths open.
If you see your cat breathing with their mouth open, especially if it’s persistent and not just a fleeting moment after intense play, consider it a serious warning sign that they are in significant respiratory distress.
6. Other Possible Clues
Sometimes the signs are less obvious. Your cat might seem unusually tired, less interested in playing, or get winded easily after just a little activity.
This lethargy can happen because they aren’t getting enough oxygen. In some severe coughing fits or moments of distress, a cat might even vomit.
A very critical emergency sign is cyanosis where the gums and tongue take on a bluish or grayish color due to a severe lack of oxygen.
Could It Be Something Else?
Figuring out if it’s asthma can be tricky because many of these signs aren’t unique to this condition.
Several other health issues can cause similar symptoms, which is why a proper diagnosis from your veterinarian is so important.
1. Asthma Cough vs Hairball A Common Mix Up
This is probably the most common point of confusion for cat parents! While the sounds can sometimes be similar, there’s a key difference.
An asthma cough originates deep in the lungs and often occurs with that characteristic neck extended, crouched posture.
A hairball issue comes from the stomach, leading to retching, gagging, or vomiting, potentially producing fluid or hair.
A true cough involves forceful air expulsion from the lungs. Getting a video of the episode can be incredibly helpful for your vet to distinguish between the two.
2. Why a Vet Visit is Essential?
Because symptoms like coughing and difficulty breathing can also be caused by conditions like heart disease, respiratory infections (like bronchitis or pneumonia), parasites (including lungworm and even Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease or HARD), or other problems, a thorough veterinary examination is crucial.
Your vet has the tools and knowledge to investigate the cause and rule out other possibilities before confirming an asthma diagnosis.
What Should I Do If I Suspect Asthma?
If you notice any of these signs and suspect your cat might have asthma, taking a few proactive steps can help your veterinarian figure things out.
1. Observe and Record
Become a keen observer. Keep notes on the symptoms you see how often they occur, how severe they seem, and what your cat was doing beforehand.
Note any potential triggers you might notice like dust, aerosols, or seasonal changes.
2. Capture a Video
We mentioned it before, but it bears repeating capturing an episode of coughing, wheezing, or difficult breathing on your phone can be incredibly valuable.
Showing this video to your veterinarian gives them a much clearer picture of what’s happening than just describing it.
3. Schedule a Vet Appointment Promptly
Don’t adopt a wait and see approach if you’re concerned about your cat’s breathing. Persistent respiratory signs need professional attention.
Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss your concerns and get your cat checked out. Early diagnosis and management lead to better outcomes.
4. Know the Emergency Signs
It’s vital to recognize a true respiratory emergency. If your cat is obviously struggling or gasping for air, breathing persistently with their mouth open, has blue or grey gums, or collapses, seek immediate veterinary care at the nearest emergency clinic. Call ahead to let them know you are coming.
Final Thoughts
Spotting potential signs of feline asthma like a persistent cough, wheezing, or noticeable changes in breathing is key to getting your cat the help they need.
While these signs can sometimes be mistaken for other issues like hairballs, paying close attention to your cat’s behavior and seeking prompt veterinary advice is crucial.
Working with your vet ensures your beloved companion gets an accurate diagnosis and the right support to breathe easier and live a happy, comfortable life.
