Did you know that cats can have asthma?
We usually think of asthma as being a ‘human’ condition, but feline asthma exists and is often triggered by allergies to things like dust or cat litter – so even making sure you’re using the best cat litter could help. And one cat parent has taken to TikTok to let others know how she found out her own cat has the condition.
The account @lifewithmaple_ posted a video of a cat, Maple, in which she’s coughing repeatedly as you may expect a cat to do if they had a hairball. However, nothing comes out.
@lifewithmaple_ ♬ original sound - lifewithmaple
Text overlaid onto the clip reads, “Cat owners, this is what feline asthma looks like,” while the cat parent adds in the caption, "I thought she had a fur ball but after looking more into it, thanks to TikTok we found out Maple has asthma. In case you don't know what it looks like, here you go.”
Indeed, coughing is one symptom of feline asthma. If you’re asking questions like, ‘Why is my cat coughing?’ it’s important to know that any irritation to their lungs or airways can cause coughing, with irritants and allergens sometimes causing asthma.
Cat panting can be a sign of asthma too, while shortness of breath, an extended neck and hunched posture, tiredness, and reluctance to play can all be symptoms too.
In severe cases of asthma, you may find that your cat’s gums are a blueish color, due to the lack of oxygen.
Among the potential allergens to trigger asthma in your cat include pollen, grass, mold, dust, tobacco smoke, cat litter, and cleaning products. Avoiding irritants can help you support your cat if they have asthma, while there are also various treatments they can have. Oxygen therapy can be effective, as can the use of bronchodilators to widen their airways and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.
If you think your cat may have asthma, a trip to the vet can help you find out – as well as rule out other potential conditions, like lungworm, heart disease, and respiratory infections.
If your cat seems to be having difficulty breathing and you can see their sides heaving in and out, however, they could be having an asthma attack, and you should seek veterinary attention immediately. Try to keep them as calm as you can, as stress can make an asthma attack worse.
Meanwhile, here are four things you can do about common allergies in cats. And, here are the important signs of pain in cats to watch out for.
