Quick answer
Cat asthma is long-term inflammation of the small airways in the lungs, usually set off by something the cat breathes in, and Cornell Feline Health Center estimates it affects 1 to 5% of cats. Typical signs are a dry cough, wheezing and fast breathing. It can't be cured, but steroids and airway-opening drugs, often given with an inhaler and spacer, let most cats live full lives. An asthma attack with open-mouth breathing is an emergency.
Cat asthma is one of the few common reasons cats cough. It’s a long-term condition, but most cats do well once it’s diagnosed and treated. If your cat is coughing and you’re not sure how serious it is, start with our guide to cat coughing.
What is cat asthma?
Asthma is inflammation of the small airways in the lungs. Cornell Feline Health Center explains that most experts think feline asthma is an allergic reaction to something inhaled, such as pollen or dust. The airways swell, tighten and fill with mucus, so air can’t move freely.
You may also hear it called allergic bronchitis or allergic airway disease. Chronic bronchitis is a closely related problem, and vets often treat the two in similar ways.
Cornell estimates asthma affects between 1 and 5% of cats. It’s most often diagnosed in young and middle-aged adults. Cornell puts the average age at diagnosis at 4 to 5 years, and VCA Animal Hospitals says it’s most common between 2 and 8. Siamese cats may be at higher risk, and so are overweight cats.
Asthma that starts suddenly in an older cat is very uncommon, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. A new cough in a senior cat needs a vet to look for other causes, such as pneumonia.
What are the signs of feline asthma?
Signs can be mild and come and go, or they can build into a crisis. Cornell and VCA list:
- A dry, harsh cough, often with the cat crouched low and neck stretched out
- Gagging after coughing, which many owners mistake for a hairball
- Wheezing, especially when breathing out
- Fast breathing or more effort to breathe at rest
- Open-mouth breathing
- Vomiting in some cats
- Lower energy as the disease progresses
VCA notes that cats with asthma rarely have a fever, and their appetite usually stays normal. A coughing cat that also has a fever or won’t eat may have an infection instead.
| Sign | What it may mean | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Occasional dry cough, eating and playing normally | Mild or early airway inflammation | See vet soon |
| Cough several times a week, wheezing | Asthma that needs treatment or a treatment change | See vet soon |
| Resting breathing rate above 30 per minute | Airways or lungs under strain | See vet soon |
| Open-mouth breathing, blue or gray gums | Asthma attack | Emergency |
What does a cat asthma attack look like?
International Cat Care describes an asthma attack as a cat struggling to breathe, breathing with its mouth open and with the chest moving rapidly. Some cats become weak or collapse. Cornell notes that many cats hunch close to the ground and stretch the head and neck forward during an attack. VCA says the gums or tongue may look bluish or gray.
An asthma attack can be life-threatening. Here’s what to do:
- Stay calm and keep handling to a minimum. Stress makes breathing harder. Move your cat gently into a carrier, with the door facing you.
- Use an inhaler only if your vet has prescribed one for attacks. Give it exactly as your vet showed you. Never use a human inhaler that wasn’t prescribed for your cat.
- Call ahead and go. Phone your vet or the nearest emergency vet so they’re ready, then leave straight away. If your cat seems better after an inhaler, still call your vet.
- Keep the trip calm and quiet. Don’t cover your cat’s face or hold them tightly.
At the clinic, cats in severe distress may need oxygen and medicine given into a vein. Use our vet finder to locate a 24-hour clinic before you ever need one.
How do vets diagnose cat asthma?
There’s no single test for feline asthma. Cornell explains that vets put the diagnosis together from your cat’s history, imaging and a look at cells from the airways. They also need to rule out other diseases that look the same, because some treatments for those can do harm in an asthmatic cat.
Conditions that can look like asthma include:
- Heartworm-associated respiratory disease, which VCA says can closely mimic asthma
- Lungworm and other parasites
- Pneumonia from bacteria or fungi
- Lung tumors
Tests your vet may suggest:
| Test | What it looks for |
|---|---|
| Blood tests | General health, and a type of white blood cell (eosinophil) linked to allergy or parasites |
| Heartworm test | VCA says every coughing cat should have one |
| Stool test | Lungworm larvae |
| Chest X-rays | A branching pattern along the airways and over-inflated lungs, which Cornell describes as typical |
| Airway wash or bronchoscopy | Cells and germs from the airways, done under anesthesia |
Bring a phone video of your cat coughing or wheezing. International Cat Care says it helps the vet see what happens at home.
How is asthma in cats treated?
Treatment aims to calm the inflammation, open the airways and cut down attacks. Your vet will choose the medicine, the form and the dose for your cat.
| Treatment | What it does |
|---|---|
| Corticosteroids (steroids) | The main treatment. Reduce airway inflammation. Given by mouth, by inhaler or by injection |
| Bronchodilators | Open narrowed airways so air moves more freely. Usually given by inhaler |
| Combination inhaler | A steroid and a bronchodilator in one inhaler |
| Long-acting steroid injection | Can relieve signs for weeks to months, but VCA notes it may cause more side effects |
| Antibiotics | Only if there’s a bacterial infection on top |
| Weight loss | Extra weight makes breathing harder and adds inflammation |
Cornell notes that bronchodilators usually aren’t used on their own, because they don’t treat the inflammation behind the attacks. VCA says a typical plan is a short course of oral steroids combined with an inhaled steroid, which keeps the drug’s effects mostly in the lungs. Read more about one common oral steroid in our guide to prednisolone for cats.
How does a cat inhaler and spacer work?
A cat inhaler uses the same kind of metered-dose inhaler people use, but cats can’t breathe in on command. So the inhaler fits into one end of a spacer, a short tube like the ones made for small children. At the other end is a soft face mask with a valve.
International Cat Care describes the process: the inhaler is pressed into the chamber, then the mask is held gently over your cat’s face while they breathe the medicine in. Your vet will tell you how many puffs to give, how often and how long to hold the mask.
Most cats accept a spacer well with practice. Introduce it slowly, with treats and short sessions, before you ever use medicine in it. International Cat Care has free step-by-step inhaler training videos that use reward-based training.
The main advantage is that inhaled medicine goes straight to the airways. That helps avoid some of the side effects of long-term steroids by mouth.
How can I reduce asthma triggers at home?
Most cats never have one clear trigger found. Even so, VCA and International Cat Care recommend cutting common airway irritants:
- Switch to a low-dust, unscented cat litter
- Don’t smoke indoors
- Skip air fresheners, perfume, hairspray, scented laundry products and cleaning sprays near your cat
- Avoid essential oil diffusers
- Dust and vacuum often, and consider an air purifier
- Notice whether signs flare in certain seasons or rooms
Cornell points out that these home measures haven’t been rigorously tested in cats, but they’re low risk and may help. Keep a simple diary of coughing episodes and your cat’s resting breathing rate. A healthy resting rate is about 15 to 30 breaths per minute, and our cat breathing rate counter makes it easy to track.
Can cats live a normal life with asthma?
Yes. VCA says asthma is rarely cured, but most cats with asthma live full and active lives. Treatment is usually lifelong. International Cat Care advises against stopping medicine just because your cat seems well, and suggests asking your vet whether the dose can be lowered safely instead.
Flare-ups can still happen, from mild to life-threatening. Keep your vet’s rescue plan handy, recheck as often as your vet recommends and call if coughing becomes more frequent. For other long-term problems, browse our cat health problems guides.
Frequently asked questions
Can cat asthma be cured?
No. Asthma in cats is usually lifelong, but it can be managed. With the right treatment and fewer triggers at home, most asthmatic cats live full, active lives. Don't stop treatment without talking to your vet, even if your cat seems better.
Can I use my own asthma inhaler on my cat?
No. Your vet decides which medicine your cat needs and how much. Cats also can't use an inhaler the way people do, so they need a spacer chamber with a face mask. Only use an inhaler your vet has prescribed for your cat.
Is my cat coughing up a hairball or having asthma?
An asthmatic cat crouches with the neck stretched out and coughs, and often nothing comes up. A hairball ends with a wad of hair. International Cat Care suggests filming the episode so your vet can tell which it is.
Are steroids safe for cats with asthma?
Steroids are the main treatment for feline asthma, and your vet will weigh the benefits against side effects. Inhaled steroids work mainly in the lungs, which helps avoid some of the side effects of giving steroids by mouth long term.
Sources
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Feline Asthma, What You Need To Know
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Asthma and Bronchitis in Cats
- International Cat Care: Asthma and chronic bronchitis in cats
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Tracheobronchitis (Bronchitis, Bronchial Asthma) in Cats
- International Cat Care: Inhaler training
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Heartworm Disease in Cats
Written by the CatsMed Team from the sources above. This guide isn’t reviewed by a veterinarian and isn’t a substitute for one. See how we research.
