How to Treat a Cat With Asthma

Co-authored by Natalie Punt, DVM and Eric McClure

Last Updated: March 9, 2023 References Approved

If your cat has suddenly started wheezing or breathing loudly, you may be wondering if they have feline asthma—a respiratory condition that causes inflammation and spasms in the lungs. While this can understandably be upsetting, rest assured that taking your cat to the vet and getting treatment will dramatically help. Even if your cat does have asthma, it is extremely manageable and there’s no reason your cat can’t live a healthy, full life. In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about treating a cat with asthma.

Things You Should Know

If your cat has any kind of difficulty breathing, take them to a vet to have them checked out for feline asthma.
Feline asthma is typically treated with corticosteroids (usually in the form of an inhaler) and a bronchodilator for emergencies.
Helping your cat lose weight if they’re obese and keeping your home’s air clean and scent-free will radically improve your cat’s symptoms.

Section 1 of 7:

Symptoms

Hacking, coughing, noisy breathing, and lethargy are common signs. Feline asthma can present with a variety of different symptoms, but you will likely see or hear your cat struggling to breath.^{[1]
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Research source} These symptoms may be intermittent or chronic, and you may notice your cat experiences unique difficulty when the air is dusty or there are strong smells in the air.^{[2]
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- If you can, record your cat when they’re having one of these breathing fits. That way, you can show your vet when you take your cat in for help.
- Any cat can develop asthma, but it’s most common in younger or middle-aged cats, with the average age around 4 years.^{[3]
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Section 2 of 7:

Diagnosis

Your vet will order X-rays and CT scans to rule out other causes. Feline asthma is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning a vet can only determine it is asthma by ruling out the other common causes of respiratory distress in cats. The vet will perform various diagnostic tests, such as chest X-rays and CT scans, to diagnose the asthma. Once your vet has made the diagnosis, they will discuss the various treatment options with you.^{[4]
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- Other potential diagnoses include bronchitis, cancer, and allergies.^{[5]
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- Unless your cat has an asthma attack in front of your vet, it may be difficult for your vet to diagnosis asthma in cats. This is where having a video of your cat in the middle of an asthma attack really helps!
- While feline asthma is incurable, it is far from a death sentence. Don’t worry—things will be okay so long as you get treatment.^{[6]
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Section 3 of 7:

Treatment

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Corticosteroids This is the most common treatment option. Steroid treatment for feline asthma is either oral, injectable, or inhaled. Long-acting injectable steroids, which can be administered by your vet, would be good if your cat doesn’t like taking pills. The inhaled steroid, called fluticasone, is probably the most popular treatment choice for feline asthma.^{[7]
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- Your vet can help you decide which form of steroid would work best for your cat.
- To give a steroid pill, consider hiding it in a pill pocket. Pill pockets are available online or at your local pet store.
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Bronchodilator If necessary, you may need to use a bronchodilator in emergencies. Bronchodilators (typically filled with albuterol) are fast-acting medications that are usually reserved for asthma emergencies. However, they can also be given each day to cats with severe asthma. Your vet will determine if your cat needs a bronchodilator daily or if you only need to keep one for emergencies. Here’s how you use the bronchodilator:^{[8]
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- Load the cartridge with the prescribed drug into the inhaler.
- Press twice on the inhaler to fill the spacer with the drug.
- Hold the mask up to your cat’s mouth and let them breathe for 7-10 seconds.
- Monitor your cat for 5-10 minutes to confirm that the drug is working and their symptoms are gone.

Section 4 of 7:

Lifestyle Changes

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Help your cat lose weight if they’re obese. Overweight cats tend to struggle with respiratory disease. If your cat is overweight, talk to your vet about changing their diet or adjusting the amount of food you give them. You may want to cut back on treats and increase the amount of play time you engage in with your cat so they get more exercise. If you can help your cat get back to a normal weight, it can dramatically improve their asthma.^{[9]
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- Don’t radically change your cat’s diet or daily routine without consulting a vet first—especially if you suspect they may have asthma. A vet will be able to determine if your cat needs to lose weight or not.
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Keep the air clean in your home to minimize symptoms. An air purifier and regular vacuuming will go a long way for your cat. Keeping the air in your home as clean and irritant-free as possible will radically help your cat’s asthma. Use a HEPA filter in your central air system, run an air purifier in the room where your cat prefers hanging out, and vacuum regularly to remove dirt, dust, and other particles from the air.^{[10]
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- Avoid heavy perfumes and don’t smoke indoors. When you cook any foods with strong odors, turn your exhaust on and open windows.
- Use dust-free litter. Dustier, fluffier litter can irritate your cat’s lungs.
- Ask your vet about allergy testing. Many cats have asthma triggers based on allergies. Getting an allergy test may be a little expensive, but it could pay for itself in the long run when it comes to keeping your cat comfortable and safe.

Section 5 of 7:

How do you use a cat inhaler?

Shake the inhaler, press on the button, and hold the spacer over your cat’s mouth. Your vet will likely give you a metered dose inhaler (MDI), a cat-specific spacer (also called a chamber), and a face mask. Acclimate your cat to the spacer and face mask by holding the face mask on your cat’s face for gradually longer periods of time (up to about 20 seconds), then attach the spacer. Your vet can show you how to give the inhaled steroid:^{[11]
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- Shake the MDI and attach it to the spacer.
- Press down on the MDI to deliver the prescribed dose into the spacer.
- Place the unit on your cat’s face and wait for your cat to take about 10 to 15 breaths.

Section 6 of 7:

How do you keep a cat comfortable during an asthma attack?

Let your cat lay out and turn fans on and lights off. Cats tend to get really hot when they experience an asthma attack, so turn lights off and turn fans on. Turn the AC on if you have it. Remove any strong scents (i.e. candles, incense, essential oils, smoke) by shutting them down at the source and cracking a window. Treat your cat based on your vet’s recommendation and keep them company while the meds kick in.^{[12]
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- It can be painful to watch your cat go through something like this. Pet them and speak softly to them if you’d like. However, if your cat shies away from you wen you touch them, just let them be.

Section 7 of 7:

Can cat asthma be left untreated?

No, cat asthma requires medical intervention with a vet. When you notice signs of asthma (coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, etc.), schedule an appointment with your vet. This is not the kind of condition that you can treat at home. Pack your cat in a safe carrier and take them to the vet.^{[13]
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- So long as your cat continues to eat, drink water, and their breathing issue isn’t getting progressively worse, this is not an emergency. If they stop eating, drinking, or their wheezing gets so bad they can’t breathe or their lips turn blue, take them to an emergency vet ASAP.^{[14]
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- Don’t put this off for too long. If your cat gets worse, feline asthma can be potentially life threatening if it is left untreated.

Expert Q&A

Question

What is the life expectancy for cats with asthma?

Natalie Punt, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Natalie Punt is a Veterinarian and the Founder and CEO of mPet- a smart phone app for pet owners to store, manage and transfer their pets medical records and health information. She specializes in small animal emergency and general medicine and veterinary practice economics. Dr. Punt holds a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from The University of California, Davis, an MS in Biochemistry from The University at Buffalo, and a DVM from Western University of Health Sciences.

Natalie Punt, DVM

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

It's probably between 14 and 15 years, but it really depends on how severe the asthma is. Other medical conditions (like kidney disease) can also interfere with their overall life expectancy.

Warnings

If your cat’s lips turn blue, they’re struggling to get enough air. This is an emergency and you must go to the vet immediately.^{[16]
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Siamese cats are more likely to develop feline asthma than other breeds of cat.^{[17]
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