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Feline asthma is a serious condition in cats that affects their lower airways and lungs. It is very similar in cats to human asthma and can cause the cat to have episodic “attacks” of coughing, loud, wheezy or laboured breathing. Many cats will be apparently normal between attacks, and the frequency of attacks can vary. Some cats can have very severe asthma attacks which can potentially be life threatening if not treated promptly. Siamese have a increased risk of developing asthma.

Diagnosis

There is no single test for feline asthma, and so a diagnosis is made by excluding other causes of these symptoms. All cases will need chest x-rays performed to look for the typical radiographic pattern suggestive of bronchial disease.

If bronchial disease is confirmed on the x-rays then non-invasive laboratory testing will be performed to include blood and faecal testing. If the laboratory tests are found to be normal, most cats be then be placed on an antibiotic drug trial to rule out infectious Mycoplasma bronchitis or bronchopneumonia.
If the symptoms continue  then the next diagnostic step is an airway wash procedure called a bronchioalveolar lavage. This enables collection of samples from the lower airways that can be examined for inflammatory or cancer cells and cultured for infectious agents like bacteria.

Treatment/management

Firstly, any secondary infection must be treated with antibiotics. Any possible triggers should be identified and removed if possible such as perfumes and sprays, dusty cat litter, and cigarette smoke. Obese cats can benefit from weight loss.

There are two main types of medications used to manage the symptoms of feline asthma:

• “Preventer” drugs:  these are corticosteroid drugs which help to directly reduce inflammation and hyper-reactivity of the airways. They are designed to be taken daily and take several weeks before they have full effect.
• These can be give either orally in tablet or liquid form, they can be administered by a metered dose inhaler or “puffer”. Treatment with preventers is generally given daily.

• “Reliever” drugs: these are bronchodilatory drugs that help to open up and relax the bronchi (airways) during an asthma attack.
• These drugs are given to relieve the symptoms of an attack. They are most effective when given via a puffer as this delivered the drug directly to the lungs giving a very rapid onset. These drugs are also available as a liquid or injection however they are less effective in these forms when compared with a puffer.

There are two main reasons why it is preferable to give asthma medications as inhaled drugs instead of orally; firstly the drugs are administered directly to the lungs at the site of the problem, and secondly to avoid or minimise potentially serious side effects seen commonly with oral medications such as diabetes, obesity and behavioural changes, and a shortened life span.

Puffers are administered to your cat via an aerosol chamber and face mask. An aerosol chamber designed for a cat’s face, volume of breath and specific medications is the most efficient way of delivery of the drug to the small airways in their lungs. You can purchase a suitable aerosol spacer and mask such as the “Aerocat FAC” which is available through their website www.aerokat.com. Please ask us if you are having difficulty obtaining one and we can order one in for you. There will be an extra charge associated with this.

Giving your cat inhaled medications:

1. Prior to use, carefully examine the spacer to ensure it is assembled properly and that there are no foreign objects or missing parts. There are detailed instructions provided in the box in addition to the instructions being available on the Aerokat website.

2. Before administering any medications to your cat, get them used to the mask and chamber allowing them to smell and see it. Place the mask over their muzzle to assess their reaction to it. You can also spray “puffs” of the medication around your cat for a day to accustom them to the sound.

3. Once you are ready to start giving the medications get everything ready: the Aerokat chamber, the puffer and a clean damp cloth.

4. Shake the puffer vigorously for 15 seconds and then insert the puffer into the back of the Aerokat chamber.

5. Carefully place the mask on your cat’s muzzle making a gentle seal around the nose and mouth.

6. Depress the puffer to release the drug into the chamber and count to at least 10 seconds, or preferably watch your cat take 10 breaths.

7. Give your cat a small food treat, cuddle or whatever your cat likes to reward their behaviour.

8. If your cat needs a second dose, wait 1 minute and repeat the process from Step 2.

9. Once finished, rinse clean & dry the Aerokat according to the instructions.

Watch the video below for a demonstration. Make sure you check out www.fritzthebrave.com; a fantastic internet resource with handy tips and photos. Don’t hesitate to contact us at Perth Cat Hospital if you have any further queries.

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