How Do You Identify And Treat Feline Asthma?
Feline asthma is a condition that afflicts roughly one percent of domestic cats. While no one is sure what exactly causes this chronic respiratory condition, most veterinarians agree that it is an allergic reaction to pollutants in the air. If you suspect that your cat may suffer from feline asthma, watch for these signs: • Periods of dry coughing, which can be severe. This can mimic the type of cough that results in a hairball or vomiting, and sometimes the cat will indeed vomit because of the severity of the coughing. • Wheezing sounds, or difficulty breathing. • Open-mouth breathing and frequent panting. • Slow, labored breathing or fast, gulping breaths. These attacks can occur several times a day, or there may be weeks between each attack. If they happen infrequently, try to make note of any environmental changes that your cat may be having an allergic reaction to, such as cigarette or fireplace smoke, pollen in the air, or aerosol sprays such as hairspray or air freshener. Since
