Feline Asthma (Lower Airway Disease)

There are several different diseases that can affect the lower airways in the cat. All these diseases can be combined under the diagnosis of Feline Bronchopulmonary Disease (FBPD), formerly known as Feline Asthma. Regardless of the cause, this condition leads to a narrowing of the cat’s lower airways and you will observe your cat to show coughing and difficulty breathing.

What causes airway disease in cats?

Veterinarians used to believe all cats with airway disease were victims of allergens or irritants in the air. Such allergens include smoke (either cigarette or fireplace), scented aerosol sprays (such as air fresheners, hair spray, cleaning products), perfumes, and dust from cat litters (especially clay based). While it is still believed some cats do develop airway disease from air-borne irritants, there are many other potential causes. These include allergic airway disease (from inhaled pollens, grasses, and dust mites), food allergies, parasitic reactions (to parasites either primarily living in the lungs or others migrating through the lungs as they complete their life cycle), heartworm infection, and bacterial or mycobacterial infections.

How are the airways affected?

One of the reasons most veterinarians lump all the types of airway disease under one description, FBPD, is that feline airways respond the same and lead to the same clinical signs regardless of cause. Once the airways are “irritated” or “inflamed” from any cause, the cat will experience a dramatic narrowing of the lower airways or bronchioles. When this happens, the narrowed airways cannot handle the necessary flow of oxygen and the cat will show signs such as coughing or breathing changes.

What signs should I look for in my cat?

In the more mild and chronic cases, cats will assume a crouched position, with their heads and necks extended, followed by a hacking and non-productive cough. This may occur for several minutes until the cat returns to normal. The cat’s breathing rate or effort may not change during these episodes and owners may mistakenly interpret this as the cat trying to cough up a hairball. In more serious episodes, the cat may have sudden and severe narrowing of the airways that leads to true respiratory distress with labored breathing, open-mouthed breathing, rapid breathing rate, and cyanotic or “bluish” color developing in the gums. This requires immediate transport to the veterinarian for emergency treatment of the airway disease crisis.

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