Feline asthma
Also known as Allergic bronchitis, Feline chronic bronchitis.
Chronic inflammation of the airways that causes coughing and attacks of breathlessness. An asthmatic cat’s cough is often mistaken for trying to bring up a hairball.
Open-mouth breathing or bluish gums is an emergency.
- System
- Respiratory system
- Is it urgent?
- Not usually
- Spreads to other cats
- No
- Spreads to people
- No
- Typical cost in Spain
- Diagnosis, €150–400; inhaler and spacer, €60–120 to get started.
Symptoms
- Coughs while crouched with the neck stretched out
- Wheezing
- Laboured breathing, with the belly moving
- Open-mouth breathing during attacks
Causes
A reaction to inhaled allergens: dust, smoke, air fresheners, dusty cat litter or pollen.
How it is diagnosed
Chest X-rays, blood tests and, sometimes, a bronchial wash. Lungworm and heart disease are ruled out.
Treatment
Corticosteroids, often inhaled through a spacer chamber, and bronchodilators for attacks, always as prescribed by the vet.
No doses, on purpose: any medicine must be prescribed by your vet for your cat.
Prognosis
Good with treatment; it is chronic and needs ongoing control.
Prevention
Dust-free cat litter, and no smoke or air fresheners at home.
Breeds at higher risk
It is described more often in these breeds. That does not mean all of their cats will have it, nor that a moggy is free of it.
Frequently asked questions
Is feline asthma contagious?
No. It does not spread to other cats or to people.
Can feline asthma be cured?
Good with treatment; it is chronic and needs ongoing control. Corticosteroids, often inhaled through a spacer chamber, and bronchodilators for attacks, always as prescribed by the vet.
How much does it cost to treat feline asthma?
As a guide for Spain in 2026: Diagnosis, €150–400; inhaler and spacer, €60–120 to get started. Prices vary a lot between clinics and cities, and out-of-hours emergencies cost more.
Which breeds are most at risk?
It is described more often in Siamese, Oriental Shorthair and Balinese. That does not mean every cat of those breeds will have it, nor that a moggy is free of it.
More in respiratory system
Educational content from Michipedia. It does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a vet: if you have any doubt about your cat's health, ask. Costs are a guide for Spain in 2026.