Glossary

Feline asthma

A long-term inflammation of a cat's small airways that causes coughing, wheezing and sometimes sudden breathing difficulty.

Also called: cat asthma, allergic bronchitis in cats, feline bronchial disease

Feline asthma, also called allergic bronchitis, is a lung condition in which the small airways swell, make extra mucus and narrow when they meet triggers. Triggers can include dust from litter, smoke, aerosol sprays, perfume, pollen and mold, though in many cats no trigger is found. It can start at any age and affects cats of many breeds, with Siamese often listed as at greater risk.

A classic sign is a cough in which the cat crouches low with the neck stretched out. Owners often mistake it for a hairball attempt, and the cat brings up nothing or a little foam. Other signs are wheezing, fast or noisy breathing and, in an attack, open-mouth breathing. Signs may come and go.

Open-mouth breathing, blue-tinged gums, or a cat that cannot settle and breathes hard is an emergency, so go to a vet at once. Do not give any human asthma medicine. Vets diagnose asthma using chest X-rays, blood tests and sometimes a wash of the airways. They also look for other causes, including heartworm, infections and heart disease. Treatment is usually a steroid or airway-opening inhaler given through a small mask and chamber made for cats, and many cats learn to accept it. Ask your vet to show you how, and how to cut down on dust and smoke at home.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026

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Related terms

Hairball A wet clump of swallowed fur that a cat brings up, normal now and then but worth a vet visit if frequent. Upper respiratory infection A contagious infection of the nose, throat and eyes that causes sneezing, discharge and a poor appetite, common in kittens and shelter cats. Heartworm A parasite spread by mosquitoes that lives in the lungs and heart vessels and can cause breathing problems, vomiting or sudden collapse in cats. Anesthesia The medically controlled loss of consciousness and pain sensation that lets a vet perform surgery, dental work or imaging safely.

Related guides

Living with cat allergies What causes cat allergy, why no breed is allergen free, how to reduce exposure at home, and when to see a doctor. Hairballs: what is normal and what is not What a hairball is, how often one is normal, how to tell it from vomiting or asthma, and the signs of a blockage that need a vet.