The treatment of feline asthma often takes a two-pronged approach:
- Reducing the allergen load in the cat's environment can help to decrease asthma attacks.
- Controlling bronchial inflammation and promoting bronchodilation (opening up the cat's airways) can help the cat to breathe better.
This Cat Health Topic provides links explaining the use of a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) with spacer device to deliver asthma medications such as albuterol (a bronchodilator) and fluticasone propionate (brand name Flovent, a glucocorticoid).
A MDI with spacer ensures your cat gets a consistent dose when it breaths in the medication.
As with any medical condition, please follow your veterinarian's advice when administering medication. If your cat is experiencing an
acute asthmatic attack that does not respond to medication, it should be seen by a
veterinarian immediately.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Trudell Medical International makes the
AeroKat Feline Aerosol Chamber, a spacer that can be attached to metered-dose inhalers to assist with their use in cats. The Aerokat website includes detailed instructions (in PDF form; you'll need the free Adobe Reader to view them), an FAQ, and information on where to purchase the device.
The website
Feline Asthma with Fritz the Brave includes a series of
photographs and a video showing the various components of the Aerokat and demonstrating its use with a MDI. The creators of the website are cat owners and animal advocates who have spent years learning about feline asthma.
Carrie Deshaies
Student, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (Class of 2008)
Ithaca, New York
