Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pets

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

My cat has asthma

33 replies

edie123 · 08/11/2006 08:34

...I posted that she had breathing problems and yesterday was diagnosed with asthma. I would like to hear from people that own cats that have asthma but are doing well as he made me feel very negative about it. However been reading on internet that as long as the treatment is good, they can enjoy a good life??? Please no sad stories-I can't handle it

OP posts:

ratclare · 08/11/2006 16:10

is she allergic to your children? sorry couldnt resist it ........

Original poster

edie123 · 08/11/2006 18:17

OP posts:

iota · 08/11/2006 18:19

poor cat - I have never heard of this ( but I do have asthma myself)

Original poster

edie123 · 08/11/2006 19:17

Apparently its common-affects one in a hundred cats, but symptoms are not noticed or mistaken for fur balls. Some websites quote inhalers being about £90 per month!!!!!!

OP posts:

NAB3 · 08/11/2006 19:20

Aw, the poor love. How is she doing? It is so cute when my cat does little sneezes. She is in the naughty corner at the minute. She has lost her collar so once she goes out for a wee she won't be bale to get back in.

Debbiethemum · 08/11/2006 20:32

I think one of our cats 'Piglet' had asthma, but they never really decided what it was. However he lived till 12 years old (and outlasted all of his litter mates). He was always a heavy breather and had been known to frighten my sister into thinking there was an intruder in her bedroom, and when he purred any visitors would get very alarmed thinking the poor thing was about to die.

He did have a good life and was always very affectionate, well to me at least, he usually ignored everyone else though.

This was a very fierce cat and was very good at killing half a dead rabbit (my sisters cat had eaten the other half and buried it).

I do hope your cat is insured though. As every time I moved the new vet would get all panicky and demand loads of new tests/X-rays etc till they realised that I had a very happy and contented cat. If you are not insured make sure that you keep the same vet

Original poster

edie123 · 08/11/2006 21:04

DebbieTheMum

Well the vet was quite concerned about her. She is weezing at the moment but thats because they had to put some fluid into her lungs yesterday. She is insured now but wasn't at the time I took her to on call vet for breathing problem so it won't be covered.

At the moment Im determined to eradicate every bit of dirt/dust from the house. Im also going to buy an air purifier and I have unplugged all our air freshners.

OP posts:

iota · 08/11/2006 21:07

could it be the air fresheners - we got one in our hallway once after a playdate vomiting incident and our cat hated it - he went mad spraying everywhere. He calmed down after it was removed

Original poster

edie123 · 08/11/2006 23:04

No, she has asthma, probably has had it all her life. Its life threatening-although most cats do go on to live healthy lives if the treatment is good. But yes things like air freshners are prob very bad for their little lungs!!

OP posts:

oops · 08/11/2006 23:14

Message withdrawn

Original poster

edie123 · 09/11/2006 10:58

Thanks everyone

Oops-Do you have a cat with asthma? Yes we do all those things and as for staying in our room well the only problem is that she scratches the door if we are in there. So we have vacuumed the place from top to toe and her bed sits under our window with it open slightly.

Thanks for link. Keep hearing about this AeroKat!!!!

OP posts:

twocatsonthebed · 09/11/2006 11:03

My friend's cat has had asthma for years and is still absolutely fine - in fact she's the livelier and more active of the two. She just takes a pill daily (or possibly twice) which she is very used to, and unless you knew, you'd never tell. I'm sure yours will be fine as well.

Original poster

edie123 · 09/11/2006 17:36

Thanks Twocats...

Hope she will be OK, she is soooo gorgeous. I guess if its the same as humans then I can expect her to lead a pretty normal life with the inhalers/meds. Going to get an air purifier next week.

OP posts:

oops · 10/11/2006 19:55

Message withdrawn

Original poster

edie123 · 10/11/2006 20:40

Oops

Fantastic-you are very kind. She is my world...

Wonder how much I am looking at, price wise.

My vet seemed really negative about it, however she seems so healthy. Is the air purifier worth it do you think? Will doing all the stuff at home (extra cleaning, no air freshners etc) make a difference??

OP posts:

oops · 11/11/2006 20:27

Message withdrawn

Tan1959 · 12/11/2006 01:23

Hi Edie123

My cat has had feline Asthma for nine years or so - now 11; his condition is managed with a steroid injection about once every 3 months (I try and leave it as long as possible) occasionally though, if having severe caughing attack, I administer half to one pred to open airways but that is on the vets advice. My cat leads a near normal life apart from the steroids causing him to feel hungrier than usual. I don't give him cat biscuits because I find it seems to cause his stomach to swell a little therefore causing pressure on his lungs! I am very careful with his diet & although feed him four times a day, in realistic terms this will equal two & half full portions per day but feeding him this way prevents him from feeling hungry all the time. I can always tell when my cat is feeling unwell as he becomes a real old grump, have to send him upstairs to his bed sometimes! bless him ie he will come up to me and nibble my leg or bat me with his paw (claws in though!) then I'll notice that he appears to be 'sniffing the air' ie not getting enough oxygen - I have learnt to read the signs of an oncoming attack. I am looking into the inhalers but he can be so grumpy sometimes not sure how he will take to me trying to put a mask on him at his age. I think keeping house as free as possible from dust, brushing cat every day to reduce risk of fur balls, treating for fleas is certainly a good start.

Original poster

edie123 · 12/11/2006 11:01

Thankyou both of you for the advice. Tan-your cat has done well then!! How much are the injections? xx xx

OP posts:

Tan1959 · 12/11/2006 21:43

Hi Eddie, from memory, I think my vet charges me about £22 for the injection alone. What type of treatment has your vet offered you?

Original poster

edie123 · 12/11/2006 22:01

Going back tomorrow morning to discuss treatment. Oh wow thats good. I wonder if that will be an option for us? The inhalers are pretty expensive...

Does your cat breathe quite fast?

OP posts:

Tan1959 · 12/11/2006 22:31

Only when he is 'sniffing the air' ie when airways start to close up!

What has led your vet to diagnose asthma? has your cat been having caughing fits? or just breathing problems and has your cat had an x-ray?

Original poster

edie123 · 13/11/2006 10:03

She had a chest x ray, full bloods, and an endoscopy. She def has asthma, went to vet this morning. She is on oral steroids for two weeks and then she will be started on inhalers.

Vet said there is little point in buying an air purifier.

Trouble is I have real problems getting tablets into her!...

OP posts:

oops · 13/11/2006 19:35

Message withdrawn

Original poster

edie123 · 13/11/2006 19:54

Yes he is a lovely vet.

Think he is just starting to realise how much I love her!! I probably drive him mad with all my questions.

Bought her some wet food so I can crush the tabs, however she does tend to figure out what ive done!

Bought some special litter for her tray today on your advice, it is made up of crystals that soak up the moisture, ive used it before and its good. Its a bit expensive but worth it. No dust.

She also has bronchitis, bless her. I have to keep a record of her resps over next two weeks. At the moment they are between 40 and 50 and I know they should be around 30.

Thankyou so much for your help with this Oops, it means a lot

OP posts:

Original poster

edie123 · 20/11/2006 18:32

Her resps have been 33 over past few days so much better. Did you go to the meet up Oops?

OP posts:

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread