Adopting a cat with Asthma

[Marylou2]

My much loved 19 yo cat died in August, had her since she was a kitten. Swore that I wouldn't get another. DD persuaded me to go to Cats Protection "just for a look". We saw a beautiful British Shorthair, quite overweight who has asthma. Apparently well controlled on steroid every other day. I appreciate that the breed and the steroid are contributing to her size and I'm sure it's something I could manage. She's almost 6 and I can't stop thinking about her. I realise that it would involve more vets visits and this would probably not be covered on insurance. The staff at CP said she'd not had any issues with her asthma while she's been with them for a month. Any advice or insights from those with experience of cats with asthma or BSHs in general massively appreciated. I want to make the right choice for this gorgeous girl, and my family too.

I don’t have any advice about asthma in cats but I would expect CP to be completely honest with you about dealing with it in this cat’s specific circumstances- after all, they want the cat to find a forever home.

I’m sorry about your much loved cat dying earlier this year. So did mine and I got a BSH not long after. It wasn’t my first BSH but I just wanted to say that they are a very lovely breed and if the cat you are looking at is overweight, getting that down will undoubtedly help with their health in general.

My gorgeous girl has asthma (she’s a ragdoll.) She was diagnosed at the start of this year when she was 4. It is generally well controlled - she has to go to the vet every 4 weeks for a steroid injection as she won’t take tablets. So it costs us a fair bit but insurance covers a lot of as we had luckily taken out a lifetime policy before she was diagnosed.

She has given us a couple of scares where’s she’s had an attack and has had to be rushed to the vet and put in an oxygen tent/ given IV drugs. These visits have been costly (obviously she’s worth it and we’d pay it ten times over but cost and insurance is a factor you should think about as each emergency visit has cost us a few hundred feed pounds upfront and you might find it difficult to get affordable insurance if it’s a pre existing condition.

She is an absolute delight - still playful and generally happy. We obviously have to be more careful with things that may trigger an attack, so have to dust more, wash her blankets very regularly. Also need to be mindful of the products we use - no candles etc.

Happy to answer any questions you might have.

Thank you so much for the responses. I appreciate this very much. I'm used to regular vets visits, high insurance and excesses due to our lovely old cat and her arthritis. It's the unpredictable nature of asthma that concerns me but it's great to hear how you manage it and your advice @poppetandmog. I know something like this could happen with any animal so I'm just planning for the worst and hoping for the best

alongside the meds, a few simple changes at home make a world of difference. i made sure to get an idustmite protector for the bed since cats love to lounge there, and it stops the dust and allergens from triggering their breathing. it really helps keep things stable so they can just be happy, lazy house cats. if she’s captured your heart, you’ll find a way to make it work