Cats
Feline Asthma: When a 'Hairball Cough' Is Actually a Breathing Problem
The great impersonator
Many owners film a crouched cat, neck extended, coughing — and assume hairball. If nothing ever comes up, suspect asthma: inflamed, constricted airways that flare like the human version. Young to middle-aged cats are typical.
Signs and emergencies
Episodic coughing, wheezing, and faster breathing. An emergency looks like open-mouth breathing, blue-tinged gums, or a cat sitting with elbows out working to breathe — go immediately. Cats hide respiratory trouble until it's severe.
Diagnosis and treatment
X-rays and ruling out look-alikes (heartworm, lungworm) lead to the asthma diagnosis. Treatment mirrors human care: corticosteroids to calm inflammation and bronchodilators for flares — often given by inhaler through a feline spacer mask, which most cats accept with treat-training.
Clear the air
Switch to dust-free unscented litter, ban smoking indoors, skip aerosols, incense and plug-in fragrances, and run HEPA filtration if you can. Managed cats live full, happy lives — the goal is rare, mild flares and an owner who knows exactly what to do.
If the day is coming
Ease The Paw coordinates in-home pet euthanasia across South Africa — we find and book the vet, arrange the cremation and handle the keepsakes, so you can simply be present. A flat R950 covers the coordination and your keepsake memorial; the vet and cremation are billed separately at their own rates.
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