Best Food For Cats With Asthma

Treatment For Feline Asthma

There are two main types of treatment to manage asthma in cats anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids to reduce the inflammation which leads to the symptoms, and bronchodilator medication which helps to widen a felines air passage when needed. Antihistamine drugs may also be used when cats havent responded to other treatments.

Medication is often administered through an inhaler, but can also be given in tablet or injection form. If an inhaler is recommended then ensure you are clear on how to use it, with guidance from your vet. Inhalers used by people work differently from those prescribed for cats because you cant ask your pet to breathe deeply to trigger release of the drug.

Ways To Help Your Cat With Asthma

Not all cats will respond well to asthma treatment, so its important to know your cats diet and lifestyle. Here are 5 things you can do to help your cat with asthma:

1. Avoid known triggers for your pet .

2. Keep the temperature in the home low shelter from direct sunlight in warm weather.

3. Eliminate strong odors in the home .

4. Give your pet alone time in a quiet room, away from other pets and people.

5. Get rid of dust mites in your home.

Link Between Asthma And Diet

Because your little girl cant tell you or your vet whats wrong and what may be causing her health issues, youll have to have her tested for allergies. This testing can include testing for any potential food allergies.

Some substances in your cats food may have caused her to develop asthma symptoms. Food allergies dont always have to show up as gastrointestinal symptoms. If your vet suspects a food could be causing your kittys issues, hell prescribe a special food that shell eat for 12 weeks. Once her symptoms disappear, hell have you begin to reintroduce her old foods individually to see which ones, if any, might be causing her any issues.

You May Like: How Do You Know When To Put Your Cat Down

Things To Consider When Youre Looking For A Best Dust Free Cat Litter

Granule size

The granule size of a cat litter can be crucial to eliminating dust from the areas surrounding the cats litter box. Its also an important factor in trying to prevent dust from getting embedded in a cats hair, as well as for preventing tracking around your house.

Rating: 100% dust-free or 99.99% dust-free

Of course, you know that the lesser the dust, the cleaner the home! More importantly, its also healthier for you and your cat. Make sure your cat litter is 100% or at least 99.99% dust-free, or youll suffer allergens collecting on your furniture and carpet!

Odor control, low tracking, and clumping ability

Aside from being dustless, you also need to make sure that the cat litter youre buying has odor control. Such kinds of litter will be beneficial for cats with asthma, as well as for asthmatic owners.

Also, consider a cat litter that is low-tracking. We already know how dustless cat litters help us keep the house clean. In the same way, the low-tracking litter will ensure that our cats are not scattering their mess all over the floor.

Take note that the top dust-free cat litter has a good clumping ability. It simply means that it can absorb urine quickly. The best clumping litter pellets, upon contact with the cats liquid waste, will form tight clumps that lock in the moisture as well as the odor.

Interesting:

• Best Cat Litter For Small Apartments

Email:Address:Follow me on:

Also Check: How To Know If My Baby Has Asthma

The Best Food For Cats With Asthma

Cats with asthma are often allergic to something in the environment, like pollen or dust mites

As a result, a low-allergy diet is best for cats with asthma.

The food should have a single protein source so that if your cat has an allergy, you can narrow down the source.

Cat food for asthma should contain certain ingredients that promote healthy respiratory systems. Some of these ingredients include:

• Fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin E are all excellent sources of antioxidants for your cat and help reduce inflammation in the lungs which will reduce coughing fits, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
• Taurine is an amino acid that plays a vital role in feline health and helps regulate the immune system which can help prevent flare-ups from occurring in the first place.
• Vitamin B6 is essential for healthy lung function and tissue maintenance which is important to keep the respiratory system running smoothly.
• Niacin and riboflavin are both essential B vitamins that help regulate metabolism and promote proper heart function to ensure proper blood flow throughout the body including the lungs.

Cats with asthma are more prone to having allergic reactions to certain foods. Food allergies may be caused by grains, soy, dairy, corn, or other food ingredients.

Keep your cat on a limited-ingredient or grain-free diet for the best results.

Recommended Reading: How Often Should Cats Get Rabies Shots

Causes Of Kitty Asthma:

The most rampant cause is an allergic reaction to inhaled allergens that irritate the cats immune defense system.

Allergens include:

• Household cleaning agents among others.

Cats are most susceptible between the ages of 2-8 years and females have a higher prevalence. Certain cat species may have a genetic predisposition to asthma.

The average age of cats diagnosed with asthma is between 4 to 5 years. Its not gender-selective, although some studies have shown that Siamese cats may be predisposed to asthma, this has not been definitively proven.

Human beings are easy to diagnose because they can speak. What happens when your cat has asthma and you are too busy with life to even notice?

The 5 Best Food For Cats With Asthma

Diet plays a very important part in your cats overall health, and asthmatic felines are even more sensitive than their easy-breathing brothers. Asthmatic cats are likely to be suffering from some immune system stress, so feeding a diet that discourages inflammation and mimics what your cat would eat in the wild is the best solution.

But what is that? Theres not a great deal of specific information, but what we have discovered in our research, from experience, and from talking with other asthma cat parents is that grains and fish should definitely be avoided and that going natural is the best thing for your cat. Generally speaking, the best anti-inflammatory diets for cats with asthma eliminate dry food, fish, grains, and even poultry.

Read Also: 9 Lives Cat Food Coupons

Avoid Dusty And Strongly Scented Litter

If your furry friend has been diagnosed with asthma, you need to choose the right kind of litter. Avoid any dusty litter or litter with strong artificial smells this can irritate the respiratory tissues and trigger an asthmatic attack. Keeping the litter box clean is also a must for any cat, especially cats with any respiratory conditions. Avoid covered litter boxes and choose an area with good air circulation to place your kittys litter box.

Worlds Best Unscented Clumping Corn Cat Litter

Description

Odor control: It traps litter box odors by forming tight easy scoop litter clumps.

Dust-free: Its completely free of silica dust as it is a virtually dust-free litter

Flushable: Its safe for both septic and sewer systems.

Key Benefits:

• Great odor control ensuring that your home smells clean 24/7
• Due to the great clumping abilities, it makes it easy for you to scoop the litter without any scraping needed.
• It is lightweight litter and easily portable
• It is 100% free from harmful chemicals and made from whole kernel corn

Cons:

Also Check: Why Does My Cat Attack My Hand

Which Is The Best Litter For Cats With Asthma

Dr. Elseys Precious Relief Cat Litter and Purina Yesterdays News Litter are recommended as the best cat litter option for feline asthma. They are made from natural ingredients and do not contain any synthetic fragrances or toxic chemicals. These natural litters will help your cats respiratory system to function effectively.

What Happens During A Feline Asthma Attack

An asthma attack occurs in the cats lower respiratory tract. When a cat breathes in, air enters through the mouth and moves down the trachea, or windpipe. From there, the trachea splits into two thick branches called bronchi. Once through the bronchi, the air travels into smaller branches called bronchioles, then on to tiny little sacs in the lungs called alveoli. Its here in the alveoli where oxygen is absorbed from the inhaled air and transported to the rest of the body. If at any point something goes wrong along this pathway, the cat may be unable get enough oxygen to sufficiently supply the brain and organs with what they need to function.

An asthma attack begins with the cat being exposed to an allergen, which is any substance that can cause an allergic reaction in the body. The cats immune system overreacts to the allergen, and sends a cavalry of immune cells to the airways. These cells then begin to release substances called histamines that trigger spasms in the bronchi, which causes the bronchi to become inflamed and swell. This in turn restricts the flow of air to the alveoli.

Then to make matters worse, glands in the lungs also begin to expand, kicking out large amounts of mucus into the airways, which clogs up what little breathing space that remains. If the asthma attack is severe enough, it can lead to respiratory distress that can become life-threatening in minutes.

Don’t Miss: How Often To Feed 2 Week Old Kittens

Why Trust The Spruce

Adrienne Kruzer is a Registered and Licensed Veterinary Technician in three states and has been writing about pet and vet information for over a decade. She also regularly lectures on pet nutrition to fellow veterinary professionals and works for a major veterinary supplement manufacturer.

She has both a personal and professional interest in pet nutrition and enjoys helping owners solve problems with their pets. Her years of working in various animal hospitals alongside her formal college education and elective continuing education classes have provided her with a wealth of experience and knowledge.

Avoid Perfumes And Fragrances

Maybe your favorite eau de toilette, the amazing vanilla scented candles, bathroom aerosol fragrances, or the strongly scented floor cleaners could be the factors causing irritation of your cats airways and triggering the asthma attack. Avoid any strongly scented substances around your asthmatic feline.

Also Check: Average Cost For Cat Shots

Asthma And Diet How Are They Linked

Your kittys food may contain some substances that can trigger asthma attacks or cause your feline friend to develop asthma.

Dry food without grains may help your asthmatic cat to breathe easier, and sometimes it may help with reducing the need for medication.

Although certain diet changes in your cats nutrition can alleviate asthma symptoms, diet change isnt a treatment. Change your cats diet only after you consult with a veterinarian, and make the change as an addition to medication.

What Is The Best Food For Cats With Asthma

When it comes to food for cats with asthma, there are 3 main options: High protein, low fat, low carbohydrate diets. Cat food is made with high levels of fish and chicken. Foods with the most omega-3 fatty acids, including fish oil

If your cat has asthma, some foods may help reduce the symptoms and make their lives more comfortable.

These foods can supplement your cats diet, which should always remain of high quality.

You May Like: Kittens For Adoption Santa Monica

Best Foods For Cats With Asthma

Brett BCats Patrol earns commissions from qualifying purchases.

Your kitty starts wheezing and hacking all of a sudden as if she needs to bring up a hairball. This gets your attention, and you start wondering whats going on. One consideration beyond those horrid hairballs could be feline asthma. It is more common than you would think, and you need to pay attention to the needs of your cats to understand what to feed it when it is suffering from asthma. Theres a lot of conflicting information out there regarding feline diets, but you wont find much information regarding the best food for cats with asthma.

Manage Your Cats Weight

If your cat is overweight or obese, respiratory function can be compromised.3 For a cat with asthma, this is especially problematic.

Helping your cat achieve a healthy weight is important for respiratory health and to lower the risk of asthma attacks. Ask your vet for suggestions for managing your cats weight. Some strategies your vet suggests may include:

• Feeding your cat a smaller amount of food
• Feeding your cat a specially formulated food to promote weight loss
• Setting aside time for dedicated play to encourage exercise4

Read Also: Flights From Nassau To Cat Island

Home Management Of Asthma In Cats

Acute management also includes home treatment of acute asthma attacks that are not severe enough to warrant emergency presentation to a veterinary facility. Acute exacerbations may result from exposure to asthma triggers. This usually manifests as episodes of spasmodic coughing and increased expiratory effort. At-home care providers should be trained to deliver bronchodilator therapy during episodes involving increased respiratory effort. One option is the use of inhaled albuterol delivered via a metered-dose inhaler with an aerosol chamber attached. However, this works best when cats have been trained to accept the chamber and accompanying mask some cats will not tolerate the apparatus. Alternatively, owners can be trained to administer a SC terbutaline injection during these events. In addition to managing these events when they occur, clients must know to contact their veterinarian when asthmatic cats experience these events regularly or the frequency of these events increases. This can indicate that the disease is poorly controlled and that long-term management must be adjusted, or that a secondary or concurrent condition must be addressed.

Tips To Reduce Asthma Attacks

Even though there is no cure for asthma, cats can lead normal and active lives with proper management and supportive treatment.

Keep Track

Carefully monitoring and documenting the details when your cat has an attack helps you determine what potential triggers are so that you can take steps to avoid them in the future. And it helps keep track of their progress.

Get Your Cat Allergy Tested and Manage the Triggers

An allergy test can help identify what environmental or seasonal triggers are causing your cat’s asthma attacks. To help with managing environmental triggers, in addition to possible immunotherapy , you can implement one or more of the following:

• Keep windows shut when you can to reduce environmental allergens inside your home.
• Keep your cat indoors.
• Vacuum and dust daily to decrease dust and dust mites.
• Use dust mite covers wherever possible .
• Don’t use air or carpets fresheners .
• Avoid all types of smoke around your cat.
• Use air purifiers with HEPA filters. PureZone and Koios are two good options.
• Use filters on air conditioning units that trap airborne allergens.

Reduce Stress for Your Cat

As mentioned, stress can aggravate your cat’s asthma. Taking steps to help your cat remain calm as much as possible is important in managing asthma. The following are a few options:

• Getting enough enrichment is an important stress reducer. Food puzzles or toys are vital.

Don’t Miss: What Does A Cat Bird Look Like

What Should You Not Feed Your Feline Friend

What is the first food people think of when they want to feed a kitty? A bowl of milk! It may come as a shock, but cats are mostly intolerant to lactose. If you have any milk from a cat, you may use it. Otherwise, you can do more harm than good if you feed your kitty any dairy product.

Another common food that people use to feed their cats is fish. Although there is nothing wrong with feeding your furry feline friend some fish, it should be done occasionally. Fish doesnt have enough nutrients that cats need, and in the wild, they wont be diving into a river or a lake to hunt for fish. Also, fish bones can be quite harmful if they get stuck in your kittys throat or digestive tract.

Finally, grains are definitely something your cat absolutely doesnt need. Unfortunately, many brands of cat food use grains like corn, wheat, or rice in their food. If you havent seen a cat cooking its own bowl of rice and eating it, it doesnt need it. Read the label of the food you are getting for your cat, and make sure it largely consists of protein.

Many of the food fillers in commercial cat food can be a cause for a lot of health issues cats have, includingobesityand asthma.

Can Cats Have Asthma

Yes, in fact, research finds up to five percent of cats are affected by feline asthma. Because they are mammals, cats and humans share many of the same disease processes, points out Johnson. “Humans get allergy-induced asthma,” she explains. “And we think that for cats, it’s also an allergy-induced process wherein there are inhaled allergens that incite an immune response.”

Allergens that affect cats and lead to asthma are based on where you live but could include any of the following:

• Dust and dust mites

Over time, the anatomy of a cat’s airways might actually change, for the worse. This is called airway remodeling, which can lead to a chronic cough, explains Johnson. And just like with any chronic illness, pets might lose weight or have changes to their coat.

If your cat is exhibiting any of these symptoms acutely or on an ongoing basis, it’s best to see your vet or call your local animal hospital to let them know you’re coming for an emergency visit, advises Johnson.

In order to diagnose asthma, vets will give cats blood tests or intradermal skin tests to see what they’re allergic to in order to address the whole picture in a targeted way.

Don’t Miss: How To Keep Cats From Pooping In Yard