Does anyone else have a cat with asthma?

Question

My cat has got asthma, Before i knew she had asthma i thought she has a trapped fur ball because she was coughing and after a day she was in such a bad way she nearly died, The vet gives her a whole load of medication and injections and when she has an attack she is given injections and she is on steroids for the rest of her life, she has an attack about every 2 months, The vet said as she gets worse she will have to have a inhaler, I love her so much cant imagin life without her she is only 3 years old she has always been a indoor cat i am always worried about her life expectancy the vet said her future is uncertain and she might not live very long :( does anyone have or has had a cat with asthma that and has any experience with cat astma?

Answer 1

My younger cat who is about 4 years old has asthma. His is not as severe as yours sounds. He has his bouts of coughing and then acts absolutely fine. He still runs around the house like he's possessed.

Answer 2

A lifetime of steroids will kill a cat in less than a few years--steroid use pulls down the immune system so low the cat can't fight off infections.

I'd consult with a second vet at a different clinic, ask when you phone them if they have any vets that specialize in cats and asthma conditions.  Some do have extra training in that.

One of mine had an asthma attack two days after we brought her home, she was panting in the middle of the floor and her gums were blue--we took her in and she was put on prednesone for a month, then weaned off it (you have to wean them off that slowly), and she hasn't had any problems with asthma after that, so maybe she was borderline.  She's 14 now, so it's been a while.  We're dealing with a hyperactive thyroid on her (she's on methamazole for that) at this point.