Dogs don’t commonly get asthma, but up to 5 percent of cats do—one in 20. How might you know? If your cat coughs on a fairly regular basis, it could be a sign. People often mistake that for an effort to throw up a hair ball.
If your cat coughs a lot, take him to the vet. Other conditions cause coughing, too—heartworm disease, lung worms, laryngeal cancer, heart disease. If asthma is what’s diagnosed (the coughing is often accompanied by wheezing and open-mouthed breathing), there are medicines available to control it. Also:
- Don’t use scented candles.
- Vacuum regularly to keep dust and dust mites to a minimum. They can exacerbate the condition.
