bf's roommate's cat (you may remember, he was having some potty issues, and i was concerned about the level of care roommate was providing) has been better with the potty issues but a new and way more serious problem has come up. since earlier this summer it seems the cat has developed asthma. roommate took cat to emergency vet and was started on some diff medications as well as an inhaler. it's been a few months and the cat is really struggling. i'm not sure the roomie has been keeping up with the medications, but he said the vet was weaning the cat off the meds as prednisone etc are not good to take long-term. bf and i were catsitting last week and had to give the cat a puff of the inhaler almost every day following coughing fits. the cat will seem like he has a hairball and will just make a honking noise and breath with his mouth open. if i try to play with him he will chase something for about 30 seconds before it brings on an attack.
has anyone had experience with feline asthma? are there any meds that can be taken long-term to control it, or is this how it's going to be forever? it's so sad to see him struggling to breathe after any kind of activity. i have a feeling he won't last long this way. i'm pushing for them to convert him back to an indoor cat, but i'm afraid he will be really unhappy being kept inside if we can't even play with him, and will return to his old ways of pooping all over in frustration. i'm going to look for info online but figured i would see if anyone has experience dealing with this problem. it's not my cat, but i really want to intervene to avoid a sad end for my little friend...
cat asthma
Re: cat asthma
If the roomate isn't taking proper care of the cat, you need to inform the vet of this. Asthma, along with any kind of treatment, needs to be treated specifically, consistently, and the owner needs to get kitty evaluated on a regular basis, this is the only way the vet can know if the kitty is responding appropriately to the medication or if there is a need to adjust the meds, etc. If the roomate isn't following the treatment plan or the vet's advice, I'm sorry, but the roomate doesn't deserve this kitty.
Kitty should also NOT be allowed outdoors! Indoors ONLY.
The best thing to do is get kitty to a vet right away for a new evaluation of his health status, and for the vet to determine if the meds need adjusting or alternated with something else. If the vet is not getting serious with the roomate and expressing concern about kitty's consistent treatment, then a new vet should be seen immediately. There may be a secondary health problem going on undetected as well, only a new exam can determine that.
Get this poor cat to a vet promptly for a new exam, and dicuss with the vet about proper medications, monitoring the medications effectiveness or the need for other medications. If the roommate is not comitted to kitty's health, this kitty needs a new owner who is. Treating feline asthma doesn't have to be difficult, but if the owner is not compliant and concerned with kitty's welfare (allowing him outdoors and not following vet's advice), then kitty deserves a new home with someone who is comitted to his care.
Kitty should also NOT be allowed outdoors! Indoors ONLY.
The best thing to do is get kitty to a vet right away for a new evaluation of his health status, and for the vet to determine if the meds need adjusting or alternated with something else. If the vet is not getting serious with the roomate and expressing concern about kitty's consistent treatment, then a new vet should be seen immediately. There may be a secondary health problem going on undetected as well, only a new exam can determine that.
Get this poor cat to a vet promptly for a new exam, and dicuss with the vet about proper medications, monitoring the medications effectiveness or the need for other medications. If the roommate is not comitted to kitty's health, this kitty needs a new owner who is. Treating feline asthma doesn't have to be difficult, but if the owner is not compliant and concerned with kitty's welfare (allowing him outdoors and not following vet's advice), then kitty deserves a new home with someone who is comitted to his care.
..........Traci
thanks traci,
i will keep working on the situation... it's hard because i know the roomie does love the cat... he's just kind of flaky. the cat was almost evicted and i was going to be the only one who could take it, until the landlord gave them a break... but i'm not sure if i want to make that commitment, especially if he needs this level of care. so i'd much rather have him live with them and be able to supervise... he's better off there than in a shelter where they'd probably put him down anyway...
now that winter is coming it will be easier for me to convince them to keep the cat in. it's hard tho with 4 of us in and out of the house every day, and the cat crying to go out (even when they decide to keep him in someone always ends up letting him out). i've been making sure they don't let him out if he shows signs of breathing trouble. roomie's gf has been saying she will call the vet to find out about other medications because obviously weaning him off the steroids isn't working. i know they've been to 2 different vets (emergency room and then the regular vet). hopefully they can come up with something that will work. i'm going to be keepin an eye on the cat and if it doesn't look like he is getting better & they haven't talked to the vet, i'll offer to take him myself and/or help pay for it.
i guess i just wanted to get an idea of whether anyone knows the long-term issues with this disease or suggestions i can give them for meds to ask the vet about.
i will keep working on the situation... it's hard because i know the roomie does love the cat... he's just kind of flaky. the cat was almost evicted and i was going to be the only one who could take it, until the landlord gave them a break... but i'm not sure if i want to make that commitment, especially if he needs this level of care. so i'd much rather have him live with them and be able to supervise... he's better off there than in a shelter where they'd probably put him down anyway...
now that winter is coming it will be easier for me to convince them to keep the cat in. it's hard tho with 4 of us in and out of the house every day, and the cat crying to go out (even when they decide to keep him in someone always ends up letting him out). i've been making sure they don't let him out if he shows signs of breathing trouble. roomie's gf has been saying she will call the vet to find out about other medications because obviously weaning him off the steroids isn't working. i know they've been to 2 different vets (emergency room and then the regular vet). hopefully they can come up with something that will work. i'm going to be keepin an eye on the cat and if it doesn't look like he is getting better & they haven't talked to the vet, i'll offer to take him myself and/or help pay for it.
i guess i just wanted to get an idea of whether anyone knows the long-term issues with this disease or suggestions i can give them for meds to ask the vet about.
Re: cat asthma
The problem is not knowing if or how the asthma was properly diagnosed. What tests did the vet do to determine? Were x-rays done? Was an ECG done to evaluate and rule out heart disfunction? Was a tracheal wash done or suggested so that the vet could rule out bacterial infection, infectious organism, fungal, etc? Was the kitty tested for heartworm? If none of these diagnostics were done, it's time to see a more qualified vet so that the diagnosis can be reached and treated appropriately. I'd suggest a feline-only vet.
There are a few medications available to treat asthma, such as corticosteroid use, bronchodilators/inhalors, theophylline, etc, but each cat responds differently, the owner must make frequent reports to the vet on how the cat is doing on the meds, or instances of an asthma attack that would necessitate altering the medications or choosing a different one. If the roomate isn't talking to the vet or telling him how often the cat has attacks, then the roommate is at fault, the vet can't possibly monitor or gauge the effectiveness of the medication unless the cat is seen regularly and the owner keeps him updated on progress, etc. The roomate must also understand how serious this condition is. If there are frequent attacks, then he MUST get kitty seen/re-evaluated promptly so the vet is able to treat effectively. If there is a serious attack where breathing distress or wheezing is noted, the owner MUST get kitty to an emergency vet RIGHT AWAY for appropriate emergency medical treatment. Just as in humans, an asthma attack can be serious and even fatal if not treated appropriately, immediately.
The roommate also needs to know how to minimize environmental triggers (dust, pollens, mites, smoke, home use of aerosols and cleaners, etc) and keep them limited at all times. Exercise and rigorous activity needs to be restricted in a severely asthmatic cat, so kitty's activity level needs to be monitored at all times by the owner...any changes in kitty's intolerance for activity need to be reported to the vet at once. Most cats self-limit their own activity level, but it's up to the owner to be diligent about not putting an asthmatic cat at risk by increasing activity and increasing the risks for environmental triggers, etc. Allowing him outdoors is a HUGE risk, and this should be ceased immediately.
Do you see where I'm going with this? The roommate must be made to understand the condition and followup with his vet as the vet requests. He MUST be compliant with the vet's directions and followup care, and MUST take steps to make kitty's environment safe. If he isn't doing that, then talk to the vet and have the vet give him a serious drill. If he still will not properly care for this kitty, then take the cat yourself, but you'll have to be diligent with kitty's care and take steps to reduce the risks as outlined above.
There are a few medications available to treat asthma, such as corticosteroid use, bronchodilators/inhalors, theophylline, etc, but each cat responds differently, the owner must make frequent reports to the vet on how the cat is doing on the meds, or instances of an asthma attack that would necessitate altering the medications or choosing a different one. If the roomate isn't talking to the vet or telling him how often the cat has attacks, then the roommate is at fault, the vet can't possibly monitor or gauge the effectiveness of the medication unless the cat is seen regularly and the owner keeps him updated on progress, etc. The roomate must also understand how serious this condition is. If there are frequent attacks, then he MUST get kitty seen/re-evaluated promptly so the vet is able to treat effectively. If there is a serious attack where breathing distress or wheezing is noted, the owner MUST get kitty to an emergency vet RIGHT AWAY for appropriate emergency medical treatment. Just as in humans, an asthma attack can be serious and even fatal if not treated appropriately, immediately.
The roommate also needs to know how to minimize environmental triggers (dust, pollens, mites, smoke, home use of aerosols and cleaners, etc) and keep them limited at all times. Exercise and rigorous activity needs to be restricted in a severely asthmatic cat, so kitty's activity level needs to be monitored at all times by the owner...any changes in kitty's intolerance for activity need to be reported to the vet at once. Most cats self-limit their own activity level, but it's up to the owner to be diligent about not putting an asthmatic cat at risk by increasing activity and increasing the risks for environmental triggers, etc. Allowing him outdoors is a HUGE risk, and this should be ceased immediately.
Do you see where I'm going with this? The roommate must be made to understand the condition and followup with his vet as the vet requests. He MUST be compliant with the vet's directions and followup care, and MUST take steps to make kitty's environment safe. If he isn't doing that, then talk to the vet and have the vet give him a serious drill. If he still will not properly care for this kitty, then take the cat yourself, but you'll have to be diligent with kitty's care and take steps to reduce the risks as outlined above.
..........Traci