If your vet suspects that your cat is wheezing, they will likely suggest some tests to confirm the cause. This can help the vet decide whether the sounds are caused by wheezing and not caused by anything else. If your cat only wheezes occasionally it may be helpful to bring along a video of your cat wheezing if you can catch them doing it, in case they are not doing it during the visit to the vet. Your vet will ask you questions about any signs your cat is showing. What might the vet do if my cat is wheezing? To work out why your cat is wheezing, it is essential to book a visit to your veterinary surgeon who will work with you to determine the cause. It must be noted that these are an extremely small number of cases, so if your cat is wheezing it is highly likely that coronavirus is not the cause. These cats appeared to have caught the virus from humans, but currently there are no reports of cats passing it onto humans. On a topical note – there have been a very small number of cases of Covid-19 (coronavirus) confirmed in cats which were showing respiratory signs. Other conditions which can result in wheezing include infections (bacterial or viral), parasites such as lungworm, inhaled foreign bodies and lung cancer. There is also a breed predisposition in Oriental breeds such as the Siamese. This produces more mucus (which can clog the airways and make breathing more difficult).Īny cat may be affected by asthma, but the signs most commonly start to show in middle-aged cats. When the airways become inflamed, they become constricted (resulting in the wheezing noise). This irritates the lining of the airways and causes an inflammatory response. Like asthma in humans, it is thought that asthma in cats involves an allergic reaction to an inhaled trigger. The most common cause of this in cats is feline asthma. Wheezing is an indication that there may be a problem with your cat’s lower airways and lungs. As always, cats are the master of disguise when it comes to hiding their ailments! What does wheezing mean? However, in many cases of asthma, the signs may be subtle, such as a slightly increased breathing rate. In this circumstance try to keep your cat calm and contact your veterinary clinic for an examination as soon as possible. This is a sign of severe distress and requires immediate veterinary attention. They may breathe with his/her mouth open (“open-mouth breathing”). In the most severe cases, your cat may appear to be having real difficulty breathing. It can sometimes be accompanied by other respiratory signs such as coughing ‘fits’ (your cat may sound like he/she is trying to bring something up, but nothing is produced) and fast or laboured breathing. ![]() It is usually heard on expiration (breathing out). Wheezing is caused by air being forced through narrowed airways, which results in an abnormal high-pitched sound. What might the vet do if my cat is wheezing?.
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