Many cat owners have seen their pet crouch, stretch their neck, and cough as though trying to bring up a hairball. But what happens when that cough keeps coming back? Ellie’s story shows how these seemingly small episodes can sometimes point to an underlying respiratory condition.

Ellie is a 5-year-old domestic shorthair cat who was brought to see us after experiencing intermittent episodes of coughing and wheezing over the past year. Her owners had noticed that these episodes had recently become much more frequent, now occurring roughly once a day. Often, there seemed to be no obvious trigger, and Ellie remained bright in herself, with no other changes in appetite or behaviour.

Her owners described the episodes as bouts of coughing during which Ellie would stretch her neck forward and appear to try to breathe out, sometimes retching as though trying to bring something up. These signs can sometimes be mistaken for a cat trying to pass a hairball, but when they occur regularly, particularly alongside other clinical signs, they can indicate an underlying respiratory issue.

During Ellie’s check-up, the rest of her clinical examination was reassuringly normal. However, when listening carefully to her chest, there was evidence of crackles and wheezes in the lower lung fields. Together with the history and the video provided by her owners, these findings raised our suspicion that Ellie may be suffering from feline asthma and bronchitis.

Feline asthma is a relatively common inflammatory condition of the lower airways. Similar in some ways to asthma in people, it occurs when the small airways (bronchi and bronchioles) within the lungs become inflamed and overly reactive. This inflammation causes the airways to swell, produce excess mucus, and sometimes go into spasm, narrowing the passages through which air moves. As a result, affected cats may develop coughing, wheezing, or episodes of increased breathing effort. In many cats, the condition is triggered by inhaled irritants or allergens such as dust, pollen, smoke, aerosols, or other airborne particles that stimulate inflammation within the airways.

To help confirm our suspicion and improve Ellie’s comfort, we began with a two-week trial course of anti-inflammatory steroid medication. Alongside this, we discussed ways to reduce potential environmental triggers at home, including using low-dust litter and avoiding aerosols or strong household sprays.

When checking in with Ellie’s owner by phone within the first week of treatment, the improvement was immediate and encouraging – Ellie had not coughed once since starting her medication.

Although conditions such as feline asthma are rarely completely cured, they can often be managed very successfully. Treatment focuses on reducing inflammation in the airways, easing breathing, and minimising the frequency of coughing episodes. Some cats may need ongoing medication, and many do very well using inhalers that deliver treatment directly to the lungs, just as they do in humans.

With the right care and monitoring, most cats go on to live full, active, and comfortable lives. By noticing subtle changes and seeking advice early, owners can make a real difference in helping their pets breathe more easily and continue enjoying life to the fullest – just like Ellie.