What Causes Respiratory Disease in Cats?

1 Causes of Feline Respiratory Disease

I. Infectious: rhinitis, tracheobronchitis, pneumonia from virus, bacteria, or fungus—treat by symptoms with famciclovir, stomatitis spray, cidofovir.

II. Inflammatory: chronic bronchial disease, feline asthma, chronic bronchitis, COPD, interstitial lung disease—treat by anti-inflammatory care and lower stress.

III. Congenital or acquired: some breeds have birth defects (Persian brachycephalic, tracheal narrowing, ciliary disorder) needing early checks and extra daily care.

IV. Tumors: primary nasal/laryngeal/tracheal/lung tumors, or metastatic disease and pressure from enlarged lymph, thymus, or heart masses. Tumors badly harm health—see a vet fast.

V. Cardiovascular: cardiomyopathy, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism can trouble the airways and easily cause anemia—treat promptly.

VI. Injury-related: inhaling smoke or irritants, or grass/stomach acid as foreign bodies, damages airways and often brings laryngeal paralysis or megaesophagus. Keep cats from irritants; don’t smoke near them.

VII. Parasites: migrating larvae or dead worms, directly or secondarily. Deworm in time to avoid other disease.

Finding the cause lets you treat it and also prevent or catch other issues early. If you have other questions, consult an online vet.