Trouble breathing!

Hi all! We adopted our kitty about 2 and a half weeks ago now. A few days after we got her, we noticed episodes where it would sound like she was gasping for breath/dry heaving. At first we thought maybe it was a hairball, but nothing ever came up. We spoke to the woman at the animal rescue we got her from, and she thought maybe it was a respiratory infection caused by the stress of a new environment, etc. 

We had her on antibiotics for a week. After the second day on the medicine we didn't hear any more of this breathing trouble, so we thought that the antibiotics were working. However, last night, after day 7 on the antibiotics, she had another episode. We are starting to think that maybe it's asthma (stress induced?) but the woman at the rescue said it is not that, since our kitty lived at her house for 4 months and she never noticed any breathing issues. What should we do?! It's so scary and we feel so helpless watching her gasp for air!

I definitely think a trip to your vet is a good starting point. They can listen to her and tell if she is wheezing or having any other signs of illness. An x-ray can also be done to see if there is any inflammation in the lungs.

PattyM said:

 
Hi all! We adopted our kitty about 2 and a half weeks ago now. A few days after we got her, we noticed episodes where it would sound like she was gasping for breath/dry heaving. At first we thought maybe it was a hairball, but nothing ever came up. We spoke to the woman at the animal rescue we got her from, and she thought maybe it was a respiratory infection caused by the stress of a new environment, etc. 

We had her on antibiotics for a week. After the second day on the medicine we didn't hear any more of this breathing trouble, so we thought that the antibiotics were working. However, last night, after day 7 on the antibiotics, she had another episode. We are starting to think that maybe it's asthma (stress induced?) but the woman at the rescue said it is not that, since our kitty lived at her house for 4 months and she never noticed any breathing issues. What should we do?! It's so scary and we feel so helpless watching her gasp for air!

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Breathing trouble can be very serious.  If this is an occasional incident it may in fact be asthma, and if possible i would make a video to show a vet.  I would also ask the rescue org if possible and if there is time what their policy is on post adoption medical care.  I have seen 100's of URI infections and virtually never see breathing problems with the incredibly rare instances of open mouth breathing with severe congestion of the nose.

Thanks Stephen.  This is an occasional event we are seeing.  It has happened on maybe 4 occasions while we've been home, and it only lasts 30-60 seconds, but during this time it seems she is really gasping for air.  Unfortunately the last couple of times it has happened was after we've already gone to bed for the night.  She'll come into our room while it's happening, but doesn't leave time for us to grab a camera to record a video.  As we hadn't seen it happen at all for about 5 or 6 days, we thought that the antibiotic had fixed the problem.  However, since it happened again last night, that seems not to be the case.  The rescue org told us that if they take her to the vet, there is no charge for the visit, so that is perhaps our best option.

Hi @PattyM

It sounds like asthma but only a vet can tell.  What i can say again is having dealt with many 100's over cats over many years with URI's, I have never seen the symptoms you describe in a respiratory infection and as such the antibiotic seems not indicated from where I sit.

Here are some links to articles on asthma, in the meantime i recommend a vet visit soon.  The vet can listen with a stethoscope and hear tell tale wheezing that you can't detect with the naked ear between attacks.  Also a video showing classic symptoms is here:


http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/respiratory/c_ct_asthma_bronchitis

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/health_resources/Asthma.cfm

Asthma can easily be controlled in cats, there is a special inhaler device that you put over a cat's mouth and once or twice a day is often all that's needed.  Sometimes you don't need that and just need a daily pill, and sometimes all you have to do is remove the irritant from the environment (if you can identify it) and then no meds needed at all.

However, uncontrolled it can become very serious, even life threatening.

We actually do hear wheezing after she's been playing.  The woman from the rescue org was the one who recommended the antibiotic.  I felt a little unsure of the idea the whole time (I work in the pharma industry and hate the idea of overprescription of antibiotics), but I figured it was best to rule out an infection anyway.  We will definitely try to get a video of her having an episode if at all possible, and hopefully get her to the vet ASAP

Ok personally I wouldn't wait for the video.  The vet can probably make a diagnosis based on what they see and on what you tell them.  Look at the link to the video i sent you.  As far as antibiotics go and their overuse, this is more of a human issue, and not so much one for cats.  Cats with colds really need the meds, but your cat does not have a cold.

Just to update, we took her to the vet.  The vet said that she was a little lung to have asthma and her lungs didn't sound asthmatic.  She cleans herself obsessively, and while she doesn't get up hairballs, the vet thinks the hair could be causing some irritation.  He gave her a steroid shot and we'll see how she does.  His other suggestion is that it could be an allergy, but my husband and I are both pretty sensitive to smells, so our home doesn't have a lot of strongly scented cleaning products, sprays, perfumes, etc.  It could also just be her adjusting to the new home.  We'll keep an eye on her and hopefully it clears up.

Hairballs will often make a cat cough.  You could try a hairball remedy like Petromalt for a few days and see what happens. 

Has anyone considered roundworms?  The life cycle of the roundworm includes being coughed up out of the lungs and swallowed.  Anytime I see a cat coughing, that's my first thought.