Expert: Jessica - 10/11/2010

Question
Hi Jessica - I have owned cats for all of my life.  recently adopted a 3 month kitten from  Cat Protection.  She has a rattle and wheeze from her chest - was eating brilliantly but not for last 2 days.  Very lethargic and just wants to be cuddled instead of wrecking the house and chasing other cat.  She sometimes seems to struggle swallowing and has brought up liquid. Her stools are ok and she urinates regularly.  Could it be asthma.  Am grateful for any advice.
Regards
Pam

Answer
Hi Pam,

Asthma could be possible, but a respiratory infection is much more likely in a kitten of this age.  In either case, she definitely needs to be seen by a vet right away.

Kittens can get pneumonia, which can be caused by several different germs, but patients require antibiotics for the infection to clear up.  The infection is often fatal without treatment.

Sometimes what seems to be rattling from the chest is actually all limited to the upper airways - the nose and throat.  Kittens can vomit or cough up mucus from post-nasal drip.  These kittens typically are prescribed an antibiotic to get rid of sinus infections, as well, and might also receive a nasal drop with a steroid in it to help clear up nasal swelling and discharge.

Asthma noises will sound different on a physical exam than most infectious respiratory problems, and an x-ray can be helpful to diagnose asthma, although a bronchial lavage (a lung wash) is the most definitive test.  A cat with pneumonia will have solid white areas in the lungs, a cat with upper respiratory problems will have no abnormal areas in the lungs, and a cat with asthma will usually have lacey white spots in the lungs.

Very rarely in kittens, heart problems could cause wheezing and crackly breathing.  Again, a physical exam would likely suggest heart problems may be to blame, and an ultrasound of the heart would help confirm them.

Best of luck!

Jessica