Is Catnip Bad For Cats With Asthma

Cats with asthma should be watched extra carefully when around loose dried catnip as it could become an irritant to the airways.

Is catnip bad for cats with asthma. Asthma affects the lower airways and causes narrowing of the bronchi increased mucus production and decreased mucus clearance. If your cat has a history of feline asthma you should ask your veterinarian about giving catnip as dried catnip can sometimes cause breathing issues for these cats. It also resembles some properties of male cat urine which may be why some cats react to the herb as though in heat with yowling rolling and slobbering. Feline asthma very similar to human asthma is a chronic inflammation of the small passageways of a cat s lungs.

When an asthma attack occurs these passageways thicken and constrict making it very difficult for a cat to breathe. Catnip is a mild feline hallucinogen but it is completely nontoxic to cats. A dry hacking cough is most often mistaken for a hairball and this coughing may be. My dearly missed tigger had asthma and she used to go wild over catnip without any side effects.

A full blown asthma attack may at first resemble a cat trying to cough up a hairball or possibly choking on food. You can rub it on scratching posts stuff it into socks for a simple toy and sprinkle it into new beds among others. Signs of asthma in a cat can be minor to severe. Catnip sensitivity is hereditary and an estimated 50 percent of cats have no reaction to the plant at all according to the human society.

Catnip shouldn t really affect your kitty s asthma those which have had it for years will prove it. With asthma attacks body posture is somewhat different. It s found to be neither toxic nor addictive so you can freely use it as a reward or training aid. Offspring the term for an animal s young.

The end result is a cat who struggles to breathe. Catnip has been proven to be safe for cats although excessive amounts may result to a short spell of diarrhea. Just because your cat didn t respond to catnip the first time around doesn t mean he won t ever it s fine to try again later once more but don t force it on your cat if he s not into it. If the blood test suggests your cat could be suffering from asthma a chest x ray can then be used to look at the lungs although it isn t always possible to obtain an x ray if your pet is having a bad attack as any attempt at restraint or sedation can be very dangerous for them.