My cat has trouble breathing. What can I do to help her at home?

Question

My cat often has respiratory problems and once they start it takes a lot for them to stop. Saline nose drops seem to help. She has been having an episode for several weeks where it is is getting harder and harder to breathe. And today she threw up (abnormal for her) and had liquid stool. I also give her 5 mg of zyrtec a day because it seems to help. What can I do to help her breathe again? Pet's info: Cat | Russian Blue | Female | spayed | 12 years and 6 months old | 7 lbs

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

Poor Storm! Zyrtec is an antihistamine, and it could be that she is suffering from allergies which may be why it's helping. I would caution against using it unless prescribed by a vet, simply because it's a human medication that is not licensed to use in cats. I would recommend taking Storm into the vet for an exam in the morning, especially if it's getting harder for her to breathe. The cause of her respiratory difficulties should be diagnosed in order to treat them properly. The causes can include allergies, respiratory infection, or heart disease. Allergies, should they be the cause, may need to be treated with steroids to help her symptoms. I would recommend rushing her into an ER vet immediately if she starts open mouth breathing or really struggles to breathe, as those are signs of respiratory distress and should be treated immediately. In the meantime, there are a few things you can try at home in case she has a respiratory infection. First, you can try starting her on an L-lysine supplement - this is an amino acid that has been shown to help the immune system fight off respiratory infections more effectively. Enisyl and Viralys are both good brands, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription - just follow the dosing instructions on the label based on your cat's weight. If she's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing her into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections.

My cat has trouble breathing. What can I do to help her at home?

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