• Therapy is not required in all cases and depends on the severity and the persistence of clinical signs.
• Cats should be excluded from the owner's bedroom as this will be the major source of human dander and house-dust mite.
• B-2-adrenoreceptor agonists are beneficial, particularly in those cats where bronchoconstriction is present. Therapy usually requires oral clenbuterol (1 ug/ kg bid), although cutaneous flushing (reddening of the ears) and tachycardia can occur in some cats. Occasional use of an asthma inhaler, such as salbutamol (Ventolin), can give relief to some cats. A single 'puff' close to the cat's nostrils may give rapid relief of wheezing. Alternatively the methylxanthine agent aminophylline (6 mg/kg bid) can be used.
• The majority of cats are treated effectively with corticosteroids (1.0 mg/kg bid reducing to 0.2 mg/kg every second day) and this is still the standard method of treatment. A standard alternate-day oral prednisolone regime is used. The response is usually rapid, but therapy should be continued for 8 weeks and then withdrawn. If clinical signs recur shortly after cessation of therapy, continuous therapy is necessary.
• Cats presenting with severe broncoconstriction and cyanosis require oxygen therapy, intravenous corticosteroids and intravenous or nebulised bronchodilators (e.g. clenbuterol).

Note: in cats with status asthmaticus, rapid reversal of profound bronchoconstriction is required. Intravenous atropine (20-40 ug/kg) or adrenaline (20 ug/kg (1:10000 solution = 100 ug/ml)) i/m, i/v or s/c can be used once the potentially serious side effects (particularly dysrhythmias with adrenaline) are understood. Alternatively, the less hazardous intravenous administration of rapidly acting glucocorticosteroids, such as methylprednisolone succinate, can be undertaken. The cat must have a patent airway and supplemental oxygen should be available.


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