Feline Pneumonia: A Health Guide by Emily Swiniarski, DVM, Reviewed by Brittany Kleszynski, DVM, Published on April 28, 2023, and Updated on April 30, 2025. Shared on Facebook, Twitter, and via Email.
Sure thing! Here's the revised article about pneumonia in cats, following the provided guidelines:
Pneumonia in Kitties: The Catty Lowdown
Pneumonia in cats can be a tricky condition to grasp. Feline pals often exhibit symptoms such as shortness of breath and an unferved feeling, leading to some concerned purrs and visits to the vet. But, have you ever wondered if Whiskers might be susceptible to this ailment too? Let's dive in and explore everything you need to know about pneumonia in cats.
What on Earth is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia refers to inflammation in the lungs. Essentially, the lungs have a network of tubes - some large (like the trachea or windpipe) and some small (like bronchioles) - that lead to tiny air sacs called alveoli. When pneumonia strikes, the tiny alveoli get filled up with fluid, which stops them from delivering life-sustaining oxygen to the body. Both humans and four-legged friends of the feline persuasion can develop pneumonia, but the causes of it can differ between species.
Can Cats Contract Pneumonia?
You betcha! Puss in boots and even man's best furry friend – Doggy – can both fall victim to this pesky condition. While pneumonia isn't exactly common among cats, it's not as rare as some might think.
Cats tend to display subtle signs of pneumonia which can prove challenging to detect. So, how do you know if your kitty's feeling under the weather? It's important to familiarize yourself with the different types of pneumonia that can affect cats.
Types of Pneumonia in Kitties
There are three main types of pneumonia in cats:
Aspiration Pneumonia: This occurs whenever your cat accidentally inhales fluid or particles such as vomit, food, medication, or stomach acid.
Infectious Pneumonia: This type most frequently happens when your cat's immune system is weakened due to factors like age (kittens), certain medications, stress, or other illnesses.
Inhalation Pneumonia: This arises when your kitty inhales harmful substances that shouldn't be breathed in, such as smoke. For example, feline friends that get caught up in house fires are more likely to develop pneumonia due to smoke inhalation.
What Causes Pneumonia in Cats?
Aspiration Pneumonia
Approximately half of all cats diagnosed with pneumonia suffer from aspiration pneumonia. This condition occurs when cats accidentally inhale fluid or particles due to various reasons:
- Sedation or anesthesia at the vet
- Diseases in the esophagus
- Neurological issues
- Force-feeding (feeding food or medicine your cat doesn't want)
Most cats diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia will have recently shown signs of gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting.
Infectious Pneumonia
Infectious pneumonia usually appears due to immunosuppression, meaning your cat's immune system isn't functioning as it should. This could stem from factors like age (young kittens), feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus, stress (such as in an animal shelter or following surgery), certain medications, or other concurrent illnesses.
Infectious pneumonia can be caused by a variety of invaders, including:
- Viruses such as feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus-1, and feline infectious peritonitis
- Bacteria like Bordetella bronchiseptica, Mycoplasma spp., and Streptococcus spp.
- Fungi, such as Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis, and Cryptococcus spp.
- Protozoa, such as Toxoplasma gondii
- Parasites, like lungworms (such as Aelurostrongylus abstrusus) or roundworms migrating through the lungs (such as Toxocara cati)
Viruses and bacteria are the most common culprits causing pneumonia and commonly work hand in hand. However, in most cases, a virus makes your cat sick first, allowing bacteria living in the cat's airways to multiply and cause a secondary bacterial infection. In very young kittens, bacteria can be the main cause of pneumonia.
Fungal pneumonia in cats is rare but accounts for approximately 15% of cases. Protozoal pneumonia is very uncommon and accounts for approximately 5%. Parasites are quite common, but it's unusual for them to cause severe pneumonia.
Inhalation Pneumonia
Inhalation pneumonia arises from the inhalation of harmful substances, such as smoke or chemicals that shouldn't be breathed in. For instance, cats caught in house fires often inhale a lot of smoke, which frequently causes pneumonia.
Symptoms of Pneumonia in Cats
Pneumonia can be more challenging to identify in cats, as 20% of affected cats don't develop changes in breathing, and 40% don't show overall illness signs such as a change in appetite. Nevertheless, pneumonia symptoms in cats may still be present and can include:
- Coughing or wheezing
- Nasal discharge
- Reduced activity
- Decreased appetite
- Changes in breathing (such as increased effort, difficulty resting, rapid breathing, or open-mouth breathing)
- Weakness
- Fever
Diagnosing Pneumonia in Cats
To determine a diagnosis, your vet will first perform a physical examination. In milder forms of pneumonia, the lungs may sound normal, making X-rays crucial for visualizing inflammation in the lungs and helping identify possible causes. While X-rays can reveal inflammation in the lungs, they alone can't pinpoint the exact cause of pneumonia. That's why the vet will need to take your cat's history into account to diagnose the type of pneumonia (e.g., if she's recently been vomiting or has been near a house fire).
Viruses are difficult to detect using testing but may be found by swabbing the back of your cat's throat. To determine what type of bacteria is involved, a test using a fluid sample from the lungs is often recommended (i.e., bronchoalveolar lavage). Fungi, protozoa, and parasites are typically diagnosed with blood tests that reveal the presence of the pathogen in the body. Parasites are diagnosed through fecal (poop) testing.
Treating Feline Pneumonia
Most pneumonia cases are treated with antibiotics and supportive care. While bacteria might not be the primary cause of pneumonia when viruses are present, they often complicate the pneumonia, so antibiotics are essential. Supportive care, such as fluid therapy and nutritional support, also helps your cat regain strength while battling the infection.
If your kitty is exceptionally unwell and having difficulty breathing, hospitalization may be necessary. When cats are struggling to breathe, they cannot eat, drink, or take medicine by mouth. Veterinary hospitals can supply your cat with oxygen therapy to aid breathing, in addition to fluids and medication through an intravenous (IV) catheter.
Nebulization is a vital method of treating your cat's pneumonia at home. This procedure involves placing saline and medication into a small machine that delivers concentrated air through the solution. Catching the medicated air in a carrier, by covering the openings with moist towels while the nebulizer is running, is an excellent way to keep it contained.
Fungal, protozoal, and parasitic pneumonia necessitate specific medications depending on the exact pathogen causing it. Fungal and protozoal pneumonia can be difficult to treat, as medication must be given for several months before recovery.
Prognosis for Cats with Pneumonia
Cats with mild or moderate pneumonia that react favorably to antibiotics have a promising outlook. Cats that are significantly unwell and have difficulty breathing have a more challenging prognosis, although around 90% of these cats survive with hospitalization.
Fungal and protozoal pneumonia can be hard to treat, and if your cat is already struggling due to these pathogens, improvement might take weeks to appear.
How to Prevent Cat Pneumonia
If your cat develops gastrointestinal symptoms (such as vomiting) that occur more than once, prompt veterinary attention is crucial. If your cat is being force-fed or takes large volumes of liquid medication, advice from your vet can help avoid accidental aspiration of food or medication.
Minimizing your cat's exposure to other animals, especially cats with unknown health status, can help prevent protozoa and parasites. Guarding your kitty from potentially harmful chemicals that are dangerous when inhaled is another important measure.
There you have it! A non-scary (or at least slightly less scary) exploration of pneumonia in cats, complete with some enriching information about feline pneumonia types and causations. Now you're armed with all the info you need to manage your feline friend's health efficiently. Happy cat-ing! 😸🐾
- In the realm of health and wellness, it's crucial to understand that while both cats and their human counterparts can suffer from respiratory conditions like pneumonia, their causes can differ significantly.
- Mental health is often intertwined with physical health, as a cat with a weakened immune system due to stress or other illnesses might be more susceptible to infectious pneumonia.
- Lifestyle choices can impact a cat's health; for instance, exposure to smoke can lead to inhalation pneumonia, a potentially harmful condition. Similarly, pet owners should be mindful of their pets' exposure to harmful substances and ensure their pets' mental and physical well-being is prioritized, especially in terms of preventive measures.
