A cat owner from Las Vegas revealed how she found out that her cat was suffering from asthma, thanks to TikTok. And veterinarians told Newsweek that what her feline was experiencing was likely a common symptom of asthma.

In a post shared in February under the username @lifewithmaple_, the poster’s cat, a calico named Maple, can be seen repeatedly coughing on the floor as she would if she were trying to spit up a hairball. However, nothing comes out at all.

“Cat owners, this is what feline asthma looks like,” reads layover text in the clip. And a caption says: “I thought she had a fur ball but after looking more into it, thanks to TikTok we found out Maple has asthma. In case you don’t know what it looks like, here you go.”

As it turns out, coughing is a symptom of asthma in cats, according to Dr. Jamie Richardson, the head of veterinary medicine at Small Door Veterinary.

He told Newsweek that feline asthma is a respiratory condition caused by inflammation and constriction of the airways. Common symptoms often include coughing or wheezing, which are often mistaken for hairball-related coughing.

Symptoms of Feline Asthma

Richardson said other symptoms of feline asthma include labored breathing (rapid or open-mouth breathing); shortness of breath (dyspnea); increased respiratory rate; hunched posture with an extended neck while trying to breathe; lethargy or reluctance to play; and bluish gums (cyanosis) in severe cases due to lack of oxygen.

Dr. Maggie Placer, feline health and behavioral specialist at EveryCat Health Foundation, told Newsweek that many asthmatic felines will extend their neck while coughing, and often cat caregivers confuse this coughing with “hacking up a hairball.”

However, Placer said: “Hairballs come up from the gastrointestinal tract, while asthma involves the respiratory tract.”

These respiratory signs can vary from daily to intermittent to seasonal. Other nonspecific signs that may be associated with asthma include decreased appetite and weight loss.

Causes of Feline Asthma

Feline asthma is triggered by an allergic reaction that leads to airway inflammation, and the most-common causes include environmental allergens like pollen, dust mites, mold, cigarette smoke; household irritants such as perfumes, aerosols, cleaning products; and cat litter dust, especially clay-based litter.

Other causes include stress, which can worsen symptoms; obesity, which can make breathing more difficult; and underlying respiratory infections.

How To Treat Feline Asthma

Common asthma treatment focuses on managing inflammation and preventing airway constriction through medications and environmental control, according to Richardson.

To minimize flare-ups, he recommended using low-dust, unscented cat litter; and avoiding smoke, perfumes, candles, and strong cleaning products. Using air purifiers to reduce airborne allergens; keeping the home free of dust and mold; and managing stress are also key to keeping your feline safe.

Asthmatic cats also need regular vet checkups to adjust medications as needed. In the event of a sudden, severe asthmatic reaction, Placer said that it is extremely important to minimize stress during handling, until the animal can be stabilized.

“Treatment often consists of oxygen therapy, via face mask, intranasal catheter, or oxygen cage, although cage is usually preferred as it is less stressful for the cat; administration of bronchodilators to relax the airway; and glucocorticoids (steroids) to address inflammation,” Placer said.

For long-term maintenance therapy, your veterinarian may suggest administering steroids, first orally, until the cat is stabilized, and then via a metered dose inhaler.

“Promising newer therapies include efforts to use immunotherapy to desensitize the cat to the triggering inhaled allergens, the use of stem cell therapy to decrease airway inflammation and changes in asthmatic cats, and the use of new drug classes for cats that have shown promise in other species,” Placer added.

Some Cats Are More at Risk Than Others

Certain felines are more at risk of developing feline asthma than others. Richardson said breeds such as Siamese and other Oriental breeds are more predisposed to it. The usual age of diagnosis is between 2 and 8 years old.

Some cats may have a genetic predisposition, especially if their relatives have respiratory issues or allergies. Felines prone to allergies are also more likely to develop asthma.

Other risk factors include obesity and environmental factors such as exposure to cigarette smoke; strong perfumes; aerosol sprays; dusty litter; or air pollution. Indoor cats can be more affected if air circulation is poor and allergens accumulate in the home.

“If your cat falls into any of these categories, monitoring for respiratory symptoms and reducing potential triggers in their environment is key,” Richardson said.

If you think your cat may be suffering from asthma but hasn’t yet been diagnosed, then you should get your pet examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible, and discuss possible treatments that would suit your feline.

The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 2.2 million views and more than 146,700 likes on the platform

One user, Chloe Spoonemore, commented: “Just found out our cat has asthma. the vet done some xrays and saw he had inflammation in his lungs so now we have to do albuterol breathing treatments.”

Nani said: “My cat was developing asthma but I changed her litter to dust-free option and she has not been coughing like that anymore.”

Aichiyorukimi added: “My cat had even worse asthma attacks before she got diagnosed. Always go to a vet [if] your cat is doing this!”

Newsweek reached out to @lifewithmaple_ for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.