Cats Are Coughing & Wheezing Amid The Haze, Vets Warn Of Respiratory Risks

As haze continues to affect air quality, pet owners have taken to social media to share videos of their cats coughing, wheezing, and appearing to struggle with their breathing, attributing their pets' symptoms to the haze.

In a post on Threads, one Indonesian netizen expressed sadness over their cat developing an acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI), which they attributed to the air pollution.

"Never did anything wrong, never hurt nature. But here he is with an acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) from the greed of humans," they wrote, sharing a video of their cat struggling with its breathing.

Another pet owner in Indonesia also shared that their cats have developed respiratory symptoms due to smoke from the forest fires.

"My cats have developed ARTI because of smoke from the forest and peat fires. This is one of them that I managed to record. I can hear them coughing throughout the day," they wrote.

Meanwhile, a Malaysian netizen claimed that their cat had died due to the haze, urging other pet owners to take extra precautions, particularly those with pets that already have lung conditions.

"My cat died due to haze. Please take care of your cats, especially those with lung diseases," they wrote.

Speaking to Malay Mail, Dr Wendy Cheng of Noah's Ark Veterinary Clinic said fine particles in polluted air, including PM2.5, can irritate animals' respiratory systems and worsen existing heart or lung conditions.

She said she has personally seen cats experiencing asthma attacks and birds breathing with their mouths open. A puppy had also recently required oxygen therapy and nebulisation at the clinic.

According to Dr Cheng, symptoms pet owners should watch for include sneezing, coughing, nasal discharge, watery or irritated eyes, wheezing, rapid breathing, reduced appetite, and unusual lethargy.

Open-mouth breathing, particularly in cats, or any obvious difficulty breathing should be treated as an emergency, she added.

To minimise pets' exposure to polluted air, veterinarians have advised owners to take a few precautions at home.

These include:
– Keeping pets indoors as much as possible
– Keeping windows closed when outdoor air quality is poor
– Limiting outdoor walks and strenuous activities
– Using an air purifier with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, where available
– Ensuring pets have access to fresh drinking water

Pet owners should also monitor their animals for any changes in their breathing or behaviour.

Dr Cheng advised owners to seek veterinary attention promptly if their pets show signs of breathing difficulties, particularly if their symptoms worsen or do not improve.