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Bronchopneumonia in cats
Bronchopneumonia is an infection of the lung tissue itself, not just the nose or throat. The alveoli, tiny bags where oxygen passes into the blood, fill with fluid and inflammatory cells: the exchange surface decreases and the cat lacks air...
What is it?
Bronchopneumonia is an infection of the lung tissue itself, not just the nose or throat. The alveoli, tiny bags where oxygen passes into the blood, fill with fluid and inflammatory cells: the exchange surface decreases and the cat lacks air.
In cats, it is rarely primary: it almost always occurs as a result of something else, an upper respiratory infection that descends, a dietary aspiration, pulmonary parasites or a weakening disease.
It is a serious condition, which requires rapid treatment.
Key point
Breathing difficulty in cats is always an emergency. The cat compensates for a long time then suddenly decompensates: between the moment when it breathes only a little quickly and the moment when it is in distress, only a few hours may pass. Never delay a night.
Commonly observed signs
These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.
Related signs — each one links to its page:
Rapid, shallow breathing at rest, visible effort of the stomach with each movement.
Cough, sometimes discreet or even absent: unlike dogs, a cat can have pneumonia without coughing much.
Fever, marked depression, prostrate cat hiding.
Loss of appetite and dehydration within one or two days.
Nasal discharge, often thick, when the infection comes from the upper passages.
In advanced forms: open mouth breathing, gray or bluish mucous membranes, sitting position with elbows apart. This is then a vital emergency.
When to consult without delay
This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.
Causes and risk factors
Bacteria take hold in the lungs, most often after an inciting event.
Descent of an upper respiratory infection, particularly poorly treated coryza, in fragile kittens and cats.
Mistake: liquid or food inhaled during vomiting, regurgitation, force-feeding or poorly administered liquid medication.
Pulmonary parasites, which damage the tissue and leave room for bacteria.
Foreign body inhaled, such as a blade of grass.
Weakening of defenses: IVF, feline leukosis, chronic illness, immunosuppressive treatment.
Kitten and older cat, whose defenses are less effective.
Recent history of coryza.
Cat that vomits or regurgitates often, or has difficulty swallowing.
Administration of food or liquid medication by syringe without appropriate technique.
Recent anesthesia, bed rest, chronic illness.
Access to the outdoors, with exposure to pulmonary parasites.
Community life and stress.
Transmission
Bronchopneumonia itself is not transmitted from one cat to another.
On the other hand, the upper respiratory infection which preceded it is very contagious between cats: it is this that must be isolated and prevented.
It is not transmitted to humans.
Diagnosis and care
Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.
The veterinarian begins by assessing the emergency: respiratory rate, color of the mucous membranes, respiratory effort. A very embarrassed cat is first put on oxygen and stabilized before any examination.
Chest x-rays confirm the lung damage and specify its extent.
A blood test assesses infection, hydration and general condition.
A lower respiratory tract sample may be taken to identify the bacteria involved and determine effective antibiotics.
A stool exam looks for lung parasites.
Screening for FIV and leukosis is frequently offered.
Treatment
Treatment combines antibiotic therapy prescribed by the veterinarian, chosen if possible based on the samples, and supportive care.
Oxygen therapy is started as soon as breathing is difficult; hospitalization is often necessary for the first few days.
An infusion corrects dehydration and thins secretions; Conversely, a dry cat has difficulty evacuating what is in its lungs.
Nebulization, followed by small taps on the chest to help loosen secretions, is part of classic care: the technique is learned from the veterinarian.
An antiparasitic is added when a parasitic origin is found.
Antibiotic treatment often continues for several weeks, well beyond visible improvement: never interrupt it on your own.
Cough suppressants should be avoided here: coughing is used to evacuate secretions.
Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.
Prevention
Vaccinate and properly treat upper respiratory infections before they go down.
Never give food or liquid medicine forcibly and quickly: ask the veterinarian to show you the correct technique, the wrong route is a frequent and avoidable accident.
Treat regularly against parasites, according to the protocol adapted to the cat's lifestyle.
Closely monitor a cat that regurgitates or has difficulty swallowing, and look for the cause.
Remove smoke and irritants from the home.
Possible complications
Severe lack of oxygen, with short-term life risk.
Accumulation of pus around the lungs: see the Pleural effusion in cats sheet.
Diffusion of the infection throughout the body.
Permanent dilation of certain bronchi, source of coughs and repeated infections.
Relapse in case of shortened antibiotic treatment.
When to see a veterinarian
Your cat breathes quickly at rest, with effort, or with an open mouth: a life-threatening emergency, go to a veterinarian immediately.
Its gums are pale, gray or bluish.
He is feverish, prostrate, and is no longer eating.
He has been coughing for more than two days, or coughing and breathing poorly at the same time.
He recently vomited or had a syringe injected and starts coughing within a few hours.
Prognosis
If treated early, an otherwise healthy adult cat most often recovers well, within a few weeks of treatment.
The prognosis is more guarded in kittens, elderly cats, immunocompromised cats, and when the infection follows an extensive aspiration.
Treatment interrupted too early exposes you to a relapse that is more difficult to treat than the initial episode.
Frequently asked questions
My cat barely coughs, could it still be pneumonia?
Yes. Many affected cats cough little or not at all. The most reliable sign is breathing: count the movements of the thorax when your cat is sleeping peacefully. Breathing significantly faster than usual at rest warrants a consultation.
Can I catch illness from my cat?
No. The bacteria involved in cat bronchopneumonia are not transmitted to humans under normal domestic conditions.
Why does the treatment take so long when he is already getting better?
It takes much longer for the lung tissue to heal than for the signs to disappear. Stopping as soon as the cat is well leaves a residual infection that returns, often with bacteria that has become more difficult to treat.
How do I avoid a mistake when giving liquid medicine?
Never aim at the back of the throat: the syringe is placed on the side, behind the fangs, and the liquid is given slowly, in small quantities, letting the cat swallow. Have the gesture shown to you in consultation, this will avoid a serious accident.
References
AAFP — American Association of Feline Practitioners
Content reviewed by the TunisieVet editorial team · Updated 09 August 2026
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