I wonder if someone could give me some advice.
I have a manx cat – she is 11 years old. Over the past 10 years she has occasionally had some episodes of breathing difficulties when she drools dreadfully – the saliva just pours out of her mouth – it is very sticky. She sits down with laboured breathing through her mouth. At this point she is very weak – she flops in my arms if I pick her up.
The attacks are 2-3 hours long, after which she sleeps for a while. After she has woken up, she seems to be as fit as a fiddle. She eats and drinks well.
These attacks seem to be more frequent of late – and each time I think she’s not going to pull through.
I have taken her to the vet – but it's difficult to get her there having an attack when the vet is open. If I take her there when she is well, it is difficult to explain how ill she seems to be. She had a chest Xray a few years ago which showed nothing. I have videoed her tonight and plan to take her to the vet tomorrow.
I am so concerned about her – has anyone else ever seen a cat with these symptoms? Any information would be most welcome.

What suggestions did the vet have on previous occasions? Ten years is an awfully long time without a diagnosis-it's obviously worsening-so hopfully with the video evidence you will have one now.

Sounds like heart problems to me. Let us know what the vets say.

Thank you for your response.
It was suggested she had asthma about 8 years ago. The vet wanted to give me tablets to give her when she had an attack. I felt that was no use, as she is so distressed, I couldn't possibly get her to take tablets when she is in the middle of an attack. And as I said - after the attack and a good sleep, she is just normal - eating, sleeping and an excellent hunter.
The attacks are becoming more frequent - she will be in the vets tomorrow without a doubt.

You can get inhalers for the asthma as well. Think it's needs to be controlled now though since it's getting worse so I'd speak to the vet about an alternative way of medicating her.

Hi there,
Just to let you know that I managed to get her to the vet whilst she was in full flow with an attack. I must say, the vet seemed quite surprised at how much she was struggling to breath.
He said her heart sounded fine. Her lungs sounded somewhat congested.
She had no temperature therefore no infection.
He put it down to an asthma attack probably brought on by an allergic reaction to something. She seems to have the attacks at any time of the year, so an allergy to pollen seems to be ruled out. We live very rurally, so there are many possible things responsible in the fields that surround us.
She is to have steroids twice daily for a week then once daily for a week. He wants to see her again to review.
I'm just so glad to have a diagnosis and to know it's not poison or something terminal.
We will have to see how things develop.
Many thanks for your responses on Sunday - I was desperate!!

So sorry that your poor cat is struggling an attack is very frightening
My 1 year old moggie has asthma he also has an enlarged heart. He takes a steroid every other day plus a water tablet to dry the mucous up. I have kept a diary which shows the attacks happen in damp weather.
I hope the treatment works