When a caregiver contacts me regarding a cat having difficulty breathing, coughing fits, and/or wheezing – my first guess is asthma. My second guess would be heart disease. Then again, it could be as simple as an upper respiratory infection (the cat’s version of the common cold.) There’s not a lot you can do for a cold – but if it’s progressed to bronchitis/pneumonia, an antibiotic would be appropriate. Obviously, the first step is to get the cat to a vet. Any cat having difficulty breathing should see a vet IMMEDIATELY! I’d start with a chest x-ray.
In the case of asthma, treatment is generally two-fold.
1) A preventative medication/corticosteroid such as fluticasone (Flovent)
2) A short-acting (emergency) medication/bronchodilator such as albuterol
Inhaled medications are VASTLY preferable to injected (or oral). Inhaled medications obviously target the respiratory system. Therefore, they have fewer systematic side effects. Injected or oral steroids can cause diabetes and attacks of acute pancreatitis.
Studley has asthma. I made the mistake of allowing the vet to give Studley a steroid injection when he was first diagnosed with asthma. He landed up hospitalized for a week with an attack of acute pancreatitis. He had to see a specialist and get a plasma transfusion.
Studley
If your cat has asthma, PLEASE go with inhaled medications! You should also be starting them SOON, not waiting for any oral or injected steroids already given to wear off. Flovent/fluticasone (which is most often used) is a long-term PREVENTATIVE asthma medication. You should be starting that as SOON as possible. You don’t want the oral/injected steroids to wear off and the poor cat is suffering and unable to breathe while you’re starting fluticasone. The idea is to start fluticasone NOW so that by the time the systematic steroids wear off the Flovent prevents any more attacks and systematic steroids are no longer needed.
I get Studley’s generic fluticasone (125 mcg/110mcg) online at universaldrugstore.com. You will need a prescription from the vet. One inhaler generally lasts us two months. I now I buy three inhalers at a time to save on shipping. He has an aerokat, which is an inhaler device for cats, which allows efficient and comfortable delivery.
Studley gets one puff of fluticasone two times daily, per the Dr. Padrid’s inhaled medication protocol. I also have an “emergency” inhaler/bronchodilator (Albuterol). If Studley has an attack (coughing, wheezing), he gets one puff of Albuterol.
I don’t have a video of Studley getting his medication – but I do have a video of my friend Heather giving inhaled medication to her cat, Rocky.
If you have an asthmatic cat and would like to talk to other caregivers for support, join the Feline Asthma/Inhaled Medications message board/group.
Life of the Lintee Bean 
Boy, that Rocky sure is handsome in that video. 😉