Question:
People that smoke around their cats and force them to inhale those toxic
fumes are irresponsible, ignorant jerks that don't deserve the blessing
of a feline companion:
Are asthmatic cats allergic to humans?
Some felines sickened by cigarette smoke, dust and dandruff, study finds
Cats are blamed for triggering asthma attacks in humans but
veterinarians in Scotland said on Wednesday it may also work the other
way around.
Irritants such as cigarette smoke, dusty homes and human dandruff can
increase inflammation in feline lungs and worsen asthma in cats.
"There is a percentage of asthmatic cats whose asthma has been triggered
by things people do, or possibly by people themselves," said Nicki Reed,
of the University of Edinburgh's Hospital for Small Animals in Scotland.
"Cats with feline asthma syndrome can be made worse by living in a
household where people smoke, or where there are other potential
allergens or irritants.
In the first study of its kind in Britain, Reed and her team are
planning a trial involving 50 cats to determine whether a bacterium
called Mycoplasma which is found in human asthma patients in also
involved in the feline disease.
If it is, they hope it will lead to improved treatments for the one in
about 200 cats that suffer coughs, wheezing and shortness of breath
caused by asthma.
Pedigree oriental breeds such as Siamese cats are more prone to the
respiratory problem than other cats, according to the researchers.
Any comments?
Answer:
This is one more good reason not to smoke -- a source of medical problems
(including death) for people and a source of problems for our wonderful
cats. I know how difficult it is to stop smoking. My brother tried a
variety of methods for a very long time, but he finally succeeded -- he went
from being a chain smoker to none, and he has not picked up a cigarette for
almost 9 years. My uncle, by contrast, was a chain smoker all his life. He
died a lingering and terrible death from lung cancer. This article, of
course, was about cats (which it should be for this website), but I threw
in this extra information to point out that there are many good reasons not
to smoke. But, if you feel that you cannot give it up, you should smoke
outdoors exclusively for the safety of your feline companions.
