According to Dr. Thomas, for those cats who have developed an allergy or sensitivity to allergens, or when smoke aggravates an existing condition, creating a smoke-free environment can only help the situation.
“If you can eliminate the cause of the breathing difficulty, it certainly helps the animal out,” Dr. Thomas said.
Darlene Goodman of Winnipeg, Canada, shared that when she and her husband welcomed Tigger into their home about a year ago at age 8, they immediately noticed he sneezed all the time. Concerned about his condition, Goodman contacted Tigger’s previous owners, only to learn that he had sneezed constantly there as well. Since Tigger’s owners were heavy smokers and he grew up in that household, he had grown up in a smoke-filled environment.
Goodman acknowledged that both she and her husband smoked, but they had been trying to stop. After a bout with the flu where she didn’t smoke for a few days, Goodman said she quit. Her husband, who has cut down, now goes outside to smoke. Goodman said as soon as Tigger was no longer exposed to smoke, he stopped sneezing. He also seems more relaxed, she said.
When she and her husband smoked in the house, Tigger seemed to crave fresh air and would “cry” if they closed their balcony door when they went out, Goodman said.
“He is so happy when we get home so that the door can be opened again,” she added.
Tigger, a domestic longhair who is part Maine Coon, also has kidney stones. Goodman said she read that exposure to cadmium causes kidney stones.
According to the EPA, cadmium is one of the 43 chemical compounds contained in tobacco smoke known to cause cancer in humans or animals. In 1993, the EPA classified ETS as a Class A carcinogen.
While pet owners may try and do everything in their power to create a smoke-free environment, cat lovers also should inquire of service providers to ensure their pet is not exposed to second-hand smoke elsewhere. Because oxygen is present at animal hospitals, smoking is not permitted there and ETS should be a non-issue for those who use these boarding facilities, explained Dr. Weigner.
