The cat with hay fever

A poorly cat who was plagued by hay fever has been given a special inhaler after a rape field was planted next to his home.

Bruno the cat with owner Anna Dickie

Bruno the cat with his special inhaler and owner Anna Dickie

Bruno, who suffers from asthma, nearly died after he succumbed to the wheezing and spluttering that plagues millions of humans during the summer months.

Owner Anna Dickie noticed her moggie’s asthma became unbearable when he was exposed to the bright yellow rape crop which popped up near to their home in Cavendish near Sudbury, Suffolk. The worried animal lover took Bruno, an Asian ticked tabby, to specialist vets to try to put an end to his suffering.

She said: “It is quite rare but my asthmatic cat is particularly affected by the horrid rape crop. He developed breathing problems and was diagnosed with asthma last year after we took him to specialists in Newmarket. He was close to dying and spent several days in intensive care because of his asthma.”

The vets gave the moggy steroids and a puffer but his condition deteriorated when he came into contact with the fields of yellow flowers.

Mrs Dickie said: “He was given daily steroids and a puffer which seemed to get it under control but since we had a rape field planted directly adjacent to our home, he has got a lot worse.”

The experts suggested Bruno use a specially adapted inhaler – just like human sufferers do – to try to ease his snuffles. Mrs Dickie now has to administer the drugs through the special puffer which fits over her cat’s mouth.

Admitting she was sceptical at first, the devoted owner said the inhaler has eased Bruno’s hayfever.

She said: “We had to experiment with using the puffer at first although it looks just like a human inhaler.

“It has a plastic tube fitted to the mouthpiece which allows the spray to go directly into Bruno. He has breathing problems and gets choked up and starts wheezing. It is not very nice at all.

“He wasn’t very keen at first, but he is now very good at taking it.”

Although pets are usually blamed for causing allergies with their shedding fur, feline asthma affects one in 200 cats. Symptoms include coughing wheezing and difficulty breathing.

Experts now believe human lifestyles, such as smoking, dusty houses, pollen, human dandruff and even some types of cat litter, can contribute to cat asthma.

Report in the Daily Mail 9th May 2007

me on cat food…………k

Chokkie…. under the bed again.

hi all hope yr all well, chok here.

hello terri cat!!?? who is your owner? i will get myself up soon!!

who votes whiskers pouches are best???

i love them but have sore gums at the mo (us old persians are prone to gum probs in later life) i struggle with the chunks so kate chops em into tiny bits… i had extensive tooth extractions last month and may need another one!! a big thanks to mr pegg at pype hayes vets for his hard work!! he is the kindest vet! 🙂

just me again…..!

I’m not ‘chokkie’..I’m his stunt double (posted by the Ed – in Lieu of ‘chokkie’ photo).

….i would like to say hi to norman (sorry i didnt before- i dont mean to be egocentric!) you are a cute puss!! good to know you have a new loving home and dont even get me started on the topic of birds!! when kate got me she presumed i would be a lap cat and laze about inside all day!! – she had another thing coming.

i caught 3 sparrows last year and know its evil but as you said norman it is in our nature.

i was in disgrace with kate who buried the little tweeters!

i have not been out much recently as its too cold 4 a posh puss like me and kate is reluctant to let me out as she thinks i am so gorgeous i may get bundled into a strangers car for a late xmas gift for someones child!! :@

i seem to be in my prime at the mo with hunting but i cant play with those shiny material mice kate buys me -they make me giddy!!!

i prefer a good old pen lid or a plastic razor cover i am so resourceful!!

hello to all and sundrie !!!!!

My favorite spot, away from the fuss and under the bed.

Hello feline friends!!! 🙂
My name is chokkie carter-poulson… yes i have a double barrelled name! its cos i used to be chokkie carter but i was adopted by katie and mark the december before last and am now carter- poulson (kate thought it would be rude to swap my name to chokkie poulson as i was carter for 10 yrs of my life)i will get a photo up soon but my owner is a bit blonde and doesnt kno how t do it yet!!! i am proud to say that i am the first pedigree on moggyblog… my great uncle yoghurt told katie about the site and i was so so so so so excited that when i found out i shot up the stairs like a nutter! (i do that sometimes when i am happy!) anyway let me introduce myself: i am a lilac smoke Persian cat (not a moggy,er is that okay??) and very handsome if i so say so myself. kate thinks the world of me and gives me the best of everything!

A originally came from castle brom, birmingham but am now in Hodge Hill. i was owned by someone who was not too clued up on the care of a persian cat. when kate and mark got me i was a bit matted and had to be shaved. kate bought me a dog jumper i was NOT impressed! i meowed ‘i am NOT a chuhwahwah!’ but she did not take the hint! i think she thought she was doing me a favor an keepin me warm but i looked a right idiot!!!

Anyway, my fur grew back eventually and i am proud of my glossy coat now!!! i have to go now cos i have a furball to cough up but will be back with more gossip and news. a big hi and kiss to my little great nan recovering in hosp!! keep smilin nan i love you!! x x x hi to uncle yoghurt and tess,
love chok
xx