Using positive reinforcement to increase inhaler tolerance and medicine adherence in a domestic short hair cat (Felis catus) with asthma

Abstract

One common and effective treatment for feline asthma is corticosteroids. However, when administered systemically, it is likely they will have negative side effects, which means they are not a viable long-term treatment option. Thus, delivering corticosteroids (e.g., fluticasone) via an inhaler is a more desirable treatment pathway. It can be difficult to administer medication via an inhaler to a cat, as it necessitates using an adapter, and it is unlikely a cat will tolerate the adapter being placed over their nose and mouth and breathe the requisite number of times to take the medication. We used a training protocol based on positive reinforcement and related behavioral principles to train a cat with asthma to tolerate an inhaler adapter and take fluticasone delivered via an inhaler. Results showed that the training effectively taught the patient to tolerate the adapter and take the medication. In short, the patient reliably emitted the terminal goal of 10 breaths in the adapter after training. A follow-up clinical exam and radiographs confirmed substantial improvements in functioning and reductions in clinical presentation.