Cats have long been blamed for triggering asthma attacks in humans, but veterinarians in Scotland say it may also work the other way around, that cat sneeze you hear might be from you.

Irritants such as cigarette smoke, dusty homes, and human dandruff can raise inflammation in feline lungs and worsen pre-existing cases of asthma in cats.

Nicki Reed of the University of Edinburgh's Hospital for Small Animals says, "There is a percentage of asthmatic cats whose asthma has been triggered by things people do, or possibly by people themselves. 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, Dr Reed and her team are planning a study involving 50 cats to determine whether a bacterium called Mycoplasma, found in human asthma patients, is also present in the feline disease.

If the bacterium is, they hope it will lead to new technology and improved treatments for the one in about 200 cats that suffer coughs, wheezing, and shortness of breath caused by asthma.