Key Takeaways
- The AeroKat is a feline aerosol chamber — a spacer device that catches medication from a pressurised inhaler so a cat can breathe it in through a face mask instead of being sprayed directly (Trudell Animal Health).
- Aerosol chambers are the standard delivery method for inhaled feline asthma treatment; a 2021 J Feline Med Surg study found chambers can carry bacterial contamination, which is why weekly cleaning matters (PMID: 32228277).
- In the UK, AeroKat listed prices ranged from £62.03 (Amazon UK) to £139.99 (Pet Drugs Online) when checked on 2 September 2026; a 22 September recheck found no AeroKat-branded direct listing on Amazon UK's front page — check prices on the day.
- Manufacturer guidance is to actuate the inhaler into the chamber and let the cat take roughly 7–10 breaths, counted on the Flow-Vu indicator.
- Cat-specific alternatives exist at lower prices — the Neobay chamber runs £39.99 with two mask sizes and a treat-guided Comfort Feeder that helps reluctant cats accept the mask.
The AeroKat chamber is the best-known spacer for giving cats inhaled medication, and it does that job well — but in the UK it is also the most expensive option in the category, with listed prices swinging between £62.03 and £139.99 depending on the retailer and the week you check. A chamber's real job is simple: turn a puff of pressurised medication into slow, breathable mist so it reaches your cat's lungs instead of the back of their throat. Here is what the AeroKat is, how to use it, what it really costs over time, and when a lower-cost alternative like the Neobay chamber (£39.99) is worth considering.
A quick note before we start: this guide is written by the Neobay Pet Editorial Team, and we make a competing product. We've kept the facts verifiable either way — prices carry dated snapshots, and medical points cite published sources.
What Is the AeroKat Chamber?
Aerosol chamber — a hollow plastic spacer that attaches to a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) on one end and a face mask on the other, holding the medication suspended so a cat can inhale it at its own pace over several breaths.
The AeroKat, made by Trudell Medical International, is the original cat-specific chamber. It comes with two mask sizes (small and medium) to fit kittens through large adults, and a Flow-Vu indicator — a small flap that moves each time your cat breathes, so you can count breaths and confirm medication was actually inhaled rather than guessing.
Vets prescribe chambers because spraying an MDI directly at a cat's face fails on both counts: the fast plume can't be timed to a breath, and most of the dose ends up in the mouth or the room. Chamber-delivered inhaled therapy is the standard approach for feline asthma, estimated to affect roughly 1–5% of cats (Cornell Feline Health Center).
How the Chamber Delivers Medication
The mechanics are straightforward. You attach the prescribed inhaler — commonly fluticasone (sold in the UK as Flixotide) for daily control, or a bronchodilator such as salbutamol for flare-ups — to the chamber's rear port. Press the canister once. The medication puff fills the chamber, and the droplets slow down inside it. Then you hold the mask gently over your cat's nose and mouth and let them breathe normally.
The Flow-Vu flap gives you the feedback loop: each flutter is one breath. Manufacturer guidance is to aim for about 7–10 breaths per dose before removing the mask.
Why can't I just spray the inhaler into my cat's mouth like the vet demoed with a tissue?
Direct spraying wastes most of the dose. A cat can't inhale on command in the half-second the plume takes to hit the back of the throat, so the medication deposits where it does no good. The chamber buys time — the drug stays suspended for several seconds, and the one-way valve stops exhaled air from diluting it.
Using the Chamber: The Short Version
Shake the inhaler, attach it, actuate one puff into the chamber, then hold the mask over your cat's face until you count the breaths on the indicator. Reward with a treat afterwards. Most cats need a training period before they accept the mask calmly — International Cat Care's step-by-step programme recommends introducing the mask gradually with food, from treats placed near it up to full-face contact.
Be realistic about the timeline. In one r/CatAdvice thread, an owner reported a month of training before switching to gently holding the mask in place, and described finally reaching a one-person routine "all these months later."
Slow progress is normal, not failure. Our detailed walk-through covers how to give inhaled medication without the stress, and the guide to cat inhaler spacers explains the device category in depth.
What the AeroKat Costs in the UK — and What Replacements Add
Prices first, with dates. On 2 September 2026, the AeroKat Feline Aerosol Chamber listed at £62.03 on Amazon UK and £139.99 at Pet Drugs Online — a wide gap for the same device. On a 22 September 2026 recheck, Amazon UK's front page no longer showed an AeroKat-branded direct listing, and third-party pricing was moving about. Treat those figures as a range, and check the retailer on the day you buy. It is also stocked at some UK veterinary clinics and online pet pharmacies — a common experience on cat forums is hunting between retailers because "the cost is the main issue," as one r/CatAdvice poster put it.
The chamber itself is the entry price. Replacement masks wear out with daily use and cleaning, and a spare adds to the total. Our guide to sourcing replacement AeroKat masks and parts breaks down what wears, what's replaceable, and where to buy without overpaying.
For comparison, the Neobay chamber is £39.99 for a one-pack with small and medium masks included, or £69.99 for a two-pack with a backup chamber — useful for multi-cat households or keeping one at a second location. Prices are current as of September 2026 and can change; verify current listings before buying.
Cat Inhaler Spacer in UK | Neobay Aerosol Chamber
- Two chambers for multi-cat homes or a ready backup
- One in use while the other dries after cleaning
- Lower cost per chamber than two singles
AeroKat Alternatives: When Cost or Fit Is the Issue
Not every alternative is worth trusting — that scepticism shows up constantly in owner discussions, with people saying they "didn't trust other brands" and paid full price instead. So vet any alternative the way you'd vet any pet device: designed specifically for cats (not adapted from infant or dog products), two mask sizes, and a breathing indicator so you can count doses.
The Neobay chamber checks those boxes at £39.99. It adds a Comfort Feeder — a treat-guided attachment that lets you place food at the mask entrance so your cat voluntarily presses towards the mask instead of being pushed into it. That targets the training plateau many AeroKat owners hit, where a cat will follow a treat partway into a mask-shaped object but refuses the final step.
For a feature-by-feature look, our AeroKat vs. Neobay comparison covers mask fit, indicators, and price side by side.
Cat Inhaler Spacer in UK | Neobay Aerosol Chamber
- See each breath with the Breath Indicator
- Built-in treat holder makes mask practice easier
- Anti-static chamber helps keep medication airborne
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a prescription for an AeroKat chamber?
The chamber itself is a pet accessory and doesn't require a prescription, but the inhalers that attach to it — Flixotide (fluticasone), salbutamol — do. Your vet writes the prescription; the chamber is just the delivery device.
How many breaths should my cat take through the chamber?
Manufacturer guidance is roughly 7–10 breaths per puff, counted on the Flow-Vu indicator. If your cat pulls away after 5 breaths, some medication is better than none — just mention it at your next vet visit.
How often should I clean the chamber?
Weekly is the common recommendation, and the stakes are real: a 2021 study tested cleaning methods on contaminated feline chambers (PMID: 32228277), and a 2023 study found bacteria in chambers from cats and dogs on chronic inhalation therapy (PMID: 36839547). Wash per the manufacturer's instructions and air-dry fully.
Can I use a baby spacer instead?
Not recommended. Infant spacers have human-sized masks that don't seal on a cat's face, and their valves are tuned to an infant's inhalation strength. A cat-specific chamber fits better and wastes less medication.
Is a cheaper chamber safe for my cat?
Chamber quality comes down to design fit, not medicine — the chamber carries no medication itself. Look for cat-specific mask geometry, two mask sizes, and a breathing indicator. Without those, dose delivery gets less reliable.
What to Do Next
- Confirm the plan with your vet — which inhaler, what dose, and how many breaths per session for your cat's condition.
- Decide your budget: the AeroKat anywhere from £62 to £140 depending on retailer, or a cat-specific alternative like the Neobay chamber at £39.99 with the Comfort Feeder for reluctant cats.
- Start mask training the same week the device arrives — gradual, treat-based, and unhurried beats a rushed first session.
Want help weighing the options? Our UK buyer's guide to cat inhaler spacers walks through the full decision, or contact us with questions.
Sources:
- Trudell Animal Health. "How To Use." https://trudellanimalhealth.com
- International Cat Care. "Inhaler Training." https://icatcare.org/inhaler-training/
- Cornell Feline Health Center. "Feline Asthma: What You Need to Know." https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center
- Klenk FK, DeSimoi V, Wolf G. "Evaluation of different cleaning methods for feline inhalation chambers after bacterial contamination." *J Feline Med Surg*, 2021. PMID: 32228277
- Klenk FK, De Simoi V, Zablotski Y. "Bacterial Contamination of Inhalation Chambers Used for Cats and Dogs with Chronic Airway Diseases." *Pathogens*, 2023. PMID: 36839547
