Objective To establish a simple animal model of cough variant asthma (CVA) through sensitizing Brown-Norway (BN) rats with ovalbumin (OVA). Methods A total of 36 BN rats were randomly divided into three groups, including the normal control group, the model control group and the montelukast group. BN rats in the model group and the montelukast group were intraperitoneally administered with 2.0 mg of OVA and 100 mg of Al(OH) ₃ , and the same volume of sterile saline was given to the normal group by intraperitoneal injection. Boosting was carried out by intraperitoneal administration with 0.01 mg of OVA and 100 mg of Al(OH) ₃ 3 weeks later, and the rats in the normal group were injected with the same dose of physiological saline. Three weeks later, the actively sensitized BN rats were challenged with aerosolized OVA for 7 times on alternative days, and the rats in the normal group were treated with sterile saline instead of OVA. At the same time, the montelukast group was given 1.3 mg/ kg of montelukast 30 minutes before atomization by intragastric administration once a day for 2 weeks, and the normal group and the model group were given the same volume of water. The tests of cough sensitivity to capsaicin and bronchial responsiveness were performed 24 h after the last administration. Results Compared with the normal group, the times of coughing ( P < 0.01) and the lung resistance (RL ) ( P < 0.05) in the model group were significantly increased, while the lung compliance (Cdyn) was significantly decreased ( P < 0.05). There was a significant difference ( P < 0.05) in the times of coughing caused by capsaicin between the model group and the montelukast group. Compared with the model group, RL in the montelukast group was decreased significantly ( P < 0.05), and Cdyn was increased significantly ( P < 0.05). Conclusions This rat model of CVA is similar to a variety of clinical features of CVA and is easy to operate. Thus it can be used as an effective animal model of CVA.