Shop Emergencies. Dogs will often pant in order to cool down, but in cats this behavior is much less common and can be a symptom of an underlying health problem. Our Flat Rock vets share some of the reasons your cat might be panting or breathing heavily, and when to seek emergency care for your pet.
Although some panting in cats is normal, it can indicate a serious health problem that requires prompt veterinary care. If you notice that your cat is panting or exhibiting labored breathing, start by assessing the situation based on the criteria below.
If your kitty's breathing seems out of the ordinary, or if your cat's heavy breathing continues for a long period of time, it's time to seek veterinary care. In some cases, panting is a normal behavior for cats. Take a moment to consider what your cat was doing or experiencing immediately before you noticed the panting. As with dogs, cats may pant when they are overheated, anxious, or following strenuous exercise.
Panting for these reasons should resolve itself once the cat has had an opportunity to calm down, cool down or rest. However, it's important to note that this sort of panting is much more rare in our feline friends than it is in dogs. That's when, emergency veterinary care may be required.
For cats, dental health is key to good long-term oral and overall health. In this post, our Flat Rock vets share some tips on how to care for your cat's teeth and maintain their dental health. Normal causes of panting in cats can include:. There are certain instances in which cats may pant for a very short period of time. Abnormal causes of cat panting include many medical conditions such as:. Unlike normal panting, abnormal panting in cats typically starts spontaneously or without any trigger.
It also does not resolve quickly with rest or removal of the stressor or heat and is typically associated with other abnormal behaviors like coughing, lethargy, and an increased effort to breathe. We can see abnormal panting in any age of cat, but often kittens and senior cats are more easily affected. Unfortunately, respiratory distress is one of the most common reasons that we see felines on an emergency basis.
Many times, excessive panting and other worrisome behaviors are associated with an underlying disease. Here are some of the most common primary causes of abnormal panting in cats:. Many feline pet parents are shocked to hear that this common human ailment can also be found in their feline fur babies too!
Cats with asthma will often cough, wheeze, pant, or breathe at a much faster rate than normal and they may even vomit.
There are varying levels of severity to this condition in cats, but just like in people, this can become life-threatening during an asthma attack. Thankfully, cat asthma can be well controlled through using inhaler therapy for delivery of steroids into the lungs and also using bronchodilators. Also very similar to dogs and people, cats can have many different forms of heart disease that lead to fluid backup and accumulation in and around the lungs, one of the key findings in congestive heart failure.
The frustration for many veterinarians and feline pet parents is that many cats can have heart disease that can go undetected until an episode of complete failure. Cats can also develop respiratory diseases in the upper respiratory tract where the nasal cavity is the issue. Common causes of this are viral infections including the herpes virus , which is one of the things we vaccinate for , and nasal polyps and tumors more common in older cats.
This is not a natural thing for cats, so it can be distressing to them. Cats also can suffer from asthma. Asthma in cats can be caused by heartworm disease or by inflammation and allergies. If their airways are constricted and they are not getting enough oxygen, they may need to do open-mouth breathing to try to get enough air into their lungs.
Cats can also develop infection in the lung or fluid in the lung. This can restrict their ability to breathe, and they may have to open their mouth to suck air in. If you think that your cat could be in respiratory distress, contact your vet immediately. Cats can start panting during play if they are exerting themselves. This is much more common in kittens.
If you see your cat or kitten panting, encourage them to calm down and stop playing. If they are wrestling with or running around with another pet, try to separate them calmly.
Pet them or leave them alone to catch their breath. If they do not stop panting after several minutes or are staggering or weak, seek medical attention for your cat. Cat panting can turn into an emergency if your cat is struggling to breathe or not getting enough oxygen. If they are lying down, not wanting to move around a lot, and forcing the air by moving their belly muscles in and out at a rate of more than 40 breaths per minute, this is a sign of respiratory distress.
If panting continues for more than 5 minutes after the stressful event is over, seek veterinary attention. Home Cat Care Center. Why Is My Cat Panting?
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