By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Cats are very good at hiding illness, and breathing is one of the few places where serious disease shows through. A cat breathing with its mouth open, or with its belly heaving while lying still, is often in more trouble than it looks. Unlike dogs, cats rarely pant unless they are severely stressed, overheated, or short of oxygen. This page covers the common causes of breathing problems in cats and how to tell when it is an emergency. If you have noticed faster breathing while your cat sleeps, see our page on rapid breathing in cats.
Key takeaways
- Open-mouth breathing in a cat is an emergency, unless it is brief panting straight after intense play that settles within a minute or two.
- Common causes include asthma, heart disease, fluid in the chest, upper respiratory infections (cat flu), and trauma.
- A normal resting or sleeping breathing rate for most cats is roughly 20 to 30 breaths per minute. A consistent rise is worth reporting.
- Stressed cats with breathing trouble can deteriorate quickly with handling. Transport calmly in a carrier.
- In Australia, paralysis ticks can cause breathing difficulty in cats, so check for ticks in tick areas.
Signs of breathing trouble in cats
- Breathing with the mouth open or panting
- Fast breathing at rest or while asleep
- Exaggerated belly movement with each breath
- Sitting hunched with elbows out and neck stretched forward
- Coughing, which in cats can look like retching or trying to bring up a hairball
- Wheezing, noisy breathing, or a change in meow
- Sneezing, nasal discharge, or eye discharge
- Blue, grey, or pale gums
- Hiding, not eating, or reluctance to lie down
Common causes
Feline asthma. Inflammation narrows the small airways, causing coughing, wheezing, and sometimes sudden breathing crises. See asthma in cats.
Heart disease. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common heart disease in cats and can lead to fluid on or around the lungs, often with no warning signs beforehand. Cats with heart disease are also at risk of blood clots that cause sudden hind-leg paralysis and severe pain. See hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats.
Fluid or air in the chest. Fluid can build up from heart failure, infection (pyothorax), cancer, or other conditions. Air can escape into the chest after trauma.
Upper respiratory infections. Cat flu viruses and bacteria cause sneezing, congestion, and discharge. Cats rely heavily on smell to eat, so a blocked nose can stop them eating. See cat flu.
Other causes. These include pneumonia, lungworm, nasal polyps or foreign bodies, tumours, heatstroke, anaemia, pain, and tick paralysis in parts of eastern Australia.
When it is an emergency
Go to an emergency veterinary hospital straight away if your cat:
- Is breathing with an open mouth at rest
- Has blue, grey, or very pale gums or tongue
- Is breathing very fast or with obvious effort and will not settle
- Suddenly cannot use its back legs, or cries out in pain
- Has had a fall, been hit by a car, or been in a fight and is breathing differently
- Has a tick, a wobbly gait, or a change in voice
- Is overheated on a hot day
Keep the cat calm and cool, put it in a carrier with good airflow, and avoid holding it on its back or restraining it tightly. Phone ahead so the clinic can have oxygen ready.
How vets diagnose and treat it
A cat in respiratory distress is usually stabilised first with oxygen and minimal handling, because the stress of an examination can make things worse. Once the cat is calmer, the vet may use a quick ultrasound to look for fluid in the chest or around the heart, chest X-rays to look at the lungs and heart, and blood tests. A heart ultrasound (echocardiogram), airway samples, or tests for infection may follow.
Treatment depends on the cause. It might include draining fluid from the chest, medication to open the airways or reduce inflammation, treatment for heart failure, supportive care for infections, or antitoxin for tick paralysis. Your vet will explain the plan once they have a clearer picture.
Long-term management and prevention
- Learn your cat's normal sleeping breathing rate and check it from time to time, especially if your cat has heart disease or asthma.
- Reduce airborne irritants: avoid smoking indoors, aerosol sprays, and dusty or scented litter for cats with asthma.
- Keep vaccinations up to date to reduce the severity of cat flu.
- Use tick prevention if you live in or travel to paralysis tick areas.
- Keep cats indoors or in an enclosure to reduce fights, trauma, and tick exposure.
- Attend regular check-ups, where a vet may hear a murmur or abnormal lung sounds before signs appear.
FAQ
Is it normal for my cat to pant after playing?
Brief panting after very intense play can happen, but it should stop within a minute or two of rest. Panting that continues, or happens at rest, needs a vet.
Could my cat's cough just be hairballs?
Coughing in cats is often mistaken for hairballs. If your cat crouches and makes retching sounds without producing hair, mention it to your vet, as asthma is a common cause.
How do I count my cat's breathing rate?
When your cat is fast asleep, count each rise of the chest for 30 seconds and double it. Note the number and date so you can spot trends.
Talk with a vet
If your cat's breathing seems a little off and you are not sure how urgent it is, our vets can assess the pattern with you by video and help you decide what to do next. Book a consult at dialavet.com. If your cat is breathing with its mouth open, has blue or grey gums, or seems distressed, go to an emergency vet hospital immediately.
References
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Feline Asthma; Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Respiratory Diseases of Cats.
- International Cat Care. Breathing problems and respiratory disease in cats.
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. If your cat is struggling to breathe, contact a veterinary hospital immediately.
