It’s understandable that you’d start to panic if you see your furry friend panting or breathing heavily.
However, there are perfectly normal reasons for heavy breathing — as well as as some that can be a serious cause for concern.
In this post you’ll learn about common causes of panting and when you should take your kitty to a vet.
How fast is too fast?
According to Animerge Vets, a cat’s normal breathing rhythm is between 20 to 30 breaths per minute.
You can find your cat’s resting respiratory rate by counting the number of breaths they take (each breath includes an inhale and exhale) in a 30-second period, then doubling that number. One breath includes inhaling (when the chest rises)
For the most accurate results, don’t count your cat’s breathing when they’re purring or sleeping.
Common Causes of Panting
There are some perfectly normal reasons why your cat might be panting. They include:
* Hot weather — If your cat is hot enough to be panting, they must be pretty hot, and you need to try to cool them down as soon as possible. Move them to a room with an air conditioning or fan if possible, drop some ice cubes into their water bowl, and stroke your little feline friend with a damp paper towel.
* Stressful event — like a car ride, which I discuss in more detail at the end of this post
* Strenuous exercise — This is more common is kittens who might get so playful and excited that they overexert themself. Have them take a break from playtime and try to calm them down.
Interestingly, certain cat breeds are more susceptible to panting than others. For example, Himalayans and Persians have different respiratory anatomy due to their flatter faces and more narrow nostrils, and Maine Coons, due to their dense, warm coats.
If none of these reasons appear to be the cause of the panting, there could be a serious problem that needs emergency care. Bring your cat to the vet if:
- Your cat’s breathing becomes shallow
- The panting becomes loud, raspy, or rapid
- Your cat is lethargic or has a loss of appetite
- Panting stops, then starts again
- Your cat is hiding or acting aggressive
- Gums are pale or blue-tinged
Medical Issues That Can Cause Panting in Cats
Sometimes panting can be a sign of a serious medical condition, including:
- Congestive heart failure
When a cat’s heart can’t pump enough blood to their body, it can lead to an accumulation of fluid in and around the lungs, which causes coughing, deep, rapid breathing and panting. A treatment plan may include draining the fluid, as well as medications to dilate blood vessels, get rid of excess fluid, and make the heart contract more forcefully.According to Pet MD, older cats can be especially prone to heart disease, especially secondary to hyperthyroidism
- Respiratory infection
A respiratory infection (which is usually viral, but can sometimes include a secondary bacterial infection) can make it difficult for your cats to breathe, causing him to pant. A good humidifier can make breathing easier on your cat until he fully recovers. - Heartworm disease
There’s a reason you’re supposed to give your cat heartworm monthly heartworm prevention medication: It’s a serious and potentially fatal disease, and according to the American Heartworm Society, there’s no approved treatment for heartworm infection in cats. (However, with good veterinary care, they can be stabilized and managed.) - Feline asthma
Cat asthma typically develops when an allergic reaction to an inhaled allergen (such as cigarette smoke, dust in kitty litter, mold, or mildew) causes a cat’s immune system to overreact. Treatment might include medications called corticosteroids or bronchodilators. - Other possible medical conditions
- Anemia and other red blood cell issues
- Neurologic disorders
- Trauma
- Abdominal enlargement and pain
Why is my cat panting during a car ride?
One huge difference between dogs and cats is that dogs love car rides, while cats despise and fear it more than anything other than the vacuum cleaner. (And, I guess, cucumbers.)
If your cat pants during car rides, you probably have a stressed cat, rather than a sick one. Since cats don’t sweat like us when their heir body temperature rises or heart beats faster, they’ll pant to cool themselves down.
The good news is that you can stop the panting just by calming your cat down. The bad news is that this isn’t so easy to do.
It can help to put your cat carrier in your living room for a few days so your cat can check it out on their own terms. You can also try putting a favorite blanket or toy in the carrier when you travel.
You could also try using Feliway Calming Pheromone Spray to calm down your anxious cat. We’ve never tried this product, and I know some people say it doesn’t do anything, but there are some car owners who swear by it
I’ve used this spray for years. It’s incredibly valuable for calming down kitties!
I spray it in my cat’s carrier 10 min before they get in and they no longer whine the entire time they are riding in the car, whether it is for a short ride to the vet or something longer. That, plus an occasional booster spritz right in front of my car’s air vents when they were going full blast, got us through an 11-hour move, without a peep from them!
I take it with me whenever I take my cats out of the house. I discreetly spritz a little in the vet’s exam room.
I can’t smell anything from it (people aren’t supposed to), except during the initial minute or so after the spray, and then I’m smelling the alcohol propellant that the pheromones are in. That smell goes away very quickly, but you definitely don’t want to spray it on your cat or into your cat’s carrier if he’s in it. In that case, I’d spray Feliway onto a tissue, let the alcohol smell dissipate for a couple min, then add the tissue to the carrier. They say the pheromones last about 4 hours.
FELIWAY Classic Spray for Cats
