As a rule, you shouldn’t be able to hear or see your cat breathing unless you look and listen very closely. If your cat’s breathing seems noisy, fast, or is causing their chest or belly to move a lot, this is often a sign of a problem. It’s also important to be aware that cats nearly always breathe through their nose, so if your cat is panting or breathing through their mouth, it’s a sign they are either extremely stressed, or really struggling to breathe. Show
If your cat is struggling to breathe, they might show the following signs:
Never ignore a breathing problem (especially mouth breathing), stay calm, keep your cat calm, and contact your vet straight away. If your cat has a less serious breathing problem, you may notice symptoms such as:
If you're unsure whether your cat has a breathing problem, or how quickly they need to be seen by a vet, try our symptom checker.
Dyspnea (pronounced disp-nee-a) is not, in itself a disease. Rather, the term—derived from the Greek words dys (difficulty) and pnoia (breathing)—is commonly used to describe an important clinical sign accompanying many, perhaps hundreds, of feline health disorders. In itself, the term simply denotes that a cat is having significant problems inhaling and exhaling, notes Daniel Fletcher, DVM, an assistant professor of emergency and critical care at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. An alternative and probably more useful term for this “patient perception,” he says, is “respiratory distress.” However, he adds, “it is okay to use either term.” In addition to obvious difficulty in breathing in and out, cats exhibiting dyspnea frequently show a variety of associated clinical signs. Their rate of breathing may be noticeably rapid, for example. They may pant noisily with an open mouth and may cough frequently. They may lower their heads, extend their bodies forward, and appear to be gagging and about to vomit. Dyspnea may be acute, developing over a matter of hours, or chronic, growing in severity gradually over weeks or months. Potential sources of the troubled breathing range widely; they include, for example, foreign bodies in the nasal passages, congestive heart failure, lung tumors or other serious pulmonary disorders, excessive stomach fluid, chest injuries, viral diseases, and foreign objects that have become lodged in the windpipe. “The three most common causes of respiratory distress,” says Dr. Fletcher, “are asthma and its acute exacerbation; heart failure, which causes fluid to build up in the lungs; and pleural effusion, a collection of fluid in the space surrounding the lungs that makes it difficult for a cat to expand its chest.” Risk factors for dyspnea will vary according to the risk factors associated with the condition that is causing the respiratory distress. Labored breathing stemming from heart failure, for example, will tend to affect older cats, since they are at elevated risk for that condition. Asthma-induced dyspnea, on the other hand, can affect cats of all ages, but it may occur with increased frequency in warm weather, “when flowers are blooming,” notes Dr. Fletcher, “and there’s lots of pollen in the air.” Obesity, he points out, is not in itself a predisposing factor, although troubled breathing may intensify more rapidly in overweight cats. “Because dyspnea is a clinical sign and not a diagnosis,” Dr. Fletcher points out, “its progression will depend on the specific disease process that is causing the problem. But any cat that is showing signs of breathing difficulty—whatever the cause—is at high risk of dying if the respiratory problem is not treated promptly.” And treatment, he points out, will depend on diagnosis of the underlying cause. “If it’s asthma,” he says, “we would typically treat the cat with medications that cause the airways to dilate. If it’s pleural effusion, we’ll usually use a needle to drain the fluid around the lungs that is causing the troubled breathing.” To cat owners, Dr. Fletcher recommends the following: “Any time there’s a question about an animal’s ability to breathe comfortably, get it to a veterinarian right away.” He discourages owners from attempting to resolve the difficulty at home. “There are too many things that can cause respiratory distress,” he says. “Only a veterinarian is equipped to do a proper examination and to run the basic tests that will determine the source of the dyspnea and the proper treatment for it.”
 Breathing difficulties are both a symptom of and cause for distress, both in the respiratory system and throughout your cat’s body. The respiratory system, composed of the nose, trachea, and lungs, is a life-giving system that affects a cat’s entire body. Therefore, changes in your cat’s breath may stem from issues in almost any part of your cat’s body. Quick Overview: Heavy Breathing CatWhat’s Here:Air enters your cat’s body through their nose and moves into their lungs, transferring oxygen into your cat’s blood and nourishing the organs. As oxygen enters your cat’s body through the nostrils, carbon dioxide moves out and into the atmosphere. The movement of breath is controlled by the respiratory center in your cat’s brain and a network of nerves in their chest. When their body is in balance, your cat’s breath is smooth and moderate without halting, wheezing, or excessive stomach movement. Changes in your cat’s breathing pattern have a world of root causes. They might involve direct trauma or disorder in the respiratory system or could develop as a way to restore homeostasis in the body. What Is The Normal Respiration Rate For A Cat?If you’ve ever tried to synchronize your breath with your cat’s and gotten lightheaded in the attempt, you know that cats naturally breathe more rapidly than do humans. While an adult’s resting respiration rate ranges from 12-16 breaths per minute, a cat might take between 20 and 30 breaths every minute.
Ask A Question To measure your cat’s resting respiration rate, count the number of breaths your cat takes while sleeping. Each breath is defined as one inhalation and one exhalation. Count the breaths for 30 seconds, then multiply by two to get the number of breaths your cat takes each minute. This video shows you how to calculate your cat’s resting respiration rate. It also shows examples of cats exhibiting both a healthy and an unhealthy respiratory rate. Some healthy cats take fewer than 20 breaths per minute while resting, but a number higher than 30 is reason for concern. Heavy breathing isn’t always rapid, however. Heavy breathing manifests in several forms.The Three Types Of Heavy Breathing In CatsYour cat’s heavy breathing can be broken down into three classifications – dyspnea, tachypnea, and panting. Let’s learn more about each type of heavy breathing. 1. Dyspnea – Labored BreathingThis is when your cat finds it hard to breathe. Cats with dyspnea exhibit the following symptoms:
The following is a video of a cat exhibiting dyspnea: What Causes Dyspnea In Cats?
What Should You Do If Your Cat Has Labored Breathing?Because it is uncomfortable by definition, this can be the most troubling type of heavy breathing in cats. If your cat’s breath appears labored, take your cat to the veterinarian’s office as soon as possible. 2. Tachypnea – Rapid And Shallow BreathingNote that while dyspnea feels uncomfortable, your cat might be oblivious to their own rapid breathing. Rapid breathing is often accompanied by the following symptoms:
The cat in the following video exhibits tachypnea:What Causes Tachypnea In Cats?
What Should You Do If Your Cat Is Breathing Rapidly?A resting respiration rate of over 30 is considered unusual. If your cat’s sleeping respiration rate exceeds 40 breaths per minute for a prolonged period, a trip to the emergency vet is in order. If your cat is breathing rapidly while out for a walk on a busy city sidewalk, you’re probably looking at a temporary stress response. Monitor your cat closely, keeping them as cool and calm as possible. If the rapid breathing doesn’t subside after you’ve removed obvious stressors, you may need to take your cat to the vet. 3. Panting – Rapid Breathing with the Mouth OpenCat Panting is, essentially, tachypnea with the mouth open. Just like dogs, cats pant when they’ve overexerted themselves or have been exposed to excessive heat. Panting may also point to serious underlying conditions, including heart and lung disease. The following video shows a cat panting: What Causes Panting In Cats?
What Should You Do If Your Cat Is Panting?If your cat is panting after playtime, while on a walk, or en route to a vet visit, they’re probably not showing symptoms of a serious condition. Cats breathe rapidly and sometimes pant when overexcited, stressed, or playing in hot weather. This is a normal response and is seldom a medical emergency. Cool down the workout and cool down your cat. Water and air conditioning are likely the only remedies your cat needs to bring their breathing back to normal. If your cat is panting after a day of lounging, or if your cat’s heavy breathing is accompanied by other unusual behaviors, their breathing is probably indicative of deeper issues. In this case, it’s time to schedule a vet visit. What Should You Do If You Notice That Your Cat Is Breathing Heavily?In most cases, heavy breathing is a symptom of underlying problems. Particularly if it’s prolonged and accompanied by other symptoms of distress, heavy breathing is a sign that you should take your cat to the veterinarian. There are certain cases of heavy breathing in which a vet visit isn’t necessary. It’s normal for cats to temporarily breathe heavily during exercise or a stressful event. This type of heavy breathing won’t appear labored or painful and should subside within a few minutes.
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