Why is My Cat Breathing Fast? Everything You Must Know

Have you observed your cat’s breath? Is your cat breathing fast? You may feel threatened seeing your cat breathing fast especially if you aren’t aware of the reason behind it. Generally, cats may breathe fast when they are anxious, exhausted, and overheated. 

After indulging in an intense play session, your cat might take a faster breath than usual. Cats breathing fast for the above reasons are completely normal and there’s nothing to panic about it. But, if your feline is breathing fast while in rest mode then, it could be an indication of some severe health issue for your cat. 

If you notice your cat taking rapid breathing while sleeping then, it could be a sign of Tachypnea. Sometimes, this problem may seem like a critical health issue such as heart problems, asthma, and others. In this post, let’s figure out the major causes of fast breathing in cats, symptoms, and types of rapid breathing, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention steps. Have a glance!

How To Know My Cat Is Breathing Fast?

Wondering How to Find ‘My Cat Is Breathing Fast?’ To understand that your cat is breathing fast, you need to initially find out the normal breathing rate in a cat. In general, a healthy cat takes 20 to 30 breaths per minute. This is referred to as the cat’s respiratory rate. Wondering how to find out the exact respiratory rate of your cat?

Well, to take the normal respiratory rate of your cat, you can consider your cat’s heart rate on its left side behind the front leg. Just use your smartphone to calculate the number of beats your cat is taking in 15 seconds. You can multiply the number of beats by 4 to find out the total beats per minute your cat’s heart is taking. 

Usually, a healthy cat’s normal heart rate will range from 140 to 220 beats per minute. Make a note of the number of breaths your cat is taking in 1 minute just by looking at its chest while your kitty is in rest mode or while sleeping. If the breaths are more than 30 per minute then, understand that something unusual is happening with your feline.

If your cat is breathing fast, it tells that your cat is not getting adequate oxygen to the lungs. Whenever the cat takes a breath, it travels all the way to the lungs by supplying oxygen to the blood. 

The blood mixed with oxygen will then circulate through the entire body of the cat enriching all its key organs to do their respective chores. Once you figure out that the cat’s breath is abnormal then, it’s a good idea to consult the vet and trace out the major cause of fast breathing in the cats.

Why Is My Cat Breathing Fast?

Wondering Why Is My Cat Breathing Fast? There could be a myriad of reasons behind your cat’s fast breathing. Rapid breathing in cats is often referred to as a medical condition i.e., Tachypnea. As mentioned already, you need to check the respiratory rate of your cat by counting the inhalations and exhalations of your cat while resting. 

Inhaling and exhaling once is considered as one breath. Make sure that your cat isn’t purring while noting your cat’s respiratory rate. Once you understand that your cat is breathing rapidly, you need to find out the reason behind it.

Fast breathing could be an indication of overheating in cats, chronic health conditions, immense excitement in cats, etc. The main reasons behind your cat’s rapid breathing include pneumonia, asthma, heart disease, obesity, and more. Sometimes, your cat may breathe rapidly due to various respiratory infections.

Types Of Fast Breathing In Cats

Is your cat suffering from a breathing issue? If so, you may be wondering ‘What’s the actual breathing problem’ with your cat? There are three different types of abnormal breathing conditions in cats. 

The pet parents need to identify the type of breathing problem their cat is suffering from to figure out the possible underlying health conditions of fast breathing in cats. The three different types of fast breathing in cats are mentioned below:

1. Dyspnea

If your cat is breathing fast and unable to eat then, it’s an indication of Dyspnea. Dyspnea is a type of respiratory problem that could sometimes lead to panting in your feline. If your cat is suffering from Dyspnea then, it may be a sign of complicated health issues such as lung or chest inflammation or heart disease.

As your cat is suffering from breathing difficulty, it may cause your cat to breathe open mouth. Other difficulties that your cat may face with Dyspnea include flaring nostrils, rapid abdomen, and chest movements, making a lot of noise while breathing, and more.

2. Tachypnea

Tachypnea is another type of breathing problem wherein your cat’s chest movements will rise and fall with each breath. Your cats will face much difficulty in breathing. 

In addition to this rapid breathing, you may see some associated symptoms such as low appetite, blue gums, continuous cough, rapid and shallow breaths, quick breathing while sleeping, decreased energy, and more.

3. Panting

Panting is another serious breathing issue you may observe in cats. Usually, cats will pant in drastic conditions. Your cat may start breathing heavily with its tongue hanging out. Sometimes, cats may pant as an indication of heat exhaustion. 

However, if your cat is panting out of overheating, it must be reduced within a few minutes. In case, this panting is continued then, it must be considered as a serious concern. 

Symptoms of Rapid Breathing in Cats

Is your Cat Breathing Fast While Sleeping? If so, you can identify your cat’s rapid breathing through a few symptoms. Based on the cause of your cat’s rapid breathing, you can identify specific symptoms as mentioned below.

• Heavy Breathing
• Coughing
• Difficulty Breathing
• Rapid movements of belly and chest with each breath
• Gagging
• Lethargy
• Low Appetite
• Blue Gums [Cyanotic]
• Noisy Breathing
• Unwillingness to exercise
• The sleeping period is extended
• Intolerance to play, move, and jump
• Lack of Energy
• Wheezing
• Breathing with mouth open

If your little kitty is showing any of the aforementioned symptoms, it indicates that your cat is facing a serious breathing problem. When you find any of these symptoms, immediately consult your veterinarian and provide the necessary treatment.

Reasons for Fast Breathing in Cats

Why Is My Cat Breathing So Fast? Breathing fast in cats could be an indication of some injury or serious illness. It must be assessed by the vet as early as possible. There are copious reasons behind Cat Breathing Fast. 

If your cat is suffering from Tachypnea then, the reasons for this breathing issue will be mild and can be treated easily. Also, the cause of tachypnea could be sometimes life-threatening among cats. In such a case, quick treatment is necessary for your cat without any delay.

A few potential reasons for cats breathing fast include:

1. Respiratory Infections

If there is any sort of infection in the respiratory system of your cat such as pneumonia, Feline Herpesvirus, Calicivirus, etc., it raises the respiratory rate of the cat. As a result, your cat may face difficulty in breathing.

Usually, the respiratory infections in cats will start as viral infections initially and later develop into bacterial infections gradually if left untreated. If your cat is suffering from pneumonia, it causes difficulty breathing due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. Some of the symptoms of pneumonia in cats include increased heart rate, fever, extreme cough, spasms in the airway, etc.

To treat such infections, the vet may use antibiotics that help your cat to breathe easily. Also, you can use steam and humidifiers on your cat to aid in loosening the mucus in its nose. This way, you can help your cat breathe easily through the nostrils.

2. Physical Effort

If your cat is playing excessively or exercising, it may cause more rapid breathing than usual in the cat. However, if your cat’s breathing problem is due to exertion, it should get back to normal condition once the cat takes a rest.

3. Asthma

Asthma is another cause of fast breathing in cats. Due to this breathing disorder, your cat may face difficulty in breathing. The reason is that the airways will get constricted resulting in Asthma.

Cats suffering from feline asthma may have a few associated symptoms such as vomiting, wheezing, breathing difficulty, breathing with an open mouth, heavy coughing, etc. If you take your cat to the vet to treat asthma, your vet will provide corticosteroids to diminish lung inflammation in the cat.

4. Heart Failure

If your cat is suffering from any heart disease alongside congestive heart failure, it could be another reason behind fast breathing. As there is a problem with the heart, it leads to the inability to move oxygenated blood to the remaining organs of the body in the cat.

Heart disease is a long-term health issue that majorly affects the whole cardiovascular system of the cat. In general, cats may suffer from Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy which is a type of heart disease. To find out that your cat is suffering from heart failure, just observe the symptoms given below:

• Panting
• Rapid Weight Loss
• Paralysis in the Legs
• Pain
• Fast Breathing
• Fatigue
• Lethargy
• Cough

If you observe that your cat is breathing fast quite often, don’t ignore it and immediately take the cat to the vet. Diagnose the condition properly to find whether your cat is developing any heart disease or not.

5. Obesity

Cats that are obese also face this breathing difficulty. Cats that are overweight may face serious breathing problems such as dyspnea [rapid breathing], and labored breathing. The excessive fat in obese cats and the rapid pressure on their lungs may cause rapid breathing.

6. Anemia

Anemia is another health condition that causes less red blood cells. As there are less number of red blood cells, the cells that carry oxygen will be less which leads to anemia. The oxygen levels in the blood will decrease and it results in the breathing difficulty of the cat. Anemia is one of the reasons behind fast breathing in cats.

7. Overheat

When your cat is overheated, it takes heavy breaths. The cat will breathe rapidly trying to cool down when it is suffering from overheating.

8. Tumors in the Throat, Chest, or Lungs

If your cat has tumors in the lungs, throat, and chest, it blocks the normal movements of the lungs and heart of the cat. In case, the tumor is very large, it occupies much space in the chest of the cat. As a result, it causes fast breathing in the cat.

9. Chest Problems

If your cat is suffering from chest disorders, it makes your cat difficult to breathe. Some of the chest issues in your cat include pleural effusion, hydrothorax, pneumothorax, and chylothorax.

Pleural Effusion, one of the chest disorders is usually caused in the pleural cavity of the cat that leads to rapid breathing. If your cat is suffering from Pneumothorax, it fills the air in the pleural cavity. Cat having pneumothorax will face difficulty inhaling and breathing rapidly.

10. Heartworm

Heartworm is one of the health conditions that cause breathing problems in cats. It is a type of infection that causes heartworms to occupy the blood vessels from the heart to the lungs. This will result in rapid breathing. Some of the symptoms of heartworms include vomiting, lethargy, coughing, shortness of breath, fast breathing, etc.

11. Emotional Misery

If your cat is threatened, anxious, or aggressive, it may cause rapid breathing in your cat. However, if your cat is emotionally distressed, this condition should get to normal once the cat soothes and calms down.

Other Causes of Fast Breathing in cats include:

• Trauma
• Toxin Exposure or Injury
• Foreign Objects obstructing the airway
• Hernia
• Pain
• Pulmonary Edema
• Allergic Reactions
• Pleural Effusion

What To Do If My Cat Is Breathing Rapidly?

If your cat is breathing rapidly, you need to monitor the cat for some more time. Even if the fast breathing problem isn’t resolved after a couple of hours, it’s time to contact your veterinarian as early as possible. 

Once you take your cat to the vet, he/she will diagnose the underlying health problem of the cat due to rapid breathing. If they find any serious health condition in your cat, they will provide the necessary medication. 

If you notice associated symptoms alongside rapid breathing in the cat, it may result in a medical emergency. If you ignore this condition, the symptoms could become extreme. It’s better to take your cat to the vet immediately for emergency treatment.

When To Take Your Cat To Vet?

Your cat may breathe fast for various reasons as mentioned already. Monitor your cat’s rapid breathing for a few hours until the respiratory rate of the cat comes to a normal rate. If your cat’s breathing issue doesn’t slow down even after a few hours, it’s time to take your cat to the veterinarian. 

Apart from this, you need to keep an eye on the concerning symptoms that your cat is suffering such as wheezing, rapid breathing, etc. Considering the severity of the symptoms, you need to consult your vet regarding the cat’s breathing fast issue.

If the symptoms turn out to become worse, it leads to serious health complications for the cat. If you ignore this breathing problem of the cat, it may be a medical emergency. The vet will diagnose the breathing issue of your cat and treat it by providing proper medication.

Diagnosis Vet Conducts For Fast Breathing In Cats

If your cat is breathing fast, check out for the common factors that may be the reason behind this problem. Once you recognize the problem, remove them from your cat’s surroundings. Some of the factors that cause rapid breathing in the cat include heat, emotional distress, exertion, and others.

If the reason behind the cat’s breathing problem and the solution is not in your hands, it’s time to take your feline to the vet. Despite resolving the potential reason for rapid breathing, try to seek veterinary attention.

Once you take your cat to the veterinarian clinic, the vet will diagnose your feline for a breathing problem. The veterinarian will determine the underlying health condition of the cat behind the rapid breathing problem. 

Before performing the medical tests, the vet will perform a physical examination of your cat. The vet will observe how your kitty is breathing and check for any abnormalities in the breathing. 

The vet will also open the cat’s mouth to check the color of its gums. If the gum color is changed to blue, it indicates that oxygen is not supplied to all the organs effectively. Further, the vet will perform a complete body test of the cat.

The diagnosis process involves a plethora of medical tests such as blood work, physical examination, X-rays, ultrasound, fluid analysis from the respiratory tract and chest cavity, etc. An ultrasound or an X-ray is taken to examine the heart and lungs of the cat.

By performing a blood test, the vet will be able to understand the infections present in the lungs. If the cat is suffering from tumors in the chest or lungs, foreign objects, and fluid build-up, the vet will perform an ultrasound examination. 

Medical Examinations performed by the vet include:

• Physical Tests
• Blood Work
• X-Rays
• Ultrasound of Heart/Chest [Echocardiogram]
• Fluid Analysis from the Respiratory Tract and Chest Cavity
• Whole Body Examination
• Endoscopy
• ECG
• Urinalysis
• Testing Cat’s Gum Color
• Other diagnostic tools to determine the accurate medical condition of the cat

Treatment for Cats’ Rapid Breathing

If the rapid breathing in your cat continues for a long time even after taking it to the vet, he/she will diagnose the issue. Further, they will start the treatment. Initially, they provide a steady supply of oxygen alongside an IV catheter to infuse emergency fluids and drugs into the body of the cat intravenously.

The treatment for the cat’s breathing fast problem will depend on the reason behind this issue. We have explained the treatment given to the cat depending on the cause of rapid breathing in this post. Check it out!

• Foreign Object in Cat’s Airways: When a foreign object is obstructed in the airways of the cat, the vet will try to remove it manually. If it is not possible to remove it manually as the object is too far to reach, the vet will remove it by performing an emergency surgery.
• Respiratory Infections: If your vet diagnosed that the cat is suffering from some inflammatory illness or bacterial or viral infection in the lungs, the vet will prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. If they suspect that the cat has been suffering from breathing problems due to allergies then, they prescribe allergy medications such as antihistamines.
• Pleural Effusion: If the cat is breathing fast due to pleural effusion, a Thoracentesis is done to extract fluid from the chest cavity. This helps your cat to breathe normally. Further, the fluid sample is tested and analyzed for any underlying disease. If your vet suspects that the cat is suffering from a heart disease then, the vet will perform an X-ray, ECG, and other heart-related examinations.
• Asthma: If your cat is suffering from Asthma, Bronchodilators are prescribed by the vet.
• Upper Respiratory Tract Infection: In case, your kitty’s rapid breathing is caused by a viral upper respiratory tract infection, the vet will suggest you spend quality time with the cat. Also, they recommend proper nursing care until the infection is cured.
• Heart Disease: After performing necessary medical examinations, if your vet finds out that the cat is having heart disease then, they provide cardiac medications.
• Respiratory Distress: If your cat is breathing fast due to respiratory distress then, try to keep it calm. Try to reduce stressful situations in your cat such as traveling, inviting guests to your home, etc.

How to Prevent a Cat from Breathing Fast?

Though it may not be possible to prevent your cat from breathing fast in critical situations, still, you can still help prevent certain health problems for your cat by doing a few things. 

By taking your feline to frequent veterinary check-ups, and providing a healthy and balanced diet, you can prevent rapid breathing issues in your cat. Also, it is important to maintain a healthy weight for your cat. 

If your cat is obese, there could be a high risk of causing heart failure and heart disease. The most important thing is that you need to evade certain situations that might cause severe stress, fear, and heat in your cat.

FAQs

Here are some of the frequently asked questions alongside answers furnished below. Check it out!

Conclusion

If your cat is breathing rapidly for several hours then, it could be an emergency. Make sure you take your cat to the vet immediately to stabilize your feline. Further, get your cat diagnosed properly through specific medical tests and determine the underlying health concern of the cat. 

Provide medication and necessary treatment to reduce the cat’s Fast Breathing. Well, this is all you need to know about the health issue ‘Why Is My Cat Breathing Fast’. Hope this article has given enough information about the reasons, symptoms, signs, treatment, and prevention of Fast breathing in cats.

Do you still have any queries about this topic? If so, let us know your doubts in the comments section. Stay in touch with our website for more articles related to cats, cat behavior, food habits, playtime, health issues, and more.