Is it normal for a cat to have rapid breathing, a heaving stomach, and panting with its mouth open? When should I see a veterinarian?

Table of contents

1. Tachypnea reaction
2. How many breaths does a normal cat take per minute?
3. How to identify breathing difficulties?
4. How to tell if your cat is having difficulty breathing?
5. Download the breathing record form and start observing every day from today!

Recently, I often see cats panting, breathing rapidly, and having their stomachs rise and fall quickly. Occasionally, they open their mouths to breathe like dogs... Is it because the weather is too hot?

Pettington has received many questions of this type recently: If you observe that your cat is breathing rapidly, its stomach is rising and falling rapidly, and it occasionally pants with its mouth open like a dog, could it be caused by the hot weather?

Cats and dogs have different ways of dissipating heat. Cats primarily dissipate heat through perspiration on their paw pads. Under normal circumstances, cats don't open their mouths to breathe !

However, if you observe the following symptoms in your cat:

• Mouth always open
• Sticking out tongue
• Panting like a dog
• Abdominal breathing is labored, with noticeable belly movement

When you see these reactions, it is recommended to take your cat to a veterinary clinic for examination as soon as possible, as this may be a precursor to heart disease.

Tachypnea reaction

Shortness of breath is one of the most common symptoms of cardiopulmonary disease and even heart failure in cats, but it's also often the first to be discovered. Counting your pet's breaths is a sensitive way to detect abnormalities in their pet's heart and lung function at home. This helps owners identify any abnormalities and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

How many breaths does a normal cat take per minute?

Under normal circumstances, a cat's breathing rate when sleeping and resting is about 40 times per minute. The breathing rate of kittens will be slightly faster than that of adult cats, which is within the normal range.

When monitoring your cat, wait until it is resting or asleep. If the cat is excited, nervous, scared, or exercising, their breathing rate will tend to be faster. Wait until they have been still (resting) for at least 15 minutes before starting to measure.

Breathing exercises

The rise and fall of the chest = one breath or

One bulge and one dip in the abdomen = one breath

How to calculate the number of breaths

Each up and down movement counts as one breath, and you should observe for 60 seconds. If you can't observe for 60 seconds, you can observe for 15 seconds. The recording method is: if you observe 8 times in 15 seconds, then record 8 (times) x 4 (15 seconds is 1/4 of 60 seconds) = 32 (times/minute) .

A normal cat's breathing rate should be less than 40 times per minute.

How to identify breathing difficulties?

It is often easy to confuse dyspnea with panting or breathing during excitement, but there is actually a significant difference between the two. Dyspnea caused by heart disease is a common condition.

If you observe the following six symptoms, your cat may be having difficulty breathing and you need to pay more attention:

1. Looks uncomfortable
2. Decreased reaction ability
3. Breathing becomes shallow and rapid
4. Breathing becomes labored and may be normal or rapid
5. Feeling extremely tired and wanting to rest but afraid to lie down (and then standing up again immediately after lying down)
6. Open mouth to breathe

When a cat has trouble breathing, they sometimes lower themselves to the ground and stretch their necks out. Some cats experience chest tightness when breathing, which may require immediate medical attention.

How to tell if your cat is having difficulty breathing?

If you are unsure whether your cat is having difficulty breathing, take it to a veterinary clinic for diagnosis as soon as possible, even if it appears healthy otherwise.

Before seeing a veterinarian, you should pay as much attention as possible and provide detailed and accurate information, such as the time when the problem occurred, the cat's activity level, behavioral manifestations, and diet.

Download the breathing record form and start observing every day from today!

Pettington recommends that you start monitoring and recording your pet's respiratory rate, regardless of whether they have been diagnosed with cardiopulmonary disease or heart failure. If anything seems unusual, be sure to take your pet to a clinic for an examination.

To more effectively monitor your cat's respiratory status, the Pettington team provides a respiratory log. This chart helps you record your cat's respiratory rate daily and can be used as a reference during veterinary consultations.

The respiratory record form for dogs and cats can be downloaded from the following link: