Why Is My Cat Breathing Fast?

While it’s normal for dogs to pant and breathe rapidly, a cat breathing fast isn’t something to ignore.

To determine if a cat is truly breathing fast, we usually rely on their resting respiration rate, which is the number of breaths they take in a minute when relaxed or sleeping. If the resting respiratory rate is above 30 breaths per minute, the cat is considered to have an elevated breathing rate.

When your cat is awake, there are several reasons they may breathe fast. In some cases, it’s a normal response to triggers like anxiety or overexertion. In other cases, it’s a sign of serious illness. When we talk about rapid breathing in cats that aren’t at rest, we usually mean open-mouth breathing or panting.

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What’s Considered Normal Breathing in Cats?

To measure your cat’s breathing rate, count the number of breaths they take over a full minute while they’re at rest or sleeping. For normal cats, this should be less than 30 breaths per minute. You should not take the respiratory rate while the cat is purring, as this can falsely elevate the number.

Abnormal breathing in cats includes:

Breathing should be quiet, effortless, and smooth. You should not hear wheezing, gagging, snorting, or coughing.

Common Causes of Rapid Breathing in Cats

Rapid breathing in cats can be a normal response to intense stress or exertion. In other cases, it’s a sign of a serious health issue. Here, we’ll cover common causes of rapid breathing in cats.

Stress or Anxiety

While it’s not an emergency if your cat is panting due to stress or anxiety, it’s a sign of significant emotional distress. Common scenarios in which cats pant due to stress or anxiety include travel and vet visits. If this is your cat’s cause of panting, consider speaking with your veterinarian about administering anti-anxiety medications prior to triggering situations. Gabapentin is commonly used for this purpose in cats.

Heat or Exertion

Your cat should not be allowed to get hot enough that they start panting. If your cat is panting due to heat, take them to a cool location and offer water immediately. Symptoms of heatstroke in cats include panting or rapid breathing, vomiting, lethargy, excessive drooling, acting disoriented, and bright red tongue and gums. If panting does not subside or they have any other signs of heatstroke, they need to be seen by a veterinarian.

Occasionally, you may notice a fast-breathing cat after intense play. This panting should be temporary and dissipate after play ends. If your cat seems intolerant of exercise, is panting after mild exercise, wheezes, or coughs, get them evaluated.

Pain

While any pain can technically cause a cat to pant, cats tend to be stoic. If your cat’s panting is due to pain, it’s likely that the pain is significant and needs treatment. Your veterinarian can identify the source of pain and develop a treatment plan to keep your cat comfortable.

Asthma

Feline asthma is a common cause of rapid breathing in cats. Signs include wheezing, coughing, open-mouth breathing, and hunching with the neck extended. You may notice that it takes extra effort for your cat to breathe. While it sometimes sounds like they’re coughing up a hairball, they’ll either produce nothing or a small bit of frothy mucus.

If these episodes are short-lived, contact your veterinarian for an appointment. However, asthma can also be an emergency if it leads to respiratory distress (more on that later). Asthma in cats is usually treated with inhaled steroids, but oral medications may also be an option.

Heart Disease

Cats develop congestive heart failure less commonly than dogs, but in those that do, you may notice open-mouth breathing, coughing, and lethargy. As the heart begins to fail, it cannot adequately pump blood throughout the body, and fluid starts to build up in the chest, abdomen, and/or limbs. Difficulty breathing occurs due to fluid build-up in or around the lungs.

Heart disease may require X-rays and an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) to diagnose. Treatment may include hospitalization with oxygen supplementation, diuretics to remove fluid, and medications to improve the function of the heart.

Lung Conditions

A variety of lung conditions can cause rapid breathing in cats, including pneumonia from an infection, pneumonia from aspirating vomit, fluid in or around the lungs, and lung tumors. Most lung conditions can be diagnosed with a chest X-ray, and treatment will depend on the specific cause.

Anemia

When a cat has anemia, they don’t have enough red blood cells circulating in their vessels. Red blood cells transport oxygen to the tissues. Because they won’t be getting as much oxygen delivered to their tissues, the cat sometimes starts breathing rapidly to compensate.

Signs of anemia can include pale gums, jaundice, weakness, poor appetite, and excessive hiding.

Potential causes of anemia in cats include blood loss, gastrointestinal parasites, blood parasites, autoimmune destruction of their own red blood cells (IMHA), certain toxins, cancer, and chronic kidney disease. Your cat’s treatment will depend on the cause of the anemia.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a common endocrine disorder in older cats in which their thyroid gland produces too many hormones, usually due to a benign tumor. Cats with hyperthyroidism may pant because of an increased heart rate, higher metabolism, and heat intolerance. Other signs include weight loss despite an increased appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, hyperactivity, vomiting, diarrhea, and unkempt appearance.

Hyperthyroidism in cats can usually be diagnosed with blood work to measure thyroid hormone levels. Treatment can include medication (usually twice daily methimazole), radioactive iodine therapy (in a specialty hospital), surgery, and dietary therapy.

Trauma or Internal Bleeding

If your cat sustains a traumatic injury, such as being hit by a car, getting attacked by a dog, or falling from a balcony, they should always be seen by an emergency veterinarian. Panting can occur due to significant pain, but it can also be a sign of internal bleeding, a collapsed lung, a diaphragmatic hernia, or other serious injuries. Do not take a wait-and-see approach to a heavy breathing cat who has experienced trauma.

When to Worry: Signs of Respiratory Distress

Respiratory distress occurs when the lungs aren’t able to provide the body with enough oxygen to meet its needs. The pet will experience difficulty breathing, and the stress, anxiety, and pain they feel as a result is likely to further exacerbate the condition.

Signs of respiratory distress in cats include:

Respiratory distress is absolutely an emergency. If your cat has signs of respiratory distress, they need to be seen immediately.

What to Do If Your Cat Is Breathing Fast

If you notice your cat is breathing rapidly, try to remain calm. Remember that stress and anxiety can exacerbate this symptom for your cat. Try to keep your cat’s environment cool and quiet.

Do not force too much movement or restraint. They will not “walk this off.”

If your cat was just zooming all over the house during a play session or is traveling in the car to a wellness appointment when they start panting, you can monitor them for the development of other symptoms. However, if panting is occurring without a known cause or they have any other symptoms (e.g., coughing, wheezing, gagging, lethargy, difficulty breathing, etc.), they need to be seen. You should contact your veterinarian or an emergency vet immediately.

Diagnosing and Treating the Underlying Cause

To diagnose your cat’s condition, the veterinarian will first speak with you about your cat’s history and perform a full physical examination, which includes listening to the heart and lungs. Depending on the findings of their exam, they’ll recommend specific diagnostics for your pet.

Diagnostics they may recommend include:

In some cases, additional advanced diagnostics will be recommended, such as arterial blood gases, an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), or a CT scan. You may be referred to a specialty center for advanced diagnostics.

Treatment will depend on the cause of your cat’s condition but may include:

Additional treatments, such as blood transfusions or thyroid medications, will depend on the specific cause.

Cats who receive timely care are more likely to have a better outcome. Rapid breathing in cats is not a wait-and-see situation, unless your cat is panting after a wild play session or in a high-stress situation.

Preventing Breathing Problems in Cats

Of course, you can’t prevent all causes of rapid breathing in cats, but you can take steps to reduce the risk. These steps include:

  1. Routine veterinary checkups. Getting your pet seen by the veterinarian on a regular basis allows your veterinarian to catch conditions early.
  2. Keep your cat inside. Cats who go outside have a higher risk of contracting infectious diseases, such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or the feline leukemia virus (FeLV), which can affect their breathing. Outdoor cats are also more likely to sustain traumatic injuries.
  3. Don’t smoke inside. Smoke and other pollutants may increase your cat’s risk of several conditions that affect their breathing, including feline asthma.
  4. Vaccinate your cat for feline leukemia virus (FeLV). FeLV can cause fluid build-up in the chest and cancer, which results in a cat breathing fast.
  5. Manage your cat’s weight. Cats that are overweight are more likely to overheat, may overexert themselves more easily, and are prone to health conditions that can result in breathing difficulties. Your veterinarian can help you assess your cat’s body condition score and develop a plan to maintain a healthy weight.
  6. Manage stress. Stressed, anxious cats may pant. Consider the use of anti-anxiety medications ahead of triggering events, such as veterinary visits. For cats with daily anxiety, consider long-term mediations and the use of pheromones.

Don’t Ignore Rapid Breathing

While not all causes of fast breathing in cats are emergencies, you should never ignore rapid breathing, especially without a known cause. Track your cat’s symptoms at home and monitor their resting respiratory rate. If you are ever unsure or concerned, it’s best to contact your veterinarian to get your pet evaluated.