Cat Struggles to Breathe: Possible Causes of Breathing Difficulties
If a cat is breathing heavily and visibly struggles to get enough air, usually their owner is understandably very concerned. After all, breathing problems are conspicuous and, in many cases, should not be taken lightly.
Below we explain what causes you should consider when your cat is breathing heavily and when you should worry about it.
Cat breathes heavily - the most important points at a glance
- If a cat is breathing heavily, this is a sign that the animal is not getting enough air.
- Short-term breathing problems in cats can indicate overexertion or overheating.
- A severe infestation of lungworms in cats can be noticed amongst others by frequent coughing and shortness of breath.
- Difficulty breathing in cats is also a typical symptom of heart diseases such as HCM.
- Acute asthma attacks are very dangerous for affected animals and are characterised above all by obvious breathing problems.
- Feline infectious peritonitis is an incurable infectious disease in cats that causes shortness of breath and numerous other symptoms.
- If owners observe repeated heavy breathing in their cat, a visit to the veterinarian is highly recommended.
Breathing difficulties from exertion and heat
A cat's heavy breathing is not always due to serious health problems. It could also be that the four-legged friend has simply romped around too much and is therefore now out of breath and pants. In this case, the animal's breathing should return to normal fairly quickly, so there is usually nothing to worry about.
Heat is another possible cause of heavy breathing and panting in cats. If it is very warm in summer and the four-legged friend is perhaps even lying in the blazing sun for a long time, this can occasionally lead to the animal being too hot and breathing problems occurring as a result. As long as your cat drinks enough water and breathing returns to normal after a short time, this is mostly harmless.
However, you should keep in mind that at very high temperatures there is a risk of dangerous heat stroke. If you observe other abnormalities in your four-legged friend, such as vomiting or even unconsciousness, prompt action is required.
Cat is breathing heavily due to lungworm infestation
When it comes to worms, most people think of intestinal parasites. However, there are also types of worms that can infect other organs. For example, cats can become infected with lungworm. The larvae of the lungworms are ingested and reach the lungs from the intestine via the blood vessels. There they grow up and start laying eggs.
Typical symptoms seen in cats with lungworm include coughing and breathing problems. Prompt de-worming is of course essential for affected animals in order to get the parasite infestation and the associated symptoms under control.
Breathing difficulties in cats with heart conditions
In addition to lungworms, heart problems can also become noticeable through breathing difficulties. In cats, this includes in particular HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). In this disease, the muscles in the left ventricle enlarge.
Affected cats are often exhausted and tired and suffer from a lack of appetite. In addition, they often pant or breathe heavily and from their stomachs because their heart can no longer pump enough blood to their organs, which limits the oxygen supply.
If you suspect that your cat might be suffering from a heart disease such as HCM, a timely visit to the veterinarian is of course essential. Since visible symptoms such as breathing difficulties usually appear quite late, problems with the heart are unfortunately often not diagnosed until a late stage.
Respiratory problems in cats with asthma
Cats can also suffer from asthma, just like humans. Acute shortness of breath is one of the typical symptoms of feline asthma. The cat begins to pant, sticks out its tongue and opens its mouth wide. Such an asthma attack, in which the animal does not get enough air, is a serious matter.
Cortisone and special drugs that expand the bronchial tubes are administered to treat cats with asthma. Apart from that, owners of affected animals should pay more attention to keeping their own home as dust-free as possible in order to counteract the occurrence of asthma attacks.
Cat breathing heavily due to infection with FIP
Feline infectious peritonitis, short FIP, is another very serious cause of heavy breathing in cats. The disease is caused by mutated coronaviruses. Unfortunately, there is no cure and the usefulness of the currently available vaccine for cats is quite controversial.
In addition to shortness of breath, further symptoms of FIP in cats include:
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- increase in abdominal girth
- vomiting and diarrhoea
- fever
- apathy
- unconsciousness
Cat breathes heavily – our conclusion
As you can see, there are many different reasons why a cat might be breathing heavily. If you observe breathing problems in your four-legged friend, it is therefore often advisable to consult a veterinarian. The vet can examine your cat and find out the cause of the heavy breathing so that professional treatment can be given if necessary.
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