Have you noticed that your cat breathes strangely when sleeping? Or that his breathing is much more labored than usual? What should we do in these cases? It is important to note that the fact that a cat is breathing very fast is always a cause for concern Therefore, in this article on our site we are going to review what causes can cause this situation and how we should act.
As we shall see, although this type of breathing can appear due to emotional causes, it is usually related to serious pathologies A cat breathes fast when it cannot breathe efficiently, which is a risk to its life. This breathing should make us go to the vet.
My cat breathes very fast when sleeping
Before talking about pathological causes, we must differentiate a situation that occurs during the cat's sleep During this several phases alternate and it is in the REM in which rapid muscle movements, meowing and rapid breathing in cats take place. When the cat is awake, rapid breathing accompanied by panting may occur after intense exercise or high temperatures. As long as it lasts only a few minutes, it shouldn't be a concern.
In other situations we can say that it is not normal that our cat breathes very fast. Any indication that the cat is breathing strangely is reason for veterinary consultation and may constitute an emergency.
My cat is breathing very fast and is not moving
These cases may indicate that the cat has suffered a traumatism A fall from a great height, being run over by a car or being attacked by a dog can cause internal injuries that affect lung capacity and, consequently, breathing. Internal bleeding, severe pain, fractures, or pneumothorax, involving loss of air from the lungs, are emergencies that may be behind rapid, shallow, and abdominal.
Sometimes with internal bleeding, the cat breathes very fast and vomits blood. A cat that does not get enough oxygen will present a bluish discoloration of its mucous membranes, a phenomenon known as cyanosis.
The cat may die shortly if he does not receive veterinary assistance, and even then the prognosis will be guarded. Hospital admission is required to first stabilize the cat and then perform the necessary tests to diagnose the cause and treat it.
My cat is breathing very fast and is drooling
Another life-threatening situation occurs after a poisoning Symptoms include rapid breathing, hypersalivation, wheezing, retching, and neurological symptoms. A typical example is the intoxication suffered by the cat when a pipette intended for dogs is administered with active ingredients that are toxic to it.
If our cat shows symptoms like those described, we should go immediately to the vet, if possible with the product that caused the damage. The treatment involves the administration of fluid therapy and the appropriate medication for the symptoms or the toxin.
The prognosis will be reserved and will depend on the type of poison, the route of intoxication and the damage caused.
My cat is breathing very fast and panting
In addition to physical causes, stress can also cause your cat to breathe faster and pant. We will watch him alertly, with pupils dilated, salivating, swallowing repeatedly and licking his lips.
First of all we should leave him aloneYou should be able to calm down on your own as soon as the triggering situation subsides. For example, this reaction can be observed when the cat meets an unknown congener but also during a visit to the veterinary clinic.
If the stimulus persists and the cat has no escape, it can attack. We must always look for the trigger to avoid it. If the cat must get used to it, we will have to start a gradual adaptation. The veterinarian specialized in behavior or the ethologist will be able to establish guidelines to get the cat to accept the new situation.
Other causes of a cat breathing too fast
The tachypnea, ie rapid breathing, can occur in many other situations. It is indicating a respiratory difficulty that can be accompanied by cough, hypersalivation, vomiting, retching, gasping, cyanosis, etc. The cat may adopt a characteristic posture with its neck extended. In addition to the causes mentioned, we can point out others such as the following:
- Heatstroke
- Feline asthma
- Pneumonia
- Heart diseases including heartworms
- Tumors
- Foreign bodies obstructing the airways
- Severe anemia
- Hypoglycemia, i.e. low blood glucose
- Hyperthyroidism
- Pleural effusion
All require veterinary treatment At the clinic, after stabilizing the cat, if applicable, diagnostic tests such as blood tests and urine, X-rays, ultrasound, etc., since we must find the cause of the difficult breathing in order to prescribe the most appropriate treatment.
Why is my cat breathing so fast after giving birth?
Finally, although a cat may experience rapid breathing and even panting during labor, once labor is over her breathing should back to normal. We must be vigilant in case it presents any of the common problems in the delivery of the cat. If we observe her maintaining rapid breathing, she is restless and anxious, she has incoordination when walking, she falls, hypersalivation, she has a fever and her mucous membranes appear pale, she may be suffering from eclampsia
The eclampsia a disorder caused by hypocalcaemia, that is, a low level of calcium in the blood. Appears at lactation period after giving birth. Fortunately, it is not a very common disorder in cats, but it is an emergency that requires the veterinarian to administer intravenous medication.
The kittens will have to feed artificially or wean them if they are old enough. When she recovers, the family should be reunited, probably giving the cat a calcium supplement if she continues to nurse.
