My Cat Is Breathing Fast:
When Should You See a Vet?
Here is how urgent it usually is, what may be causing it, and what to do next.
Your cat is breathing fast, or breathing with its mouth open?
Fast breathing while your cat is resting, or breathing with its mouth open, is a warning sign. Cats rarely pant like dogs, so please contact a vet straight away.
- Your cat is breathing with its mouth open or panting
- Your cat's gums or tongue look pale, grey or blue
- Your cat is struggling, or stretching its neck out to breathe
- Your cat has collapsed or cannot settle
- Your cat's belly is moving a lot with each breath
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What to do in an emergencyCat Breathing Fast
Why it is serious
Cats are good at hiding illness, and they do not usually pant. When a cat breathes fast at rest, it often means the heart or lungs are under strain.
Common causes
- Heart disease, such as HCM
- Fluid around the lungs
- Asthma or other airway problems
- Pain, stress or heat
- Infection
Signs that often come with it
- Breathing faster than usual while resting or asleep
- Open-mouth breathing
- The belly moving more than usual with each breath
- Coughing or wheezing
- Hiding or low energy
What to do now
- Keep your cat calm and cool, and handle it as little as possible
- Count breaths for 30 seconds while your cat is asleep, then multiply by two
- Contact us straight away and share the count
Please do not give food, water or medicine to a cat that is struggling to breathe. Keep it calm and travel in a well-ventilated carrier.
Counting at home: a normal resting breathing rate for most cats is under 40 breaths a minute. If your cat is above this while asleep, or breathing with its mouth open, contact us straight away.
What to Bring to Your Visit?
A ventilated carrierKeep it calm and do not cover it completely.
A breathing videoA short video of your cat breathing at rest helps us a lot.
Your breath countThe number of breaths per minute you counted at home.
When it startedA note of when you first noticed the change.
Medical recordsAny previous test results, especially heart checks.
Medicines givenAny medicines or supplements your cat takes.
Dr. Asma Fariha
Veterinary Surgeon · MVC Reg. No. 3362
Dr. Asma monitors valve disease over time, because staging is what determines when treatment should begin.
What People Say
Frequently Asked Questions
Short panting after hard play or heat can happen, but it should stop quickly. Panting at rest, or panting that does not settle, needs a vet check straight away.
Common causes include heart disease, fluid around the lungs, asthma and infection. An examination is needed to find the actual cause.
Bring your cat in a well-ventilated carrier, a video of the breathing if possible, and any previous medical records.
Yes, stress and heat can, but it should settle once your cat is calm. If it does not, or your cat is breathing with its mouth open, please contact us.
Most cats breathe fewer than 40 times a minute while resting or asleep. If your cat’s resting rate is higher, please contact us.
Watch your cat while it is asleep, count the rises of the chest for 30 seconds, then multiply by two. A short video is also helpful for us.