We understand the panic when pet parents suddenly notice their cat panting.Considering panting is usually associated with dogs, cats panting like dogs will sometimes raise eyebrows, especially for those who don’t know what is happening. If you notice your cat panting and have been wondering about the reasons or repercussions it could have, this article is just what you need.Mostly, the breathing rhythm of a cat or kitten is effortless and smooth, almost unnoticeable. If your cat is breathing abnormally hard, you ought to be sure that something is wrong. You might have to observe your cat before understanding the severity of the situation and contact your veterinarian if it seems like an emergency. We’re here to break it down to help you navigate through an array of underlying reasons to decode panting in cats and whether there is an actual cause of concern.If this article has helped you understand your cat’s behavior, learn some more by checking out why do cats sneeze and why do cats throw up at Kidadl!Is it normal for cats and kittens to pant?As a matter of fact, cats panting is normal, but whether to take it casually or not depends entirely on the circumstances. You may want to retrace the events and think about factors such as whether your cat went through some strenuous exercise, seemed distressed, or has been physically down.Keeping tabs on the behavior will help you understand whether your cat’s pant is a cause for concern or will eventually fade off. Heavy breathing in cats may be the result of several factors ranging from minute environmental or physical changes such as hot weather, stress, old age, tiredness, or even a car ride, to serious medical issues like a respiratory infection, heart failure, cancer, asthma, bronchitis, tumors, or fluid build-up in the lungs. If you are unable to narrow down any normal situation that could have caused heavy panting in cats, a veterinary visit will be needed to investigate any underlying medical issues and their treatment. You may have to do blood tests for a clear diagnosis of health problems caused by diabetes, heartworm, anemia, or infections. You may also have to get X-rays or ultrasounds done if your feline shows signs of fluid build-up in the heart and lungs.Common Situations For Cats To Pant In And WhyNot all panting needs to be worrisome. For example, cats panting while playing will recede without a vet after the physical stress stops, whereas sudden panting in cats, especially if persistent for a longer period of time, could be a sign of a serious health problem.It all boils down to what has made the cat pant in the first place. If you are a parent of a feisty cat or kitten who jumps and leaps from one corner of the room to another, chances are, they have exhausted themselves, and the stressed lungs from the extreme workout have caused the heavy breathing with their mouth open and pink drippy tongue. Do not stop your cat from playing because physical activity is essential for their overall health as well as building a healthy respiratory rate. All you have to do is let your cat rest and cool off after extensive exercise and ensure their temperature does rise. In case you notice overheating even after resting or drinking water, you may consider visiting a vet. Apart from physical energy causing heavy breathing, overheating can also result in increased respiratory rates. Overheating may be caused by extreme exercise as well as hot weather, which could result in heat exhaustion, dehydration, or heat strokes just like humans. You may want to watch out for symptoms such as drooling, rapid heart rate, constant meow-ing, restlessness, grayed gums, or nausea. If these are accompanied by not wanting to eat, drink, or use the litter box, your cat may be experiencing respiratory distress or congestive heart failure and requires veterinary attention immediately. A stressed cat is accompanied by heavy breathing as well. They express feelings of stress, anxiety, fear, or any uncomfortable emotions using body language, which sometimes causes panting in cats. Stressed cats usually pant in quick breaths with their mouth open. You will find them in such situations if the physical environment is making them feel uneasy, for example, vet visits, in presence of strangers, or a newly-introduced furry friend. Pain is another common reason that may result in your cat panting heavily. When pain is the concern, you will also notice open-mouth panting, accompanied by obsessive licking of the hurt region, mood swings, hiding, or deep, continuous meows. One of the last causes may be an underlying medical condition that may require immediate veterinary attention. Feline heavy breathing, especially all of a sudden, could be a sign of some respiratory or heart disease or infection such as asthma, nasal polyps, fluid build-up, or hyperthyroidism. In some cases, an abnormal respiratory rate in a cat may indicate serious issues such as heartworm disease or congestive heart failure, which would be considered an emergency.Cat Panting Vs. Dog PantingIt is common knowledge among pet owners that dogs pant way more than cats. This also confirms why panting cats are seen as abnormal when compared to panting dogs. Dogs’ bodies are designed such that they have to pant more than cats, especially for temperature regulation.The primary answer to this question lies in the different methods used by cats and dogs when they need to cool off. Firstly, neither cats nor dogs have sweat glands in their skin because their sweat glands are found under their paws, which means there is no natural cooling agent at play. Cats control their body temperature by spreading saliva on their body with their keratin-spine tongues, which facilitates the application process. In contrast, dogs use panting to cool down. This works for them because panting requires rapid inhalation and exhalation, which humidifies quickly and increases evaporation through the lungs and nose, cooling the body from inside out. In certain cases, cats also pant when exhausted, but a recurring situation accompanied by unusual symptoms is abnormal and may require immediate attention and treatment from the veterinarian.What To Do If Your Cat Is PantingThere’s always a simple solution for an exhausted or stressed cat. However, if the panting persists, you may want to observe more signs and consult a vet to find out if any disease is in action.If you are in a situation with a panting cat, try to think about what your cat was up to before it started panting. For example, if your cat just got done with a feisty playful session or has given birth, they are exhausted, which means they need to be hydrated and allowed to relax in a cool space. In case of overheating due to weather conditions or even a car ride, the same remedy mentioned above would work, but do visit a veterinarian if the overheating prolongs. If your cat is panting because of stress or an uncomfortable environment, try to divert their attention by playing with them or letting them scratch onto a toy or object. If you notice your cat panting out of the blue, especially accompanied by signs of pain, nausea, avoiding food and water, restlessness, drooling, crying, or an increased heart rate, you will have to take it to the vet immediately and proceed with the required treatment.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why do cats pant, then why not take a look at why do cats puke, or purrrfect facts about the ragamuffin cat kids will love?
We understand the panic when pet parents suddenly notice their cat panting.
