What are Breathing Difficulties?
Dyspnea is often referred to as 'respiratory distress'. Your cat may struggle with inhaling, exhaling or both. You may also notice your cat panting noisily or keeping its mouth open. Breathing will typically be fast and shallow. Coughing is another symptom that often accompanies dyspnea. Whatever the cause for labored breathing, your cat needs an immediate medical evaluation since this condition cannot be treated at home and can be deadly.
It is very disturbing to see your cat struggling to take a breath. Dyspnea, or difficulty breathing, is not a disease but a symptom of an underlying condition that could be caused by hundreds of diseases or medical conditions. For example, your cat may have a foreign object up its nose, or it may be experiencing allergy-induced asthma. Heart failure is another prime reason cats show signs of breathing difficulties, and this condition requires immediate veterinary evaluation.
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Symptoms of Breathing Difficulties in Cats
When a cat is breathing rapidly with its mouth open, it’s obvious it’s having trouble breathing. Other symptoms of respiratory distress are more subtle but obvious to the eye and the ear. Since breathing difficulties in cats are dangerous and may rapidly become life threatening, seek immediate veterinary care if your cat is showing any of these symptoms:
- Labored breathing
- Panting
- Exaggerated abdominal and chest movements
- Crouching low to the ground with elbows out
- Flared nostrils
- Rapid breathing
- Breathing with mouth agape
- Head low to the ground
- Noisy, raspy breathing
- Coughing
- Retching
- Lethargy
- Shaking
- Collapse
Causes of Breathing Difficulties in Cats
There are so many possible reasons a cat is showing respiratory distress, only a veterinarian can make the proper diagnosis. Some of the many varied reasons for breathing difficulties are:
- Asthma
- Airway obstruction
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Obesity
- Dehydration
- Fever
- Shock
- Heat stroke
- Lung disease
- Heart disease
- Infections
- Blood disorders
- Pain
- Poison ingestion
- Pneumonia
- Cancer
- Hyperthyroidism
- Pleural effusion
- Pulmonary edema
- Twisted lung lobe
- Lungworm
Diagnosis of Breathing Difficulties in Cats
Most likely, the first thing your veterinarian will do is ask you questions about when the breathing issues started, the symptoms you witnessed and what preceded the respiratory distress. If your cat is having serious difficulties breathing, your veterinarian will administer oxygen before testing begins. Your veterinarian may perform some or all of the following tests:
Physical Examination: Your cat’s general health will be determined by taking vital signs and examining its ears, eyes, nose and gums. Your cat’s lungs and chest will be listened to with a stethoscope to determine if there is fluid in the lungs or an abnormal heartbeat or murmur. The veterinarian may palpate the abdominal area also.
Blood Tests: Blood may be drawn to test the oxygen and carbon dioxide level in your cat’s blood and to check for heartworm disease. Other blood tests will show inflammation and or infections present.
Urine Sample: A urine test will aid in diagnosing the cause of the dyspnea.
X-rays and Ultrasound: These diagnostic tests help the veterinarian to virtually see inside your cat’s body to check for tumors, obstructions or fluid buildup.
Fluid aspiration: A sample of fluid within the lower airways may be drawn for evaluation and testing. This is called a Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL).
ECG: An ECG (electrocardiogram) test may be required if your veterinarian suspects a heart problem.
Rhinoscopy or Bronchoscopy: If the breathing problem is caused by a blocked nasal cavity or airway, this test will help determine the next step in treatment, and it may aid in collecting tissue samples for testing.
Treatment of Breathing Difficulties in Cats
Depending on the reason for your cat’s dyspnea, treatment may be as simple as prescribing an antibiotic. Or, it may require more serious intervention such as draining the chest, surgery or hospitalization with oxygen and IV therapy.
Respiratory infection: Antibiotics are usually prescribed to fight the infection and aid in breathing.
Foreign object: If tests show a foreign object is obstructing the nasal passage, it may be removed in the office with surgical tweezers.
Asthma: Steroids and bronchodilators are two of the medicines that may be prescribed to help your cat breathe easier.
Heat stroke: Your veterinarian will lower your cat’s body temperature and, if necessary, provide oxygen.
Dehydration: Your cat will be given an IV to increase fluids to a normal level.
Fluid in lungs, chest or abdomen: Fluid may be aspirated to relieve your cat’s distress.
Tumors and cancer: Surgery may be required to remove the growth along with oral or injectable medicines.
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Recovery of Breathing Difficulties in Cats
In many cases, medicines and rest will aid in the recovery of your cat’s breathing problems. If veterinary care is administered quickly, heatstroke and dehydration are normally easy to treat and recovery is often rapid. If stress and anxiety are causing your cat to exhibit breathing difficulties, it’s imperative you find the cause of this distress and eliminate it if possible. If allergies are at the root of your cat’s dyspnea, your veterinarian will make suggestions on the best diet or bedding, and those changes will aid in your cat’s recovery.
If your cat has a serious diagnosis like cancer, surgery may require a prolonged hospital stay before it can be released from care. Other medical treatments like chemotherapy may be needed over an extended time. Be sure to keep all follow-up appointments with your veterinarian to ensure a speedy and total recovery and to avoid a recurrence of your cat’s medical emergency.
Breathing Difficulties Average Cost
From 329 quotes ranging from $500 - $4,000
Average Cost
$1,000
Top
Breathing Difficulties Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
cat
Six Months
24 found this helpful
24 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Noisy Breathing
You can hear that she's trying to breathe out of her nose it sounds kind of stuffy and then she's got a little bit of redness in her right eye
Dec. 10, 2020
Answered by Dr. Linda S. MVB MRCVS
24 Recommendations
What a darling cat.
I'm sorry to hear she hasn't been quite right.
Her symptoms are not specific and could be due to a range of issues including 'cat flu', seasonal allergies or a bacterial infection.
It would be best to have her examined by a vet so we can determine what is going on an prescribe any needed medicine (such as eye drops).
If her nose is bunged up, she may find it harder to smell her food, so offer tasty and warm meals.
You can use wet cotton wool to clean her eyes and nostrils.
Dec. 10, 2020
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Siamese
Nine Years
10 found this helpful
10 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Noisy Breathing And Dribbling
Theo is breathing loud all the time when he’s asleep, dribbling and seems to have a sticky eye a lot
Sept. 27, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
10 Recommendations
Thank you for your question.
Theo may have a viral infection, a growth in his nasal passages, or dental disease. It would be best to have him seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine him and see what might be causing this problem for him, and let you know what treatment might help him.
Oct. 11, 2020
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calico cat
Eleven Years
4 found this helpful
4 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Noisy Breathing
Labored breathing sounds like constant snoring. Breath stinks, and she isn't really eating. (difficulty swallowing)
Sept. 26, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
4 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I apologize for the delay, this venue is not set up for urgent emails.
She may have dental disease or a problem with her nose or mouth. Since I cannot see her, It would be best to have your pet seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine them, see what might be going on, and get treatment for them.
Oct. 15, 2020
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long hair
Buco
1 Year
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Breathing Fast
My cat called Buco is 1 year old and is a bit overweight, since I found him he breathes faster while being pet and purrs quite loud ..MI dont know if I should be worried...he is really lazy and likes to sleep a lot...not that active like my other cats I have
I dont know, if he is really happy or there is a problem...he eats normally and everything else is okay
Sept. 10, 2018
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Long hair house cat
Lucky
4 Years
6 found this helpful
6 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Heavy Breathing
My cat is 4 years old. He was the runt of the litter and about half the size of his siblings when we got him. We nursed him back to health but we always noticed hes had a little difficulty breathing and tired quickly when playing. 4 days ago we began to notice his breathing is getting more labored and simple activities like jumping on the couch makes him need to breath through his mouth. When he was 6 mo we took him in to get neutered and they said he checked out perfectly healthy but there has always been something different... im wondering how expensive running tests are? He seems fine otherwise. Eating and drinking good. Cold wet nose.
Sept. 6, 2018
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domestic short hair
Fluffy
2 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Coughing & Sneezing
Fluffy was a stray and we found her in the drain when she a few days old.She was sneezing and sometimes coughing since she was small. It might be fur balls but I don't really spot them around.
mixed
Watson
6 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Weakness
Heavy Breathing
Rapid Breathing
My 6 year old cat has suddendly started breathing heavily and rapidly. He seems weak and has difficulty standing on his back legs. He drinks a lot of water but either puke it or pee it. He also seems to have a wider stomach, even though theres not much fat anywhere else. Could it be dehydration?
Singapura
Bumble
2 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Coughing
Not Eating
Dry Nose
Wheezing
Has Mouth Open
Laying Down With Tummy On Floor
My cat Bumble was 2 months and 5 days old, he died this morning. Just yesterday he was not his normal self, he refused to eat chicken in the morning but took milk and water during the day. Later on he had a temperature, just laid on the bed awake still meowing when we talked to him. He had his mouth open and had a wheezing sound when breathing then coughed twice. He couldn't walk this morning and as we were preparing to take him to the vet this morning he cried out very loud then just died a few minutes later. There was some pink fluid that came out of his mouth when he died and bubbles out of the nose. We still don't know what was wrong and now he's gone just when we were taking him to the vet....
Breathing Difficulties Average Cost
From 329 quotes ranging from $500 - $4,000
Average Cost
$1,000
Get a free pet insurance quote in less than 60 seconds!
Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
