Breathing difficulties (dyspnea) in cats

Symptoms of breathing difficulties in cats

Your cat may display one or more of the following symptoms:

• Laboured breathing – and you may notice that your cat is taking in extra air when inhaling or exhaling
• Their chest moves more than normal – and you may be able to notice their abnormal muscles more than usual
• Their nostrils dilate to get air in and out of their lungs
• Breathing with its mouth open
• Trying to facilitate breathing by lying on its chest, stretching its next or sitting up

The symptoms of breathing difficulties can come on slowly or suddenly. Take your cat to the vet immediately if you suspect it is experiencing breathing difficulties.

What is a normal respiratory rate for cats?

Your cat’s normal breathing rate at rest should be between 12-30 breaths per minute, if it’s healthy.

When your cat is breathing normally, its chest and abdominal wall will move inwards and outwards at the same time.

A cat breathing at a normal respiratory rate has its mouth closed, normal body posture and doesn’t dilate its nostrils.

Causes of breathing difficulties in cats

• Heart failure, and fluid or air in the chest can prevent the lungs from expanding properly, leading to breathing difficulties
• Tumours, asthma (https://www.agriapet.co.uk/guides-and-advice/asthma-in-cats/), deformities can also cause breathing difficulties
• Severe upper respiratory infection
• Cats with narrow nostrils and a narrow nasal cavity are more at risk of breathing difficulties when they have issues affecting their respiratory tract
• Stress and medical illness, like anaemia and hyperthyroidism

Treatment of breathing difficulties in cats

A vet will provide emergency treatment – giving the cat oxygen, and sometimes sedation to help stabilise them with minimal stress.

Your vet will then conduct further investigations to determine the underlying cause. They may do an ultrasound of the chest cavity, heart and lungs to identify if there are any causes here. If they suspect an upper respiratory tract disease, they will sedate your cat for further inspection.

Fluids are given to treat heart failure, or if fluid is found in the chest cavity, the vet will empty and drain the fluid. To treat asthma, air-dilating medication (bronchodilator) and cortisone are given.

Sometimes cats breathe with their mouths open when they’re stressed

Some cats become stressed when traveling by car or when they are taken to the vet. They may hiss or breathe with their mouths open. However, this does not necessarily mean that they have breathing problems. Give your cat to calm down if you notice this happen in these scenarios. Keep an eye on your cat to determine whether they need to be taken to the vets for suspected breathing difficulties.

FAQs about breathing difficulties in cats