Panting Cat

A panting cat is not a common sight to observe, though you may have observed the same in dogs. This is the reason that panting in cats makes an owner nervous. Panting cat will usually have its tongue sticking out, taking shallow breaths that are slow and rapid with an open mouth. Panting in cats is not usually considered to be a normal cat behavior. However, it is common to see a cat panting after it plays a lot, when in stress or even when the cat is frightened. Panting may be normal for your cat, but in some cases, it may be a sign of serious cardiac disease or metabolic problems.

Causes of Panting in Cats
Panting cat may be termed as a normal behavior in a young cat that gets all pumped up after a rough play. Sometimes, extreme heat and humidity may lead to panting in cats. Cats do not sweat like humans to dispel heat and have small surface areas on their pads and skin of the ears for evaporation. Panting in cats is a way of lowering the cat's body heat, if the cat is overheated. Cats do not normally over exert themselves, when the temperatures outside soar. Thus, a panting cat is not a common sight to observe. If you see your cat panting on a hot day, you need to check the color of their tongue. A normal pink color tongue indicates, the cat is overheated. However, if the tongue is dark or blue in color, it means you need to seek veterinary help. Other serious causes of a panting cat are as follows:

Respiratory Problems
A panting cat may indicate upper respiratory problems like blocked nasal passages or an abnormal growth in the nose or pharynx. In case of lower respiratory tract, there may be problems with inadequate gas exchange, pulmonary edema and even asthma.

Cardiovascular Disorder
There may be many cardiac diseases that may cause panting in cats. These disorders include heartworm, thrombosis or even stroke. The lungs may be affected with pulmonary embolism.

Neurological Problems
Head trauma, brain tumors, respiratory muscles dysfunction may lead to neurological problems that may be indicated by panting in cat as one of the symptoms.

Other Health Problems
Anemia, carbon monoxide poisoning or blood diseases may cause panting in cats. Other causes may include abdominal pressure built up in a pregnant cat, fluid in abdomen, drug poisoning, etc.

When to Worry About a Panting Cat?
When you observe a panting cat, you need to look for signs of coughing, breathing difficulty and blue color of the mucus membranes. Also, you should worry if your cat is having a poor appetite, losing weight, drinks excessive water, vomits, has diarrhea and even suffers from fatigue. In case you see a cat panting after play, exercise, fear, excitement or heat, you need to give the cat some time to relax. If the panting continues after some time, you should seek medical help.

Panting Cat Treatment
The vet may advise strict rest and oxygen therapy to the cat, before the test results come in. The diagnosis of panting in cats may be done with blood chemistry, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, etc. Sometimes, the vet may recommend an echocardiogram to be conducted for diagnosing cardiovascular disease like HCM. It also helps the cardiologist or radiologists to visualize the heart, valve function, thickness of the wall and possible clot formation.

Treatment of panting in cats may include IV therapy in case of fluid loss due to diarrhea, blood transfusion in severe anemia, antibiotics in case of infection and anti-inflammatory drugs in case of inflammation. After the test results, the vet will decide the line of treatment according to reports depending on your cat health.

A panting cat after play, pain, fear, heat or even excitement may be termed as normal. However, if you cannot find any of these events as the cause of panting in cats, speak to your vet. Observe your cat for a while and if her condition does not improve, seek medical intervention. Keep the cat in a cool environment and do not allow it to over exert itself. With proper cat care, your cat will be able to overcome its health problems and recover soon.

DISCLAIMER
The information offered on this site is not to be used as a substitute for professional veterinary prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. The reader is advised to consult with a veterinarian before taking any home remedies, supplements or following any treatment advised by anyone on this site. A veterinarian will be able to provide the reader with advice that is safe and effective for an individual pet's specific needs and diagnose a particular health problem based on the pet's medical history.