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My cat is breathing fast — what now?

Open-mouth breathing is never normal in a cat. Judge it by how much effort you can see, and count the breaths while the cat is completely still or asleep.

First, how urgent is this?

Go now

Open-mouth breathing, a stretched-out neck, or obvious belly effort.
40 breaths a minute or more at rest or asleep.
Visible effort to breathe while resting.
Pale or white gums.
Sudden hind-leg paralysis, with cold back legs.

Contact your vet today

30 breaths a minute or more, repeatedly, while asleep.
5 breaths a minute or more above the cat's own baseline.
Coughing, weight loss or a falling appetite at the same time.
A cat with known heart disease or a murmur, breathing faster than usual.

Record and observe

Brief panting after play, a trip out or hot weather, settling with rest, with normal activity otherwise.
Already under vet care: count under the same conditions each day (asleep or completely still), and bring the numbers to the next visit.

Before you set off

Count while asleep or completely still: watch the chest for half a minute, then double it.
Take several readings in a row, with the date, time and what the cat was doing.
Film the breathing, especially the belly movement and posture.
A list of medicines and the time of the last dose.
Do not let the cat exercise or be picked up and held; do not give human medicine.

What your vet may ask and do

Ask: when the fast breathing started, and how it differs asleep versus active.
Ask: any coughing, open-mouth breathing or fainting.
Ask: any history of a murmur, heart disease or fluid around the lungs.
Do: listen to heart and lungs, and grade the breathing effort.
Do: heart ultrasound for the muscle and the atria.
Do: X-rays or ultrasound for chest fluid and lung water.
Do: oxygen, diuretics and admission where needed.

Where to go in Hong Kong

Call the clinic before you drive over, to confirm tonight's arrangements and the location.