Your cat might breathe faster than usual for a few minutes after an intense playtime session, but cats shouldn’t breathe rapidly for no apparent reason. Continuous rapid breathing (tachypnea) in cats, especially while sleeping, may point to health conditions like asthma and heart disease.
In some cases, rapid breathing and panting can also happen as a sign of anxiety or stress. But whatever the cause, unusual breathing in cats is something to pay attention to. If your cat begins to pant or take short, rapid breaths, it’s a good idea to call your vet right away.
Below, find out how to measure your cat’s breathing at home so you can tell the difference between normal and rapid feline breathing. We’ll also cover the health conditions that can cause rapid breathing in cats.
What Is A Normal Breathing Rate For Cats?
Cats at rest take anywhere from 16 to 40 breaths per minute. If they’re actively playing or stressed out, they may take up to 30 or 40 breaths per minute, but this rate should drop back down once their excitement fizzles out.
While resting or sleeping, your cat may breathe even more slowly (they may also snore). As a general rule, the fewer breaths they take per minute, the better. Some cats may even take fewer than 15 breaths per minute, or one breath every four seconds. That’s absolutely fine, as long as your cat is otherwise healthy.
How to work out your cat’s breathing rate
To calculate how many times your cat breathes per minute, count the number of breaths they take in 30 seconds while resting or asleep. An inhale and exhale counts as one breath. Then, multiply the number of breaths taken by two.
For example: (13 breaths in 30 seconds) x (2) = 26 breaths per minute.
This may seem like a low number to you, but it’s a perfectly normal breathing rate for cats.
If you’d like to get a baseline on your cat’s breathing rate, you can use this formula to check their typical breathing rate when they’re in good health. Then, if you ever have concerns, you can compare any changes in their breathing with what’s typical for them.
Why Is My Cat Breathing Fast While Resting?
Rapid breathing, or tachypnea, usually happens when a cat has an underlying health issue. With tachypnea, you’ll notice your cat’s stomach and chest rising and falling much more rapidly than usual.
Dr Jamie Whittenburg, medical director at Cat-World.com and Kingsgate Animal Hospital, says fast breathing can be a result of excitement, a warning sign of overheating, or an indication of a chronic condition, depending on a few factors.
She emphasises that fast breathing occurring at an abnormal time, like when resting, is an emergency—even more so if your cat is breathing with their mouth open. “Open-mouth, rapid breathing in cats can easily and quickly be fatal,” she says.
Conditions that can cause rapid breathing in cats include:
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection that affects the lungs and airways. Ultimately, it causes difficulty breathing and a lack of oxygen in the blood.
If your cat has pneumonia—specifically, aspiration pneumonia—you may notice some of the following signs:
- coughing
- increased heart rate
- bluish mucous membranes (the tissue lining their mouth)
- airway spasms
- fever
Other types of pneumonia, like fungal pneumonia, can also affect your cat’s ability to breathe. If your cat coughs, wheezes, or seems to have trouble breathing, contact your vet right away.
Heart disease and heart failure
Heart disease and heart failure are long-term health concerns that affect your cat’s entire cardiovascular system.
Signs of heart disease in cats include:
- fast, laboured breathing
- panting
- restlessness
- pain
- coughing
- lethargy
- weakness or paralysis in the hind legs
- weight loss
- depression
Fast breathing can be an early sign of developing heart failure. So, if your cat often breathes fast at rest and has additional signs of heart disease, make an appointment with your vet as soon as you can.
Feline asthma
Like humans, cats have allergic reactions that affect their ability to breathe properly. In fact, between 1%–5% of cats have asthma.
In addition to fast breathing, feline asthma may involve:
- difficulty breathing
- open-mouthed breathing
- wheezing
- coughing
- vomiting
If your vet suspects your cat has asthma, they may recommend treatment with corticosteroids to reduce lung inflammation.
Heartworm
Heartworm disease is an infection where heartworms inhabit blood vessels from the heart to the lungs, causing stress throughout the body.
Cats with mature heartworms may experience:
- laboured, rapid breathing
- vomiting
- lethargy
- coughing
- shortness of breath
Because heartworm doesn’t always cause obvious signs of illness, it’s important to consult with a vet who knows your cat’s status and medication history.
Chest conditions
Chest disorders in the pleural cavity, or the space surrounding the lungs within the chest, can make it harder for your cat to breathe.
Examples of chest conditions that affect cats include:
- hydrothorax
- pleural effusion
- chylothorax
- pneumothorax
Hydrothorax, pleural effusion, and chylothorax all involve fluid in the pleural cavity, as well as signs like rapid or laboured breathing and general weakness.
Pneumothorax, on the other hand, is characterised by air in the pleural cavity, which often happens due to trauma. A cat with this condition may experience fast breathing or difficulty inhaling. If your cat struggles to take a breath, it’s best to get them to an emergency vet immediately.
Obesity
Cats who are overweight or obese can have more trouble breathing. Breathing problems can include both laboured breathing (dyspnea) or rapid breathing, due to excess fat and increased pressure on their lungs.
When Is Fast Breathing Not A Medical Symptom?
Fast breathing can also occur when a cat is hot, anxious, or playing hard, Dr Whittenburg says. In these instances, it’s best to tend to your cat’s immediate needs and continue monitoring their breathing to determine whether a vet visit is necessary. Always pay attention to the context of the breathing, Dr Whittenburg advises, and keep your cat’s age and health status in mind.
For instance, you likely won’t need to take them to a vet after playtime. If they’re anxious due to the presence of another pet or a change in their living situation, you can try giving them some space and checking whether their breathing calms.
That said, if your cat coughs, wheezes, or can’t seem to breathe, you’ll want to call your vet right away. And again, open-mouth breathing is a sign of respiratory distress, an emergency that requires immediate vet care.
If you have any concerns about your cat’s breathing, it never hurts to check in with your vet. They can always provide more guidance, based on your cat’s specific health circumstances.
What to Do When Your Cat’s Breathing Fast
If you notice your cat breathing faster than normal, start by checking their breathing rate every hour or so. Monitor their breathing when they sleep and while they’re awake, and take note of any other potential health symptoms you notice.
Get in touch with your vet if their breathing doesn’t slow to a normal rate within a few hours, or if they have any other concerning symptoms, like wheezing. Your vet can order tests to help identify the cause and recommend the right treatment for your cat, based on their symptoms.
