Breathing Patterns

Cats are super subtle, and will often mask signs of illness by changing their activity and behaviour in order to cope.

This can make it hard to spot changes to their breathing until things are really serious.

Here are some things to look for to know if your cat’s breathing is normal.

How fast are they breathing?

Count how many breaths your cat takes in a minute.

The faster your cat is breathing the more likely it is that there’s a problem.

Normal respiratory rate for a relaxed cat is less than 30 breaths per minute, often as low as 12-16.

If your cat is breathing faster than this, especially if they are taking over 40 breaths per minute then they are struggling.

Get them to the vet.

Increased Effort

When breathing normally a cat’s chest and belly will not move much.

If your cat’s belly or chest is moving in and out a lot with their breathing, then they are having to work
too hard to breathe.

Get them to the vet.

Flaring Nostrils

When a cat is working too hard to breathe then the nostrils may flare with each breath.

This movement is small so you may have too look closely.

Open Mouth

Cats do not breath through their mouth unless they are struggling.

If you see your cat breathing through their mouth, or appearing to pant like a dog, then this is not normal.

Keep them calm and get them to the vet.

Causes of Respiratory Signs

• Infection.
  
  There are lots of viruses, bacteria and other infections that can cause respiratory disease in cats.
  
  They can range from mild to severe.
  
  Other signs of a respiratory infection include sneezing, watery or sticky eyes, runny nose, sore gums or mouth, reduced appetite and lethargy.
  
• Asthma.
  
  Cats can get asthma or bronchitis which may make them cough, struggle to catch their breath, or breathe with their mouth open.
  
  Sometimes this may be triggered by exercise, or it may seem to come on out of nowhere. It may be
  seasonal or year round.
  
  Feline bronchitis is usually treated with a combination of steroids +/- airway relaxers. These are best given with a puffer similar to those used by people with asthma.
  
• Heart Disease.
  
  When a cat’s heart is not working as it should then fluid can build up in their chest or lungs.
  
  This can cause severe respiratory distress which needs treatment quickly to save the cat’s life.
  
• Cancer.
  
  Tumours in the chest can affect a cat’s breathing, either by taking up too much space, or causing dangerous fluid to collect in the chest.
  
• Anaemia.
  
  This refers to a low level of red blood cells in the body.
  
  Red blood cells carry oxygen to the parts of the body, so if their numbers fall then your cat’s breathing may change in order to compensate.

OTHER signs to look for…

• Sleeping more
• Hiding
• Eating less
• Resting in strange places
• Runny Eyes
• Lying in strange positions
• Runny nose
• Sore mouth
  
  REMEMBER- cats are masters of deceit, so it may not be obvious if they are unwell.
  
  If something seems not quite right, contact your vet.

VET’S TIP!

Know what is NORMAL

One of the best ways to know if your cat’s breathing isn’t right is to know what’s normal for them.

Look at your cat the next time they are resting nearby.

Count how many breaths they take in a minute, look at how much their chest and belly move with each breath, look at their nostrils.

If you look at this regularly then it will be easier to spot when something’s not right