Cats rarely experience panting, and sometimes your panting cat may be suffering from a serious illness. Therefore, to determine how to act if your cat is panting, it is quintessential that you first know all the reasons.
Cats pant due to overheating, playing in a warm environment for a long time, or due to stress. Other serious reasons why your cat is panting include early signs of diseases such as asthma, respiratory infection, heartworm, or even congestive heart failure.
Panting in cats is not common and you should immediately look out for signs that are causing panting and contact your veterinarian if necessary. Below we will discuss the main causes of panting in cats and other factors associated with panting.
How does the condition manifest?
In cats, periods of increased activity are usually followed by apathy and drowsiness. It is difficult for owners to understand why and at what exact moments this happens. Therefore, a situation where a cat is lethargic, hardly eats and sleeps a lot, is alarming.
The owner should clearly know that poor appetite and less active behavior do not always indicate an animal illness. And the veterinarian is sometimes unable to understand why the cat is lethargic. The observations of an attentive and loving owner are extremely important here.
The main signs of cat health, in addition to good appetite and good spirits, are:
- shiny and smooth coat;
- pink and slightly moistened mucous membranes;
- cold and slightly damp nose (normally, during sleep it can become warm and dry);
- pulse, respiratory rate and temperature are within normal limits;
- absence of excessive discharge from the eyes, ears and nose, plaque in the mouth, salivation and unpleasant odor from the mouth and ears.
It is important! The normal duration of rest for a cat per day is 12-14 hours or more.
Features of the respiratory system of kittens
The respiratory system of a kitten is not too different from a human:
1. Inhalation: the lungs inflate, due to which air is drawn through the nose, where it is warmed and filtered, passes through the pharynx into the larynx, from there into the trachea, then into the bronchi and lungs.
2. From the lungs, oxygen enters the blood and is distributed throughout the cells of the whole body.
3. Exhale: the diaphragm relaxes, nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide are removed from the bronchi.
In addition to supplying the blood with oxygen, breathing performs the function of thermoregulation by removing excess fluid.
The respiratory rate of adults is on average 30 inhalations and exhalations per minute, in kittens it is approximately 40-50. Moreover, this indicator is approximate and unstable; it depends on many factors, both the environment and the internal state of the animal.
Possible causes of lethargy in healthy animals
Often there are reasons why a cat is lethargic, sleeps all the time and eats little, but it is better to understand each of them in order.
Stress
It is not uncommon for a cat to eat poorly and sleep a lot after a serious nervous shock.
Cats are very sensitive animals, so they have many causes of stress:
- travel by car;
- the arrival of a new family member or pet in the house;
- change of owner;
- repair or rearrangement of the house;
- visit to the veterinarian;
- change of place of residence by owners;
- lack of attention from the owner;
- pain;
- recent surgery;
- visit of guests;
- bathing and other hygiene procedures;
- changes in daily routine;
- the appearance of new and unusual objects in the house;
- first time on the street.
Usually cats cope with this situation quite well without medical help, but they really need the support of their beloved owner. However, in some particularly susceptible cats, stress lasts for quite a long time and can even be harmful to health.
The main physiological signs of nervous shock in a cat:
- urinary incontinence;
- rapid breathing;
- diarrhea or constipation;
- increased cleanliness (a cat can lick itself until bald spots appear on its fur and irritation on the skin);
- yawning too often;
- urinating in inappropriate places (the cat is marking its territory).
It is important! If, as a result of stress, the cat’s behavior does not return to normal for a long time, it is better to show the animal to a doctor. After all, nervous shocks can negatively affect his health and lead to the development of diabetes, skin diseases and disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular, digestive and genitourinary systems.
Change of feed
Often the cause of a lethargic state and refusal to eat is a change in diet (for example, switching from natural food to ready-made food and vice versa).
In this situation, you should return the cat to its previous food and treat it with some treat. Then the restoration of appetite and a cheerful state will occur very quickly.
Hot weather
Cats do not have sweat glands. They do not know how to cool themselves by opening their mouths, like dogs. Therefore, in the heat, to protect themselves from overheating, furry pets try to lie more in cool places. In addition, they begin to eat less so as not to waste energy on burning calories received with food.
Age
Over time, many owners begin to worry that their once active and nimble cat has become lethargic, eating almost nothing and lying around all the time. This is easy to explain: older cats no longer have as much energy for play; they sleep longer and more soundly than young animals.
If an elderly pet is lethargic, eats without appetite and sleeps a lot, but at the same time drinks water and has the above signs of a healthy cat, then there is no need to worry. However, an older cat should be regularly taken to the veterinarian for examinations to prevent the development of diseases.
Kittens spend almost 90% of the day sleeping until they reach two months of age. If the kitten is lethargic, plays little and eats poorly during periods of wakefulness, then the best solution is a trip to the veterinarian.
It is important! The maximum duration of healthy fasting for kittens is 1 day, for young cats and middle-aged pets – 3 days, and for “old people” – 2 days. If after this time the cat still does not start eating, you need to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Pregnancy
In the early stages of pregnancy, many cats, like people, suffer from toxicosis. They become lethargic, try to move less and more carefully, sleep more and often refuse to feed.
If a cat was mated 3-4 weeks before this condition, then after another 5-6 weeks you can expect an addition to the cat family.
Types of burns of ENT organs
Like any others, they are divided according to severity - from the first with minor damage to the severe fourth, up to tissue necrosis. The nature of the injuries depends on the temperature and concentration of the substance, as well as the time of contact with it.
Depending on the injured area, damage can be external, internal or combined. In the first case, the skin of the outer ear and wings of the nose is affected. In case of internal lesions, the nasopharynx, trachea, throat and larynx, and auditory canal are affected.
Taking into account the source, thermal and chemical injuries are distinguished. In the first case, the cause is contact with open fire, boiling water, hot oil, hot metal, etc. Chemical burns are more common. They occur if you swallow an acid or alkali, or inhale their vapors. They occur upon contact with aggressive household chemicals, vinegar essence, and ammonia.
Possible pathological conditions
If the cat has been lethargic for several days, sleeps a lot, drinks and eats poorly, and can barely walk, the owner should under no circumstances let the situation take its course. Such a condition in the pet’s body most likely signals the development of a serious disease. The cat must be shown to a doctor in the next few hours.
Anemia
Anemia occurs when a cat's body produces less red blood cells and hemoglobin.
In addition to the fact that with anemia, a cat is lethargic and sad, it also exhibits other signs of this unpleasant disease:
- the nose becomes lighter;
- mucous membranes acquire a bluish tint;
- blood pressure decreases;
- the pulse is sometimes rapid, sometimes rare;
- breathing accelerates, shortness of breath appears;
- the fur becomes dull and may fall out;
- clear discharge appears from the nose.
Diseases of the cardiovascular system
If the cat eats poorly and constantly sleeps, is lethargic, tries to walk less - these may be signs of the development of a disease of the cardiovascular system.
Your pet may be bothered by fluctuations in blood pressure.
It is important! Normally, blood pressure in cats can “jump” from 105/65 to 135/95 mmHg.
With high blood pressure, furry couch potatoes experience:
- lethargy;
- decreased vision (while moving, the cat may bump into furniture and other objects);
- rapid pulse;
- dilated pupils;
- redness of the eyes;
- sometimes vomiting;
- in some cases - nosebleeds.
With low blood pressure, the pet refuses to eat due to nausea, sleeps a lot, its pulse slows down, and the cat may even lose consciousness.
In acute heart failure, the animal is also lethargic, its breathing becomes difficult, shortness of breath and bluish discharge from the nose appear.
An important symptom of the development of heart disease in a cat is its characteristic posture in a relaxed state. She usually stands with her front legs spread wide. This makes it easier for her to breathe.
Gastrointestinal diseases
Often the cause of a pet's lethargic and sleepy state and his refusal to eat are diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
With gastrointestinal pathologies, a cat may exhibit symptoms:
- bloating;
- stools that are very dark, almost black, or mixed with blood and mucus;
- belching;
- constipation;
- flatulence.
Diseases of the urinary system
The development of urinary system diseases in cats, in addition to a lethargic state and lack of appetite, is accompanied by symptoms:
- too frequent or infrequent urination, or its complete absence;
- constant pain when urinating;
- the appearance of blood or pus in the urine;
- sweetish smell from the mouth;
- lower back pain;
- extremely unpleasant odor of urine.
To reduce pain at least a little, the animal lies down almost all the time, does not drink or eat.
It is important! If your pet has a blockage in the urethra, without medical attention he may die within 3 days.
Infectious diseases
In many cases, a cat’s lethargic behavior, refusal to feed and staying in almost constant sleep indicate an infectious disease.
Such diseases are extremely dangerous for cats and require immediate medical attention. The owner must remember that the life of his pet is literally counted in minutes.
The most dangerous infectious diseases that cause cats to become very lethargic are:
- Leptospirosis: Caused by the bacterium Leptospira. The disease affects almost all cat organs and is very dangerous for humans;
- Calcivirosis is a viral disease that affects the respiratory tract. It occurs mainly in cats under 2 years of age, but sometimes in older individuals;
- FIV is feline viral immunodeficiency: an extremely dangerous disease that affects the immune and nervous systems. Only representatives of the cat family, including wild representatives, can become infected with it;
- Panleukopenia (popularly called feline distemper) is a deadly disease that develops very quickly. It affects the cardiovascular, digestive and respiratory systems of the cat and is accompanied by intoxication of the entire body;
- herpes virus infection (another name is rhinotracheitis): caused by the feline herpes virus. Affects the respiratory and visual organs. If the animal is weakened by other diseases and does not receive proper treatment, the infection can lead to death.
The main signs of a cat becoming infected with a dangerous infection:
- lethargy and apathy;
- lack of appetite;
- high body temperature (above 40°C);
It is important! Normal body temperature in adult cats is 38-39°C, in small kittens – 38-39.6°C, in sphinxes – 38-41.5°C.
- labored breathing;
- cough and wheezing;
- vomit;
- foul, greenish diarrhea;
- bloody discharge from the mouth, nose, ears, eyes;
- soreness in some parts of the body.
Intoxication
Poisoning of the body (intoxication) in cats, in addition to lethargy and refusal to eat, is indicated by:
- diarrhea;
- vomit;
- increased salivation;
- increase or decrease in body temperature;
- redness or blueness of mucous membranes;
- constant feeling of thirst;
- convulsions and so on.
If you suspect poisoning, you should try to induce vomiting in the cat so that the body can at least partially get rid of toxins, and then take it to the veterinarian.
However, if more than 2.5 hours have passed since the poisoning, it is better to transport the pet to a veterinary hospital as soon as possible. After all, during this time, toxic substances have already spread throughout the circulatory system throughout the body.
In order to protect your furry pets from intoxication, you need to know its main causes:
- stale or poor quality food;
- contaminated drinking water;
- bites of snakes and poisonous insects;
- helminth infection;
- bacterial and viral infections;
- violation of hygiene rules when keeping animals;
- eating poisonous plants, fertilizers, chemicals;
- uncontrolled use of medications;
- individual intolerance to certain components of feed, hygiene products, etc.;
- exposure to toxic fumes from paint and varnish products.
Parasites
The cause of lethargic behavior and drowsiness can be a cat’s infection with external and internal parasites (fleas, ticks, worms).
Flea and tick bites cause itching and pain in cats. As a result, due to constant scratching, wounds appear on the skin, and the hair begins to fall out.
A cat with ear mites often shakes its head and scratches its ears, in which a lot of wax with an unpleasant odor can be found.
Cats infected with worms are often lethargic. Other signs of the disease:
- bowel disorder (diarrhea or constipation);
- vomit;
- itching and irritation in the anal area;
- temperature increase;
- bloating;
- the presence of eggs and particles of worms in the feces.
If external or internal parasites are detected in your pet, you need to begin exterminating them as soon as possible. The veterinarian will prescribe the medications.
The fight against parasites is very important, because they are quickly transmitted to both other animals and humans.
Other pathologies
In addition to the listed pathological conditions of cats, accompanied by lethargy, drowsiness and loss of appetite, the following painful conditions also occur:
- disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system.
For example, after sterilization or childbirth due to hormonal imbalance, cats become lethargic and inactive.
Pets suffering from diabetes also do not want to move too much. In addition, such cats are constantly thirsty, eat a lot or very little, and often go to the toilet. They experience weight fluctuations, their vision deteriorates, their stomach enlarges, their muscles weaken;
- oncological diseases.
One of their symptoms in cats is a lethargic state. Changes in the pet’s well-being are clearly visible: the cat hardly eats, lies down all the time, vomits, and experiences internal bleeding. Such animals have very unpleasant breath, and upon visual examination, swelling and ulcers can be detected on the body;
- diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Even an inexperienced owner can easily recognize them. With arthritis, dislocations, sprains, osteochondrosis, fractures and other problems, animals become lethargic, try to eat and move less. Cats' affected joints swell, they limp, rarely sharpen their claws and wash themselves. All movements cause them pain;
- complications after surgery.
Usually, in the first three days after the intervention, cats are very lethargic. This condition, in the presence of appetite and thirst, is considered normal.
But, if the animal’s temperature rises, blood or pus begins to ooze from the wound, vomiting or constipation often occurs - you need to contact the clinic as soon as possible. After all, these can be dangerous symptoms of suture dehiscence or suppuration, or the formation of a hernia.
What will the veterinarian do if the kitten is breathing heavily?
When a kitten is seen by a veterinarian due to rapid breathing, specialists usually carry out the following procedures:
— Questioning the owner about the time when rapid breathing was noticed, the presence or absence of associated problems and possible natural causes.
— Visual examination of the animal, during which the doctor determines whether the body is dehydrated, what condition the mucous membranes are in, etc.
— Temperature measurement.
— Detection of helminthic infestation.
— Prescribing the necessary additional laboratory tests. For example, a blood test to rule out anemia or infectious diseases.
— Referral for an ultrasound or x-ray if there is a suspicion of heart disease or other internal organs.
— A puncture of the chest wall (thoracentesis), which allows you to determine whether there is excess air or fluid in the chest cavity. Used only in extreme cases.
