Can a cat be unfit??

[PosiePootlePerkins]

My tabby girl loves her food and doesn't like to go outside too much. She is 3 and a half but only little. She does love chasing feather toys inside but I have noticed that after a while she flops down and starts breathing heavily. Not panting, just fairly rapid chest movements.
Could this just be a sign of being a bit unfit? Or do you think it warrants a visit to the vets?
She is otherwise in good health and seems to be very content with life in general.

[Wolfiefan]

Worth a vet check. I would want a heart issue ruling out.

[PosiePootlePerkins]

My old girl had a heart murmur and used to have the heavy sucking in of her chest, I guess it could be that, would it just suddenly present though? Oh crap I don't want her to be poorly

[PosiePootlePerkins]

Both cats had a health check when we adopted them in January and were both declared to be in good health.

[thecatneuterer]

I think it warrants a vet visit.

[iloveuihateu]

I've never seen that with any of my (many) cats. Not even my old boy. I would definitely get vet checked if only to put your mind at rest.

[PosiePootlePerkins]

Ok thank you. Will ring the vets in the morning.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Ours is a sprinter as opposed to a marathon runner.

[PosiePootlePerkins]

Yes she does charge around after a toy like a loony, then needs to rest.

[Wolfiefan]

It could be as simple as some kind of allergy. But worth a check at least. Hope she's ok.

[GreyStars]

My little one goes utterly mental and then can end up a bit tachy, but I think it's more because she has been watching The Flash and fancies herself as a superhero bombs around like a crazy thing.

I did take her to the vets as my older cat has a heart murmur, and seemed similar but older cat has more laboured breathing alongside the murmur. Little cat has had the all clear and it was worth the vet visit just for my peace of mind.

I hope she's ok it's awful when they are so poorly, old cat is such a trooper, on about life 25 I think it causes me more distress than her at times!

[PosiePootlePerkins]

Thanks for all the quick replies. I'll let you know how we get on.

[PosiePootlePerkins]

Thanks GreyStars that's reassuring to hear your experience. She seems so well in herself, she's such a character. Our old girl did eventually go into chronic heart failure and that's when we had to have her pts, but she was 18 and lived a lovely long life.
Thanks again everyone

[GreyStars]

Sorry to hear about your poor cat, it's just so difficult when they are so poorly, I wish they could talk to you sometimes.

Much the same with little cat, no obvious signs of anything wrong I just have always had very lazy ones I think, and because of big cat was concerned more than most. I think it's worth a quick trip to the vet even if they ignore you for a while after!

[GreyStars]

Oops hit post

Hope to hear good news soon

[PosiePootlePerkins]

Thank you

[squeak10]

One of my gang was diagnosed with a heart murmur when he was younge, 12 now healthy and active as a kitten. Hope your fur ball ok x

[PosiePootlePerkins]

Thanks squeak I will ring the vets today and make an appointment.

[PosiePootlePerkins]

Just a quick update, rang the vets and DH took her this afternoon, no sign of a murmur or anything else obvious. Apparently there is a condition which may affect her at a later date called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) but the vet doesn't think she's showing symptoms of it. So she may need a scan and treatment in the future but no action needed at present.
Thanks for all the helpful advice and good wishes I really appreciate it.

[Wolfiefan]

Hoping she stays fit and well OP.

[PosiePootlePerkins]

Thanks wolfie