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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cat breathing fast

72 replies

PriamFarrl · 19/02/2023 16:43

My little girl seems in fine health in all other respects. She’s an outdoor cat and had been happily running around the garden today. She had been under the vet for urinary issues but it seems to be under control now.

The problem is that she is breathing really fast. I only noticed this yesterday evening (after the vet had closed obviously). She’s sat with me right now, fast asleep and looking really comfortable but breathing like she’s purring.

Im going to call the vet tomorrow but should this be a case for the emergency vet?

Cat breathing fast
OP posts:
PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 19/02/2023 17:56

Is she eating and toileting normally at the moment?

Whoknowswhatanymore · 19/02/2023 17:58

I would get her checked out ASAP.

Whenlifegivesyoulemons123 · 19/02/2023 18:19

Hello @PriamFarrl - what a beautiful cat! Please take your kitty to get checked out of hours. I’ve had cats all my life. They are the great pretenders in terms of masking illness/pain. Often by the time it’s showing, it’s at its worst. Although your cat look contented, please get things checked so you know what’s going on. It could be something as mild as asthma (which can be managed) or something else but best to know. Take some counts of how many breaths your cat takes a minute when sleeping (not awake or active). You can use the Cardalis app to do this (says it’s for dogs but can be used for cats). The breath count will help the vet.

Original poster
PriamFarrl · 19/02/2023 18:34

She’s happy and running around, toileting normally but she has been coughing, which isn’t like her.

I want to go to out of hours but DH doesn’t.

OP posts:
Whenlifegivesyoulemons123 · 19/02/2023 18:37

I’d take her if I was you. Hope she’s ok.

Whenlifegivesyoulemons123 · 19/02/2023 18:38

(and have done in the past in the same situation) but then I view animals as another child and work on the premise on if it was one of my children, what would I do? I appreciate not everything thinks that way!

Original poster
PriamFarrl · 19/02/2023 19:05

I’ve spoken to the emergency vet who had a look at her (video call). She said to take her in tomorrow but to go to the out of hours vet if she gets any worse.

OP posts:
Whoknowswhatanymore · 19/02/2023 19:34

That’s good then. Just keep an eye on her and hope everything will be okay, I know how worrying and stressful it is when your beloved pets are not themselves.

LadyVictoriaSponge · 19/02/2023 19:38

The same thing happened with my dog, fast breathing and coughing, turns out she has Mitral valve disease, the coughing was a build up of fluid on her lungs, she is on heart medication now and the disease has been under control for over 12 months now. I hope your cat gets better soon.

Original poster
PriamFarrl · 19/02/2023 20:43

Thanks for your support all.

OP posts:
Original poster
PriamFarrl · 20/02/2023 07:09

Quick update. She spent all night curled up on DH, she normally sleeps on the sofa.
This morning she seems right as rain. No fast breathing at all.

OP posts:
PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 20/02/2023 07:43

That's great to hear, OP. I hope she continues well.

Aldisfinest · 20/02/2023 07:48

I would still get her checked out OP, like a pp said cats are very good at masking illness so while she may seem fine, there could be something else going on. I hope all is well.

Original poster
PriamFarrl · 20/02/2023 08:49

I’ll give the vet a call and try to get her booked in for after work.

OP posts:
LilLilLi · 20/02/2023 10:27

Please still take her to get checked.

My kitten passed away recently - I noticed her breathing rapidly, took her to the emergent vets where she was kept in but unfortunately died hours later. It was linked to another (rare and usually non fatal) illness she was having treatment for, this caused a blood clot that ultimately killed her. I’m certain your cat is absolutely fine, but rapid breathing is a red flag symptom in cats and should always be checked x

LilLilLi · 20/02/2023 10:27

Emergency*

Original poster
PriamFarrl · 20/02/2023 18:19

Sat in the vets. I’m glad I pushed to bring her in. She has fluid on her lungs and an enlarged chamber in her heart. She’s having an ultrasound at the moment and they want to bring her back in as soon as for a chest X-ray.

OP posts:
Datafan55 · 20/02/2023 18:35

Wishing you and your lovely looking cat all the best.
Glad she's at the vets.

Original poster
PriamFarrl · 20/02/2023 18:46

She is my beautiful baby girl. So glad I brought her in.

OP posts:
Phos · 20/02/2023 18:57

That was my boy’s diagnosis a few years ago. We were given medication to help with the fluid build up and other meds for his heart.

Emmamoo89 · 20/02/2023 18:57

Hope she's okay x

LadyVictoriaSponge · 20/02/2023 19:00

Hopefully they will give her diuretics for the fluid on her lungs and heart medication to keep things under control, really hope she feels better soon.

CatAssTrophic · 20/02/2023 19:20

One of mine had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and was on diuretics for several years, he lived a normal life, the dose is adjusted according to need.

CatAssTrophic · 20/02/2023 19:24

He had a diuretic twice a day and ACE inhibitor once a day for about 6 /7 years.

FlowerArranger · 20/02/2023 19:33

This happened to my kitty 30 odd years ago. She was on diuretics and (I think) a calcium antagonist for many years (no ACE inhibitors in those days...). She had a near normal life despite her problems and lived to be 14, which was a good/average age in those days.

I hope everything works out for your little girl, @PriamFarrl 💐