Adopted a one year old cat, she’s high energy, loves playing, gets the zoomies and flies about the house and on a few occasions I’ve noticed her open mouth panting briefly. I’ve noticed sometimes she seems to breathe fast whilst resting (I counted her breaths and this was about 40 breaths per min, but other times has been in normal range). Eating and toileting fine.
I did wonder if it was her being new and feeling anxious, along with exertion - she’s a rescue so has been in a tiny pen for a while, I assume without opportunities to run about. And hadn’t noticed her doing it over the last week, but in the heat today after she was playing and racing around the house she was panting. She’s indoor only still whilst settling in. Our house is v hot - especially as we can’t really open the windows properly so she doesn’t scape. Several water bowls dotted about and I’ve been adding water to her food (which she drinks).
Going to speak to vet as worried - could this be a heart problem? She only recently was spayed under anaesthetic, would this have been picked up?
Or could this be normal behaviour in the context (young cat, a bit highly strung and maybe anxious, heatwave)?