You may have noticed your cat panting once in a while, especially if you take him to the vet. Does it mean he is feeling hot? Or are there other reasons for this?
Dogs usually pant to regulate their body temperature, as they do not have sweat glands unlike us humans. They may also pant when they are excited.
Cats do not breathe through their mouths, thus, when they pant, they tend to make a weird face and loud noises.
Let's discuss the common reasons for this.
1. It's the Heat
Panting is a common symptom of heatstroke in cats. Cats can overheat if they are left in a hot environment, such as a locked car or in poor ventilation.
2. Stress / Anxiety
Please, for your cat's sake, do not take him out of the carrier during a vet's visit unless it's his turn to see the vet in the consult room. Cats get extremely stressed in new environments and many cat owners who do this think that their cat is panting because of the hot weather. No, it's because they are stressed being taken out of the house and into an environment that smells of other animals and weird medications.
3. Respiratory issues
If a cat is having trouble breathing, he may start to breathe open mouth to try to get more oxygen into his body. This can be a sign of an underlying health problem, such as asthma, bronchitis, etc.
4. Heart issues
Your cat may also be having heart issues if he pants after playing or running around. Congestive heart failure may also cause a build up of fluids around the lungs (pleural effusion) or abdomen (ascites), causing breathing difficulties.
5. Anemia
If your cat is anemic, i.e. having low red blood cell count, he may start panting as the body is not receiving sufficient oxygen supply since oxygen is carried through the body via the red blood cells.
6. Pain / Discomfort
Cats are masters of hiding pain, however, panting may be a sign that he is trying to deal or push through the pain. It may be accompanied by drooling, lack of appetite, lethargy, purring, etc.
Monitor your cat closely and bring him to the vet in a timely manner to seek proper treatment.
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