My cat is struggling to breathe and losing weight. What should I do?

Oh dear! Poor Prince. I'm afraid these are very concerning symptoms. This does sound like a life-threatening problem, so I would recommend taking him to an emergency vet tonight to be seen. If this isn't possible, then he needs to see your regular veterinarian first thing in the morning. He will likely need blood work and x-rays to help diagnose the problem and see what can be done to help.

I'm sorry to hear that Midnight is doing so poorly. As Dr. Darvishian mentioned, breathing changes are a medical emergency and should be addressed by an emergency vet right away. It's possible that Midnight's breathing changes, coughing, weight loss, weakness, appetite and drinking changes, and lethargy could be due to congestive heart failure, asthma, cancer, or many other issues. She's likely experiencing restlessness and a loss of appetite because she can't breathe well enough to comfortably lay down or swallow. I strongly recommend taking Midnight to an emergency vet right away. This is not a situation that can be managed at home. I hope that everything goes well.

This is an emergency and you need to take your kitty to a veterinarian or PetER right away. Respiratory distress is very serious and your cat will need a thorough exam, possibly oxygen, and supportive care. He is purring because he is ill and is trying to appease everyone around him. The signs of illness are very unspecific so please take your cat to the ER now.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Mecia is having trouble breathing, she should be seen by a vet immediately as she may require stabilization such as fluids or supplemental oxygen to make her more comfortable. A vet may recommend euthanasia, but no vet will euthanize Mecia without your consent.

Aww poor Thomas! I agree that he looks quite thin. I think you should get him to a veterinarian very soon because it sounds like he make have an upper respiratory infection and need antibiotics. There are many other reasons for weight loss so a vet will also help you determine if it's just a respiratory infection or something more serious. You can try placing Thomas in the bathroom with the shower running because sometimes steam will help reduce mucous and open air says. However, I really think Thomas needs to see a veterinarian soon.

I really think you should video tape her "heavy breathing" so your vet can see it. When you take her in for an exam she is likely not doing the behavior so your vet just sees her as normal. I think the vet seeing the behavior on video will help a lot with diagnosis/recommendations. X-rays of her heart and lungs would be a good idea as any problems with either of those organs can cause breathing issues. Sometimes the problem is not evident with just a physical exam. Finding out the underlying cause for her abnormal breathing is best. Heavy breathing as you have described in not normal in cats. As for helping with weight loss I would say she should be on prescription weight loss diet like Hill's r/d or w/d; you need a prescription from your vet. That being said, if she is 10 pounds as you stated above, then that is a normal weight for most cats. I personally would not be worried about a cat being overweight until the weight is over 13-14#. A cat that is 10# would not have breathing issues due to weight. Are you sure you are not just seeing the flap of skin on the belly that happens after they are spayed? Many people see that and think their cat is overweight. I think you need to discuss this more with your vet.

It sounds like the poor chap is going to pass away so according to the duty of care stated in the animal welfare act you will have to prevent further suffering and take him to your closest veterinary surgery that it’s open. I would not wait any longer. Hope this helps giving you the strength fir making that trip to the vet !