My cat is breathing loudly. When should I worry and call the vet?

Unless your cat is a brachycephalic (smooshed face) breed then a loud breathing is not normal and could indicate a problem such as a respiratory infection, a nasopharyngeal polyp or other growth, a foreign body stuck in the nasal passages, or even an infected tooth root. I would recommend bringing Princess in for her vet to examine her for this issue.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Heavy breathing is certainly abnormal in cats. It can be seen with conditions like asthma, heart disease, bronchitis, pneumonia, among other possibilities. This is usually concerning in cats and warrants a visit to a veterinarian as soon as possible for further assessment and possible treatment. They will likely going to perform thoracic radiographs, among other diagnostics dependent on the results obtained. Treatment would be dependent on the findings. Good luck and have a good night!

Poor Ora! She needs to be examined by a vet as soon as possible to determine the cause and treat. She could have an infection, asthma, heart disease, etc. and your vet can take an x-ray, if needed, to help diagnose and then determine the best treatment plan. IF she is having trouble breathing then you should take her to an emergency clinic tonight so treatment can be started. Hope she feels better soon!

With any cat showing potential signs of respiratory distress this is an immediate emergency. I strongly recommend going to the ER clinic now. I cardiac disease in cats often goes undetected until the point that they have difficulty breathing. Hopefully it's not that serious but it is worth erring on the side of caution and getting her checked as soon as possible. Best of luck to Maud and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

This may be normal for her, especially if she isn't exhibiting any other symptoms. It certainly could be some mild congestion, which is common this time of year as the heat vents tend to blow dust around. But as long as there are no other symptoms, like wheezing, coughing, nasal discharge, or inappetence, you may have nothing to worry about. You might try weight loss to increase her overall quality of life!

This could be a normal respiratory rate for Bella, but I’m concerned that she seems to have labored breathing. I would recommend having her examined by an emergency vet as soon as possible - respiratory disease in cats can quickly get worse and a prompt exam and treatment is important.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Missy. I recommend that you seek emergency veterinary care this evening. Open mouth breathing is a sign of respiratory distress in a cat. The respiratory infection could have spread to her lungs resulting in pneumonia or she could have another problem. Heart disease and fluid in the chest can also cause this breathing pattern. I hope this information helps. Good luck.