Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My cat breathes fast 5 days after spay. Is it normal or pain?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Maine Coon | Female | unspayed | 11 lbs

My cat just got spayed 5 days ago and She breathes rapidly sometimes? I don’t know if this is normal cuz she’s in pain or ?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Makenzie Kurth, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 24th, 2018

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would say that occasional episodes of rapid breathing are not necessarily a cause to panic. Do take note of the timing though. Does it seem to be when the pain medication is wearing off or has it started since stopping pain medication? If so, talk to your vet. Some cats just need a few extra days of pain medication. Certain medications are also ok to give more often but ALWAYS ask your vet first as some of them are very UNSAFE to give more often.

Of course, always watch attitude and appetite and if anything else seems amiss (coughing, difficulty breathing, etc), head to the vet right away.

Best of luck to you and Sophie!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA
Veterinarian
Published on April 8th, 2018
The incision looks great from the picture but of course I can't say for sure it is okay without doing an exam. It is very possible that this is secondary to pain if it is the first day off her medicine. I would make sure to keep her confined and not let her jump or be too active. If she is still acting like this when your vet reopens, I would call your vet to see if they want to recheck her or prescribe her some more pain medicine. Most cats bounce back from a spay pretty quickly so if she continues to breathe rapidly or like she is in distress within the next few minutes, I would strongly recommend to take her to your local emergency clinic if you have one. If she will let you without you getting bit, your could lift up her lip to check her gums as well and make sure they are pink. If they are white or blue then this is truly an emergency. I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Why is my kitten breathing fast and struggling to pee after spay?

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. It sounds as if her pain is not well controlled. I would contact your vet about this and have additional pain medications prescribed. Rapid breathing and trouble urinating could be signs of pain especially after a spay procedure. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my cat hacking and breathing heavy after spay surgery?

Hi. The tube that go down the throat for anesthesia can cause irritation to the throat area for a few days, but not this bad. It may be something totally unrelated. She could have an upper respiratory infection, allergies, hair ball, cardiac disease, and more. If it has been 4 days, i recommend that you see your veterinarian as soon as you can. If they aren't open, I would recommend the ER

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Puppy breathing fast and slow after spay surgery, should I worry?

Breathing at an erratic rate while asleep may simply be an indication of active dreaming. As long as her breathing does not appear labored and as long as she is not having any other indications of illness, I would not worry too much about her health. Continue to monitor for any significant changes to her health, monitor her surgical site for any signs of infection or discharge (serous / clear discharge in small amounts is normal), and keep a close eye on her energy level. If all of these seem to check out, I don't think you have anything to be concerned about at this time.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My spayed kitten is wheezing and gagging a week later, should I worry?

IT could still be due to the intubation, some damage might have been caused and what you see might be the complications. as long as she does not seem to be breathing abnormally fast i would probably not worry as long as you do talk to your vet tomorrow of course.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my cat breathing fast after eating trash? Is she okay?

She most likely has a stomach ache if she got into human food or bones. The rapid breathing is a sign of discomfort. She looks fine in the photo but I would watch her closely to make sure she’s eating, drinking, peeing and pooping normally. If not, or this rapid breathing continues I recommend a veterinary exam to determine the cause and start treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Fancy.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My cat is weak, breathing fast after spay. When will antibiotics work?

It will take a couple days for the antibiotics to start working but they will only help if her underlying problem was a bacterial infection. The fever medication should have worked within an hour or so but it will not keep it down for longer than 24 hours. If she is still not right she should go back to the vet and be put on an IV drip.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Why is my dog breathing fast after surgery? Is it pain or serious?

I agree that this is a pretty rapid respiratory rate for Daisy, particularly if she's resting while breathing this quickly. As you mentioned, it's very possible that this fast breathing is due to post-operative pain. However, if she's currently receiving pain medication after surgery, it's a bit less likely. Other causes of rapid breathing can include stress or anxiety, blood clots in the lungs, heart disease, pneumonia, among others. Regardless, it would be best to take Daisy to the vet urgently for evaluation. If the vet suspects pain as the cause, they will be able to prescribe additional pain medications. Otherwise, they will be able to perform any necessary diagnostic testing, which may include chest x-rays or blood clotting times to try to get to the bottom of this issue. I hope that everything goes well for Daisy!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share