Why does my cat gasp for air when I try to remove his mats?

It sounds like Mac may have feline asthma. You need to have him examined by a vet so they can give you a proper diagnosis and then start him on some treatment. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/inhalant-treatment-for-feline-asthma-and-bronchitis

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I’m sorry to hear about Lerdi! I too am somewhat concerned but have a few ideas. Least scary is just that he is painful or developing a fever. A fractured rib that is difficult to see on X-ray is also possible- this makes deep breathing quite painful so animals tend to take shallow, frequent breaths. A more scary idea is that he could have a slow leak of air or buildup of fluid into the chest cavity which is compressing the lungs. Keep a close eye on the color of his gums (pale pink in most cats) and that respiration rate. If those guns become white, grey, blue-tinged or that respiration rate keeps climbing, you head to the emergency vet immediately. Otherwise, Call the first vet back and see what they recommend- a repeat X-ray or chest ultrasound might be indicated. Best of luck to you and Lerdi!

Increased respiratory rate can have several causes, including anemia, pain, heart disease, or lung disease. If you can see the abdomen moving when she breathes, I would be very worried. I would recommend that you have Kiku examined by a vet. They may need to diagnostics such as blood work or x-rays, depending on what the exam reveals.

Thank you for the additional information. Heart murmurs can affect the breathing in a couple of ways. One is that the murmur often times is due to a leaky valve which means the blood is flowing backwards, which then causes fluid to back up into the lungs and breathing to be more difficult. In cats, this fluid can also build up around the lungs and press in, decreasing lung volume. We hear heart murmurs because of turbulent blood flow and this turbulence increases the risk of forming blood clots, especially in cats. If these blood clots then break off, they can travel through the body and lodge somewhere. If the clot ends up in the lungs, this is called a pulmonary embolism and can cause difficulty breathing. It sounds like she's improved a bit, but if she's still gasping, it is an emergency and she needs to be seen by a veterinarian right away.

Coco is adorable and I'm sorry to hear that she has been having so many changes to her breathing. Heavy breathing with abdominal effort/movement is a sign for concern and can be related to congenital heart defects causing congestive heart failure, pneumonia, pain, infectious conditions, among others. Any breathing changes are an emergent cause for concern and should be addressed by a vet immediately to assure that Coco seems to be stable. I hope that all goes well!

Based on his age I would be very concerned. I don't know if it is related to the diffuser or not. That is not normal behavior though so he should see a vet. I am worried about respiratory disease especially with the wheezing you described.

Any sign of possible respiratory distress should be considered as an emergency. It is possible that something could be lodged within the respiratory or GI tract which is causing this strange movement of the head and neck. Either way I would recommend have Chico seen by a vet as soon as you can.