My cat is lethargic, mouth breathing, and has dark urine. Emergency?

No, I recommend to have Harlem examined immediately. This could be an emergency situation. When pets suddenly develop a change in their breathing pattern, they need to be examined immediately. This is especially true for cats who can hide signs of heart disease and not have any murmurs or other clues on physical examine. Other causes include infection, asthma or fluid in the lungs. Have him examined right away. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Your cat sounds critically ill and should be seen by a vet ASAP. Open-mouth breathing is always an emergency in cats - it is a sign of respiratory distress. It is difficult to say what the cause is without doing some testing, but possibilities include cancer, pneumonia, asthma, or heart failure.

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.

This is a medical emergency - he is also very pale which indicates he is not getting sufficient oxygen around his system. This can be due to anemia, heart/lung disease or severe infection and shock. Please have him fully assessed by a vet urgently as this is immediately life threatening

Please make sure he is passing urine. As you know male cats can get a urinary blockage that can quickly become life threatening. If he’s not urinating that is a medical emergency so take him in right away to have him checked. Vomiting and lethargy can be a sign also. They can get kidney damage from this too. Even if you are feeding the special food a blockage could still occur. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Loki.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I definitely understand your concern. Vomiting and inappetence are concerning symptoms as they could occur with things like a gastrointestinal obstruction, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, dietary indiscretion, among many other possibilities. The fact that he is also breathing fast is also concerning. I recommend that you have Pedrito evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Charlie. Based on your description, I recommend that you seek emergency veterinary care for him tonight. It is worrisome that he is experiencing heavy breathing. Based on his examination, he will likely need bloodwork and x-rays of his chest to determine the source of his problem. I hope this information helps and you are able to get him some help. Good luck!