Why is my cat lethargic, breathing shallow, and acting strange?

Lethargy and shallow breathing could be a sign of a fever, but can also be a sign of heart disease or asthma. Even though it has been less than 24 hours since these symptoms started any difficulty breathing warrants a trip to an emergency vet. They can check Jiimaa’s temperature and take x-rays of the chest or check blood work if indicated.

I am sorry to hear that Mochi isn’t feeling well. Abnormal or difficulty in breathing can be a life threatening situation. Cats especially do not tolerate respiratory difficulties well and they will tend to become critical quickly. Pneumonia, feline asthma, heart disease, heartworm, and cancer are all common causes of respiratory problems in cats. I would highly encourage you to have her evaluated by a veterinarian immediately. A chest x-ray will likely be recommended to help determine the diagnosis and best treatment plan. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

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.

Poor Salem! It does sound like he is sick, and his symptoms could be caused by a respiratory illness, heart disease, heartworms, or cancer among other causes. It's quite serious when a cat is struggling to breathe, and should that happen again tonight, I would have him seen by a vet immediately. Otherwise, monitor him tonight, and take him into the vet first thing in the morning. The vet can diagnose what is causing his symptoms, and can treat him for them.

I hate the hear that Khan is giving you a scare. If he feels more warm than usual, it may be that he has a fever. Sometimes respiratory infection will cause a fever as well as a change in the breathing (congestion). Signs of fever are lethargy, sleeping more than usual, poor appetite and not drinking much. If you are seeing these signs, I would recommend to go to the vet for subcutaneous fluids at least. Cats do not take care of themselves when they feel sick and need supportive care so they don't dehydrate. If you are noticing significant changes in Khan's respiratory character, you definitely need to go to the vet. Things caught earlier are easier to treat. I hope this helps.

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.

I'm sorry that Mo isn't feeling well! I recommend having him seen by a vet as soon as possible to determine what is going on. Trouble breathing is considered a medical emergency, and Mo should be seen immediately if you believe this is happening. Labored breathing in cats can be caused by pain, lung issues, or obstructions. I hope this helps and that all is well with Mo!