My cat pants after playing with a laser. Is this normal or concerning?

You're right that it can be normal to see short periods of panting after active play or other exercise, especially in young cats. But, this can also be a sign of heart disease or other problems. If your kitten sometimes pants, it would be best to have him examined be a vet to make sure that his heart and lungs are normal. If no problems are found, then you'll know there is no need to worry :)

Thank you for asking this question about Luna. Just like people cats can become tired and breathe heavy after exercise. However, if this is a new behavior, or if she has never had a good thorough physical from a veterinarian then I would be more concerned. You may want to consider making a video of an event and having an examination from your veterinarian. This would give you peace of mind if all is normal or may be an important early find if there is a problem. Best of luck and I hope she does well. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Usually, No. Most cats will only have their mouths open if they are having trouble breathing. There are some cats that have odd behaviours such as this and it isn't concerning, however if this is a new change for Simba then I would recommend getting him checked right away to make sure there isn't a problem with his lungs or heart. It is concerning he only opens his mouth while playing (increased energy expenditure), because this might mean that his heart can't keep up with the stress of playing. Best of luck with Simba, hopefully it is just behavioural however I would get him checked to be sure.

Sorry to hear Valak seems to have problems when playing. I would recommend taking him in to your veterinarian to have his heart and lungs checked. Some young cats can have an underlying congenital heart or lung problem that can lead to exercise intolerance. We also can see cats develop asthma and present like this too, so he may need x-rays of his chest to see how his lungs look and possibly need medication. Hopefully he is normal, but if he can't seem to play very long, I would recommend getting him checked out.

No, it's not normal for a cat to pant like a dog. Cats typically do not exhibit open mouth breathing, and it's a sign of respiratory distress. It could be Gus may have a heart problem causing this open mouth breathing after he plays, but without seeing him in person I can't say for certain. I would have him seen by a vet for a physical exam, routine blood tests, urinalysis, and chest x-rays. These tests will help the vet identify if the does have a heart condition causing his symptoms. Should one be found, the vet can discuss treatment options with you.

The panting outside is normal, cats tend to get overexcited sometimes, their body heats up a little too much and this is how they cool themselves. snoring is also something many cats do when sleeping, it's not considered to be a problem.

If he was really racing around after the toy last night, more than usual, it could explain his exertion, however, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get him in to see your vet for an exam just to be safe. You said Obi is a big cat, so there may be some Maine Coon in his background, and they have a greater risk for some heart conditions.