My timid cat pants outside. Is outdoor enrichment causing her stress?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Biscuit. I am sorry to hear that she is so stressed. I would keep her in a dark quiet room with you to try and soothe her. If the open mouth breathing persists, then she will need to see a veterinarian as this is a sign of respiratory distress in a cat. It is a stress response as well, but of it does not resolve once she has calmed down, then it is worrisome. I hope this information helps!

Panting in cats can be caused by stress, so it's likely that the panting was due to Luna being anxious about the car ride. In some cases, panting can also be caused by heart disease or other respiratory problems - this is much less likely if Luna is acting normal otherwise and does not pant in any other circumstances, but you could certainly discuss your concerns with your vet to see if he/she would recommend chest x-rays or any other testing to rule out a serious problem.

Hello! Cats are very stubborn nose-breathers and hate panting. This means they usually only pant if they are in severe respiratory distress. This, associated with the drooling and being outdoors makes me very concerned that she could have been suffering from severe heat distress or heat stroke. Sometimes cats can also hide signs of heart and lung disease until they are truly struggling to breathe, and this could be exacerbated by heat by as well. I would recommend taking her into a vet to be seen. They will likely recommend bloodwork and x-rays to start evaluating her major organ function, check for signs of infection, and evaluate the heart and lungs. I hope you find this helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Moving is very stressful for a cat! Yes Moxie should calm down, and I recommend putting her in one room to herself with food, water, and litter box. Make sure there is a place where she can hide in the room as needed, as some cats feel more comfortable hiding when stressed. Leave her there tonight and in the morning, crack open the door to see if she will come out and explore on her own. If the panting continue to the morning, however, she should see a vet immediately. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It would be best then to keep him inside. Regardless, panting is not normal for a cat so if you continue seeing this when he is inside, he should be evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While panting and open mouth breathing can be due to nervousness to some extent, this most likely signals a respiratory condition such as asthma, heart disease, among many other possibilities. I highly recommend you consider taking Fluffy to your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They will likely recommend starting with an exam and chest radiographs. Hoping for the best! Good luck and have a great day!

Poor Kane! Given that he has calmed down, I am thinking that that panting was from stress; nevertheless, keep an eye on him just in case. If you see him start panting again, drooling, agitation (may be shown by pacing), a bright red tongue, or breathing distress, take him into a vet immediately. I hope this helps!