My cat pants with tongue out after playing. Is it normal or serious?

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 :)

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.

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.

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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, it is ok for Trip to pant when playing like this. Especially if she is still young. Coughing and panting when not playing isn’t normal in a cat. Have a great day!

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.

No, panting in cats is never normal. I see that Tammy is quite young, but issues like asthma, heart failure, or toxin exposure could all cause signs of respiratory distress. On occasion, significant stress can trigger panting in some cats, but oftentimes there's also an underlying disease process. I strongly recommend taking Tammy to your vet or an emergency vet right away for evaluation. They'll need to perform a physical exam and will most likely recommend chest x-rays to try to get to the bottom of this situation. I hope that everything goes well for Tammy!