My cat is warm, fur standing up, and breathing strangely. Is it serious?

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.

Hello, I'm sorry to hear this about Douglas. I think its a good idea that he is hospitalized with these signs of fever and noisy lungs. Persian breeds are brachycephalic, meaning they have a shortened nose and anatomically altered respiratory tract. This does make them more susceptible overall to respiratory infections like pneumonia. Some pneumonias can be viral induced (and then quickly get secondary bacterial infections which is why antibiotics are needed) and if that's the case, he should have at least some virus protection from his vaccines to reduce the disease severity compared to if he was unvaccinated. Many young cats will have respiratory infections and recover to live full, happy lives. Some of these cats will have chronic respiratory signs and disease over their lifetime afterwards, but this is often manageable and treatable. I hope this is helpful. I hope Douglas makes a speedy recovery in the hospital. Best wishes to you.

Oh no, poor Saimee! Unfortunately there is nothing you can do at home when a cat is having trouble breathing. That is a medical emergency and requires immediate veterinary treatment. She has to see a vet now, and I would find the closest vet to you to take her into right away.

My best guess based on what you have described would be that he may have feline asthma or a nasal polyp. I do think you should take him to the vet for an examination. I don't think it's an emergency unless he is really having trouble breathing but try to get him in as soon as you can. Here is a link to an article about asthma a well as polyps in cats. Hope this helps. ( https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-asthma-what-you-need-know ) ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/nasal-polyps-in-cats )

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Rapid breathing can be a sign of many conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, heart disease, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Likely diagnostics to be performed include thoracic radiographs and bloodwork. Treatment would be dependent on findings. Good luck and have a good day!

These signs may be compatible with a chest infection or alternatively to a cardiac problem. The two differentials must be ruled out asap as this could be a medical emergency. Pleural space or thoracic cavity could have fluid building up. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!