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My cat gained weight and is wheezing. What should I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 2 years and 8 months old | 9 lbs

She has gained weight noticeably this past winter. Wheezing like shes trying to cough something up

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Christie Long, DVM

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on April 24th, 2019

The weight gain is somewhat of a vague sign, but I am worried when I hear of a cat "wheezing", as it suggests feline asthma, which is a fairly common malady and often presents itself as you are describing. I would consider this to be a fairly urgent matter and would get her into the vet for a thorough physical exam and chest x-rays as soon as possible; asthma can cause serious breathing compromise if not diagnosed and treated.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Lauren Jones VMD
Veterinarian
Published on April 8th, 2017
Wheezing and gasping for breath are certainly not "normal" findings, even if they only occur during times of stress or excitement. Definitely mention this to Felix's vet again because this could indicate the presence of feline asthma. Chest x-rays are not a definitive test for asthma, but are likely to raise or lower the suspicion of this condition. Always trust your gut when it comes to your pets' health!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on May 16th, 2017
I am sorry to hear about Lucy! If she is wheezing and taking very shallow breaths, this is not normal. It could be allergy related and we can see asthma in cats. We also worry about heart disease in cats who have breathing issues. We also can see breathing issues with heartworm infection or lungworm infection. I would recommend a visit to your vet along with x-rays of the chest to check the heart and lungs for signs of these diseases. Depending on what they find, appropriate medication can then be started to try to help her be more comfortable!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Related Questions

Why does my overweight Siamese cat wheeze after drinking water?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The most common cause for what you are describing is feline asthma. It is most prevalent in Siamese cats. Being overweight can exacerbate asthma. Other causes of asthma are parasites (specifically lung worm) and feline heart worm disease. The treatment of feline asthma is steroids, bronchodilators and antibiotics if an infection is suspected. They actually make inhalers for cats! I recommend an exam with your Vet for chest X-rays, blood work, fecal and feline heart worm test. I hope this helps and I wish Sluggo the best!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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My cat is wheezing. Could it be asthma? What should I do now?

Yes, wheezing could indeed be a sign of asthma. But it is also possible that she has an upper respiratory infection. Either disease is relatively easy to treat once diagnosed. Your vet will want to do xrays if he suspects asthma. URIs are usually treated with antibiotics. Here is some information of feline asthma: https://www.petcoach.co/article/feline-asthma-a-cause-of-coughing-in-cats/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-feline-asthma/ I suggest you make an appointment for Leo with your vet.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my 5-year-old cat coughing and wheezing more often lately?

Coughing and wheezing in a younger cat most commonly occurs as a result of asthma, but could also be related to underlying allergies, masses in the chest, or heart disease (although cats with heart disease do not commonly cough). At this point, I do recommend taking your cat back to the vet for another exam and chest x-rays to try to help differentiate (this is not always completely conclusive) between these causes. I hope this helps!

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My cat is wheezing and breathing worse. Should I take her to the vet?

Wheezing in cats can be caused by chronic allergies, asthma, infections, and polyps. However, if you believe that Ashes is having trouble breathing, she should be seen by a vet immediately as she may need oxygen supplementation and stabilization. I hope this helps and that all is well!

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My cat is coughing and wheezing while awake. Should I be worried?

A chronic cough or wheeze may be due to allergies, polyps, infection or even heart disease just to name a few causes. Ideally, Shadow should be physically examined by your veterinarian to diagnose the underlying cause. This way the most effective treatment can be administered.

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Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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My 9-year-old cat is wheezing and struggling to breathe. What to do?

She could definitely start having asthma at her age. I would recommend having a vet listen to her heart and lungs, and take a chest x-ray. They can send the x-rays to a be read by a radiologist if you'd like a second opinion. The treatment for asthma is usually steroids and inhaled broncodilators. You would need a prescription for those things. So unfortunately, there isn't much you can do totally alone, but it does sound like she needs some help.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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