My stray cat is wheezing and can't jump. Is it sick, or just old?

He does need to see a vet as soon as possible, as he could have a severe respiratory infection, heart disease, or possibly even cancer if he's an older cat. I would call the RSPCA to come out and get him. They can get him the medical treatment he needs.

Oh no, this poor little stray! From the picture, it appears it could have a squamous cell carcinoma. This is a malignant cancer that can be occur on white parts of a cat's body, especially the face. It is likely having trouble breathing because the cancer has eaten away at the structures underneath. This will be painful for the poor kitty, and it has to see a vet immediately. In this case, given the extent of the tumor and the fact that it is lifeless and has lost weight, humane euthanasia may be the best option but since I can't see it in person, I can't say for certain. I can say for certain that leaving it in this condition would be cruel, and it should see a vet now. I'm sorry I don't have better news for you, but please take it into a vet right away.

Thanks for the video sent. The episodes seems to be more compatible with a cough rather than sneezing episodes. In these cases upper respiratory tract inflammations/infections and feline asthma are major differentials and should be ideally seen by your local veterinarian and investigated with a set of thoracic x rays as a first step.

Poor Gizmo! It is possible that he is suffering from a respiratory infection, cardiac disease, or even cancer if he's wheezing and seems short of breath. If this continues, I would have him seen by a vet immediately, as he could go into respiratory distress. Otherwise, I would have him seen by a vet on Monday for a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, urinalysis, and x-rays. With these tests, the vet can determine if there is a medical illness causing his symptoms and can discuss treatment options with you.

It sounds like it's time to have Gizmo see a veterinarian. There are some infectious upper respiratory diseases that get into the lungs and can cause wheezing. The episodes will continue or get worse until they are treated. Your vet will need to take some x-rays to see what is going on in his lungs before deciding on the right treatment plan for Gizmo. One of my cats had this problem as a kitten and does not wheeze any more since he was treated. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Gizmo feel better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.

I understand your concerns for Scuff! Fortunately, from the signs that you describe, a foreign body obstruction from plastic is unlikely, as significant vomiting and anorexia would be expected. Wheezy breathing and changes in purring can be caused by asthma, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, among others. While I understand Scuff's fear of the vet, in this case, that is the only way that he's going to be diagnosed and treated appropriately. Consider looking into mobile vets in your area to see if they can make house calls and also have a portable x-ray machine. It sounds as though Scuff will likely need to have chest x-rays to get to the bottom of his problem. I hope that all goes well!