My 2-month-old kittens are panting from heat. How can I cool them?

Hello, if you think they are too warm they may be panting because they are feeling hot. If they are nursing and still have not opened their eyes, they may be thinking that you are going to feed them and thus initiating a suckle reflex. If they are still nursing, ensure the Queen is producing milk and that the kittens are able to nurse appropriately every 2-3 hours. If bottle feeding them, then ensure they are getting fed at similar time intervals. Best of luck and hope this helps.

rapid breathing is not uncommon in kittens but if he is breathing fast with an open mouth it is definitely not normal, at this age it is usually caused by aspiration pneumonia (milk aspiration to the lungs). in such a case you would need to take them to the vet in order to get it checked and treated ASAP.

Yes, this is a concern so I do recommend having Walter seen by a vet for it. While it could be the heat, I can't rule out a medical condition causing the panting without seeing him in person. Give his vet a call today to make him an appointment. Best of luck.

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!

Hello. If the temperature in your spare room is too uncomfortable for you, then it is too hot for your cat. Room temperature of 68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit are acceptable. If the room is hotter than that, your cat should not be in there. It would be better to move her to an area with better temperature regulation. Thank you

Your kitten will need to have an exam by your veterinarian. She could be suffering from a congenital malformation of the blood vessels near the heart or have a hole in the septum of the heart. This would often not show when the kitten is resting, but when it exercises, runs and plays there is not enough oxygen being pumped to the lungs and muscles because oxygenated and used up blood mixes. Problems often do not occur until 3-4 months of age. Please make an appointment with your vet for an exam.

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 :)