My FeLV cat is breathing fast after a fight. Is this an emergency?

I wouldn't wait until the morning, I'm concerned about her breathing. Any breathing problem is an emergency. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

This could be a normal respiratory rate for Bella, but I’m concerned that she seems to have labored breathing. I would recommend having her examined by an emergency vet as soon as possible - respiratory disease in cats can quickly get worse and a prompt exam and treatment is important.

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.

Any change in breathing sound/frequency is concerning, but it doesn't inherently mean something is seriously wrong. Since it sounds like this was a recent change after the drainage and congestion were getting better, I would recommend a repeat check up

I would definitely take her to the vet as soon as possible. If she is breathing heavily then this could be a medical emergency. Your vet will be able to listen to her and possible do X-rays. They will be able to provide oxygen if needed. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I’m sorry to hear about Lerdi! I too am somewhat concerned but have a few ideas. Least scary is just that he is painful or developing a fever. A fractured rib that is difficult to see on X-ray is also possible- this makes deep breathing quite painful so animals tend to take shallow, frequent breaths. A more scary idea is that he could have a slow leak of air or buildup of fluid into the chest cavity which is compressing the lungs. Keep a close eye on the color of his gums (pale pink in most cats) and that respiration rate. If those guns become white, grey, blue-tinged or that respiration rate keeps climbing, you head to the emergency vet immediately. Otherwise, Call the first vet back and see what they recommend- a repeat X-ray or chest ultrasound might be indicated. Best of luck to you and Lerdi!

If you think Juliette still has a fever and is having difficulty breathing I would recommend going to the ER to be safe. It is possible that the trouble breathing is due to congestion and complete blockage of her nostrils, but occasionally cats can develop pneumonia secondary to a respiratory infection and chest x-rays might be recommended. Trouble breathing is always a serious sign in a cat! I hope she's feeling better soon.