My kitten is breathing fast and lethargic. What can I do at home?

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.

Usually these signs are due to a respiratory tract infection/inflammation due to a viral infection. Herpes virus is usually involved. Immediate veterinary intervention is needed as antibiotics may be necessary. 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.

From your description, it sounds like Ivory isn't feeling well at the moment, and his symptoms could be indicating a possible respiratory infection. Make sure he is eating and drinking, keep him warm, and bring him into the bathroom with you when you take a shower, The steam may help with his breathing and clear up any congestion. Take him into the vet first thing in the morning. Now if he won't eat or drink, he appears to be in respiratory distress (difficulty breathing), and/or becomes very lethargic, I would take him into an ER vet immediately. Best of luck!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! So sorry to hear about Luna. I would advise that you get her evaluated immediately. Open mouth breathing is never normal in a kitten/cat unless they are extremely sick or very stressed. Your vet can evaluate her and advise a diagnostic and treatment plan. It is possible that she has a nasopharyngeal polyp, foreign body, fluid in her lungs, fluid in her chest around her lungs, etc. Some testing will probably be required including blood tests, chest x-rays, etc. Good luck with Luna.

Thank you for using PetCoach. Unfortunately there’s not much that you can do at home to help saint. It sounds like she has a very significant infection. In some cases respiratory illness in kittens can be fatal. I recommend contacting your local Humane Society’s to see if there is any financial assistance available for pet owners. This list may help. https://www.gofundme.com/c/blog/help-with-vet-bills Best of luck. I hope Saint recovers soon.

Cassie sounds very ill at the moment, and at her age, there are a number of things that could be causing her symptoms such as heart disease, kidney failure, liver disease, or cancer to name a few. I think she needs veterinary care now. 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. Best of luck.

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.