Why is the stray kitten in my yard breathing so fast and shallowly?

Yes, you should be worried about his breath i'm afraid, upper respiratory infections are very common in young kittens and can be fatal if left untreated. his breathing rate is way to high and he is most likely suffering from an infection, you need to take him to the vet ASAP in order to get him an antibiotic course.

From your description it sounds like your cat may have roundworms. These are typically present in vomit with high parasite loads. The good thing is that they are easy to treat. Your veterinarian may have a preferred deworming medication that they can prescribe for your cat. You may also wish to submit a stool sample from your cat for analysis. It is not likely that these parasites would cause loud breathing. That is something you may want to mention to your vet when you call. It could be a sign of upper respiratory inflammation.

Hi there, and thank you for posting this question. I am concerned as you are about that high respiratory rate. I would also be concerned about other lung problems and would recommend an x-ray. Kittens can develop an infection called FIP that causes fluid to build up in the chest and/or belly. I would want to make sure this isn’t what is happening. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Poor Mochko. With symptoms of decreased appetite and "hard breathe" which I assume means she is having a hard time breathing, it is possible Mochka has pneumonia or an upper respiratory infection. I would highly recommend getting her seen by your vet again or another vet for a second opinion. They need to listen to her chest (auscultation) to check the lungs for certain sounds. If certain sounds in the chest are detected and Mochko also has a fever (greater than 102.5 degrees F rectal temp), then pneumonia is suspected. Chest x-rays would then be needed to confirm. If the chest is free of any abnormal sounds on expiration, then an upper respiratory infection is suspected, which is a better prognosis for kitty. At that time a short course of antibiotics and anti-viral meds (i.e. Lysine) can be prescribed to treat her condition. At any rate Mochko needs to be re-evaluated and the underlying condition properly identified so that we know exactly what she needs to get better.

I would worry that Charlie has an upper respiratory infection. Viral disease is most common, and a secondary bacterial infection could occur as well. I’d recommend having Charlie examined by your veterinarian. If you think he is having enough difficulty breathing that he is in distress you should see an emergency veterinarian.

Poor kitty. This kitty could have an infection (viral or bacterial) or intestinal parasites. She should be dewormed (i.e. fenbendazole), fecal testing, examined by your vet, and then treated based on what is found. The wheezing indicates that an upper respiratory infections is most likely present as well, in which oral antibiotics are needed to clear. You can give Kiwi Lysine supplements (from your local pet store) to help boost her immune system and fight off viral infections; use a humidifier or place her in a bathroom with the hot water running to help clear up clogged nasal passages; and feed her high quality kitten food (Royal Canin, Wellness, Blue Buffalo, etc) for overall health.

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.