My kitten breathes fast and pants after running. Is it just allergies?

Respiratory issues in kittens can be quite serious and I would definitely have a vet see your kitten. Smoking around your kitten can also be very damaging and it would be ideal if you smoked outside. Many animals develop lung cancer when they have owners who smoke and this unfortunately isn't widely known. This issue probably has more to do with an underlying condition and I would have your kitten seen ASAP. I hope Fuji feels better soon!

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.

Hi there! It's possible that this could be allergy related, especially if Perry sounds congested when he breathes or if he is having any sneezing or nasal discharge. The breathing changes could also be due to a respiratory infection, bronchitis, feline asthma, or even a more serious problem such as heart disease or a tumor in his chest. Since some of these problems can be quite serious, I would recommend taking Perry to the vet for an exam as soon as you are able to. The vet can listen to his heart and lungs, and may recommend chest x-rays or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem.

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 :)

Hello and thank you for another question. The heart scan detected a hole between the ventricles, which is causing the blood from the two ventricles to mix. This is a condition Fuji was born with. Fortunately, there are no signs of heart failure on the scan, which means that the heart is coping well at the moment. Complete cure means closing the defect with surgery. It is possible in human medicine, I doubt it is a viable option for cats, maybe it is available at some universities in USA. In my opinion, the best way to go would be doing another heart scan when Fuji is about 12-14 months old. That will show if the disease is progressing or not and a decision about treatment can be made then. For now, I don't think there is any treatment that would make any significant difference for Fuji.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While panting and open mouth breathing can be due to nervousness to some extent, this most likely signals a respiratory condition such as asthma, heart disease, among many other possibilities. I highly recommend you consider taking Fluffy to your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They will likely recommend starting with an exam and chest radiographs. Hoping for the best! Good luck and have a great day!

If he was really racing around after the toy last night, more than usual, it could explain his exertion, however, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get him in to see your vet for an exam just to be safe. You said Obi is a big cat, so there may be some Maine Coon in his background, and they have a greater risk for some heart conditions.