Why is my large 8-month-old kitten panting after vigorous play?

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 :)

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.

Sorry to hear Valak seems to have problems when playing. I would recommend taking him in to your veterinarian to have his heart and lungs checked. Some young cats can have an underlying congenital heart or lung problem that can lead to exercise intolerance. We also can see cats develop asthma and present like this too, so he may need x-rays of his chest to see how his lungs look and possibly need medication. Hopefully he is normal, but if he can't seem to play very long, I would recommend getting him checked out.

How lovely of you to take in feral cats! Yes, it certainly is possible Butternut could have a bad heart, but the only way to know for sure is to have him seen by a vet. It would be a good idea to have this checked out, as medications may help with any symptoms he is displaying. I would urge you to have him seen by a vet for at least a physical exam and chest x-rays. I hope this helps!

That is concerning. How long ago were those test performed? Sometimes as disease progresses, it becomes easier to see on xrays or echocardiogram, so I am wondering if repeating some tests may help. If its been more than even day, things can change dramatically on Xray. A young cat (he is listed at 7 monhts old) should be able to play and be quite active without panting, certainly panting is abnormal after only mild exertion. I recommend that you take him back to your vet, or take him to a veterinary internal medicine specialist. I'm so sorry he's not feeling well! Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

No, it's not normal for a cat to pant like a dog. Cats typically do not exhibit open mouth breathing, and it's a sign of respiratory distress. It could be Gus may have a heart problem causing this open mouth breathing after he plays, but without seeing him in person I can't say for certain. I would have him seen by a vet for a physical exam, routine blood tests, urinalysis, and chest x-rays. These tests will help the vet identify if the does have a heart condition causing his symptoms. Should one be found, the vet can discuss treatment options with you.

Thank you for asking this question about Luna. Just like people cats can become tired and breathe heavy after exercise. However, if this is a new behavior, or if she has never had a good thorough physical from a veterinarian then I would be more concerned. You may want to consider making a video of an event and having an examination from your veterinarian. This would give you peace of mind if all is normal or may be an important early find if there is a problem. Best of luck and I hope she does well. Thank you for using Pet Coach.