My 9-month kitten: red gums, tired, breathing hard. What's wrong?

When cats have red gums it is possible they have stomatitis or gingivitis. This is an inflammation of the mouth or gums. The redness can be caused by genetics, auto immune disease and viral infections and even parasites like hemobart. I would recommend taking Tesla to the vet to have the mouth examined. This will help determine if Tesla needs any testing or medications for her mouth or possibly in the future

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Charlie. Based on your description, I recommend that you seek emergency veterinary care for him tonight. It is worrisome that he is experiencing heavy breathing. Based on his examination, he will likely need bloodwork and x-rays of his chest to determine the source of his problem. I hope this information helps and you are able to get him some help. Good luck!

I'm sorry to hear that Sabbath is so sick. Pale gums, lethargy, and a fast heart rate may be signs of anemia, or a low red blood cell count. This could be due to a flea infestation, infectious diseases, or cancer. Sabbath really must be seen by a vet. Aside from treating a flea infestation at home (if one exists), there really isn't anything you can do at home to manage clinical signs this severe. Try to ask your vet if they accept payment plans or have other financing options available.

The color of gums can help us guess at the red blood cell level, but it is a poor guess. White gums would mean really, really sick, and pink gums don't tell us that a pet is healthy. Mello may have an upper respiratory infection, which most cases are viral. But they can hit the body hard and often the kittens need oral antibiotics, fluids, supplements like Lysine, nutritional support, etc. I would really recommend that you have him examined by the vet since this has been going on for a week and he isn't any better.

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.

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.

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.