Cat Panting Like a Dog? What It Means and When to Call the Vet

Your cat is breathing with their mouth open, almost like a dog panting. Is this something to worry about? Although not every case of panting in cats is a cause for concern, it’s worth paying attention to.

Here, we’ll cover what panting looks like in cats, possible causes of panting, and when you should call the veterinarian.

What Does Panting Look Like in Cats?

Panting in cats looks similar to a panting dog: breathing their mouth open. However, your cat’s tongue is less likely to protrude from their mouth than a dog’s tongue.

Additionally, your cat’s tongue may appear curled while they’re panting, and their chest may be moving rapidly when they breathe. In some cases, you may even notice that it appears difficult for your cat to breathe at all.

Environmental Causes of Panting in Cats

Panting isn’t always a sign of an underlying health condition. But that doesn’t mean that it should be ignored. For example, if your cat is panting due to stress, you should still take steps to reduce your cat’s anxiety.

Overheating or Heat Exhaustion

Your cat may pant if they are getting too hot, which can occur in very warm weather or when they are confined to hot spaces. Without cooling them off, this can progress to heat stroke, which can be dangerous. Other signs of overheating you may notice include drooling and sweaty paws.

To cool your cat down safely, you should:

• Move them to a cooler location
• Provide them with cool water
• Put water on them and place them in front of a fan
• Put cool washcloths in their armpits or groin

If your cat is panting due to heat and also experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, lethargy, disorientation, or has a red tongue and gums, seek emergency attention. If you take your cat’s rectal temperature and it reaches 104ºF or above, seek emergency attention.

Intense Play or Exercise

Some cats, especially kittens, pant after intense play or exercise. This is a sign that your cat might need to calm down for a bit. If your cat’s panting does not quickly stop when they are at rest, contact a veterinarian.

If your adult cat has begun to occasionally pant during exercise, it’s a good idea to have a veterinary evaluation to rule out any underlying health issues.

Stress or Anxiety

Panting commonly occurs when a cat is stressed or anxious, such as during veterinary visits, car rides, or placement in a new environment. Again, the panting should subside once the cat calms down.

You should take steps to manage your cat’s anxiety. These can include providing enrichment, using pheromones, and administering anti-anxiety medications. If your cat’s anxiety is so severe at the veterinary clinic that they may injure themselves, your veterinarian may recommend sedation.

Medical Causes of Panting in Cats

If your cat is panting with no known explanation, you should seek veterinary attention. The following are potential medical causes of panting in cats.

Respiratory Illness

Panting may be seen with respiratory illnesses, such as feline asthma, upper respiratory infections, pneumonia, and bronchitis. While upper respiratory infections in cats are common, panting as a result is not. If your cat has an upper respiratory infection and has started panting, you should seek urgent attention.

Other signs you may notice include:

Heart Disease or Heart Failure

Heart disease can cause your cat to have difficulty breathing, resulting in panting. As the heart enlarges, it may place pressure on some of the airways, causing coughing. As the heart disease further progresses, the cat can develop heart failure and further breathing problems.

If you suspect that your cat is panting due to heart disease, seek emergency veterinary attention.

Trauma

Traumatic injuries can result in panting both as a result of the pain and shock of the event and due to the actual injury itself. For example, a cat who has been hit by a car may develop a hernia in their diaphragm that makes breathing difficult. Other traumatic injuries that may cause panting include fractured ribs, bruised lungs, and collapsed lungs.

Anemia or Blood Loss

Your cat’s blood transports oxygen throughout their body. If they develop anemia due to blood loss, decreased red blood cell production, or autoimmune conditions, they will have less oxygen circulating in their blood. They may pant as a compensatory mechanism.

Other signs of anemia or blood loss include:

• Pale, blue-tinged, or yellow mucous membranes
• Bruising, whether large or pinpoint
• Bleeding from a wound or from an orifice
• Lethargy or collapse
• Dark-colored urine

Seek emergency attention if you suspect your cat is panting due to anemia.

Heartworms

While heartworms are more common in dogs, they can still affect cats. In cats, heartworms cause heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD) as a result of inflammation in the lungs and associated vessels. Cats with this condition may pant or experience respiratory difficulty.

Cats who may be panting due to heartworms need to see a veterinarian immediately.

Obstruction or Choking

A cat who is choking may also pant or open-mouth breathe. This can occur if the cat inhales or aspirates something and should be treated as an emergency.

When to Call the Vet

Contact a veterinarian immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Panting that lasts more than a few minutes or occurs without explanation
• Blue, pale, or yellow gums
• Labored or noisy breathing, wheezing, coughing, gagging
• Lethargy, collapse, disorientation, hiding
• Panting in the litterbox
• Panting with vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, or bruising

What To Expect At the Vet

If you decide to visit the vet, your veterinarian will take steps to find out what’s causing your cat’s panting and to keep your cat comfortable.

Diagnostics and treatment may include:

• Chest X-rays: May show evidence of heart or lung disease or a foreign object in the airways.
• Blood work or heartworm testing: May show evidence of anemia and other systemic health conditions.
• Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart): May show evidence of heart disease.
• Administering oxygen
• Placing an intravenous catheter for fluids and medications
• Providing pain medications if needed
• Providing antibiotics, steroids, diuretics, bronchodilators, and other medications as needed
• Removing fluid from the chest or abdomen
• Blood transfusions

How to Prevent Panting Episodes

Not all cases of panting are preventable. For example, if your cat has a genetic predisposition to a heart condition, you may not be able to prevent heart disease from developing. However, many causes of panting—such as overheating, infections, and stress—are preventable.

You can minimize these risks by:

• Keeping your cat cool and well-hydrated to avoid heat stress.
• Avoiding stressful situations or take steps to reduce anxiety when stress is expected.
• Keeping your cat on year-round heartworm and flea/tick prevention and on a regular vaccination schedule.
• Keeping your cat away from toxins like rat poison.

When In Doubt, Reach Out

Panting is not a normal cat behavior, and panting without a simple explanation like anxiety or vigorous play should always be investigated. Cats can be subtle when experiencing distress, so it’s always a good idea to get your cat evaluated if you’re concerned. If your cat is panting and you don’t know why, don’t wait and see—call a veterinarian for guidance!