Rapid Breathing In My 5-Month-Old Kitten...?

Question

A bit worried here, so forgive any/all incoherencies that may occur throughout this post.

Anyhow, as stated, I have a 5-month-old kitten (just turned 5 months on the 20th), who is usually super energetic, friendly, vocal, and a sweetheart. A basic, overall cute and typical kitten.

However, today (or yesterday, the 21st, by this time), he'd spent just about the entire day in hiding, to himself and in darkness (a.k.a. the shade). He also didn't really eat a lot, and I am not sure, but I do not think that he'd even gone to the bathroom the twice maximum that he usually does (unless my sister had cleaned his box while I was away, in which case that'd explain the empty box). Not to mention that he barely spoke, and the one time he had was a more like a "hum" versus a meow (because he hadn't really opened his mouth).

Now, onto my main concern. His suddenly rapid breathing. He is asleep right now, and so his breathing is vaguely less rapid, but still rapid and abnormal, nonetheless. Almost

as though he was hyperventilating, if one can imagine it within the mind as better visualization/understanding.

Anyhow, I'd thought that perhaps he was merely overheated, so in addition to putting more water for him (which he didn't touch/want), I'd rested a moist towel upon him to help cool him down. And while he'd stayed beneath it for a little bit, his breathing did not relax, and he'd eventually left it (the towel).

So now, he is once more back upon the couch and asleep, but, as I'd said, still breathing rapidly.

At first, I'd thought perhaps tachypnea or asthma, it might be? But mainly because he is very slightly overweight (just a tiny bit), and when I'd leaned forward to listen to his inhales/exhales, it was a bit "heavy" and/or wheezy (which he sometimes does while sleeping, but that is more like a snore, again, due to his weight, I'm imagining).

He is not my first animal/pet, and certainly not my first cat (he's number 7); however, he is the first indoor cat and kitten we

have had. Plus, our other cats never behaved this way (with the breathing, I mean).

He's actually my sister's cat, and she'd actually planned to take him to the vet this coming Wednesday to get fixed, but had to re-schedule for finance issues, to be discreet. Anyhow, she'd just told me that she has to take him in two weeks, but after all of this I might take him, myself.

My main thing right now, until I can, if anyone could help me diagnose or pin point what could be wrong so that I could ease whatever's ailing him UNTIL I can take him, would be extremely appreciated.

Thank you truly.

Answer 1

This sounds like it could be serious. I would take him to the vet immediately. The hiding and not eating part means he is very sick and the rapid breathing could be a sign of anything that would be causing him to have breathing difficulties. Do not delay. My Leo was panting and breathing rapidly and he had pneumonia the vet said if I hadn't brought him in on emergency basis that Saturday he would have died by Monday.

When you said you listened to his chest and heard wheezing this concerns me. This is what I did when Leo had pneumonia and that's when I decided it was an emergency and took him to the vet.

Answer 2

No condition can be diagnosed without actually viewing the animal. The cat obviously has respiratory problems, maybe it is an infection Tachypnoea' just means fast breathing so yes, this is what he has - but as to what the cause is, we don't know.

Do take him to the vet. If he has an illness, they will not put him under anaesthetic for castration until he's better.

Is the cat vaccinated? There are a fair few viruses that can start off as respiratory problems. It's best to go now before the condition develops, especially if money is an issue.

Chalice

Answer 3

Absolute and foremost, as everyone has already said, vet ASAP - you may not have any time to waste.

I have a haunch that he perhaps has gotten into something toxic.

If a cool damp towel seems to be helping continue on with it until you do get him to a vet.

I would also be immediately concerned as to whether or not he is dehydrated. You can tell if your cat is dehydrated in several ways: look for a dry mouth, sunken eyes, lethargy and exhaustion and inelastic skin. You can test the skin by pulling it up on the back of their neck. If the skin doesn’t very quickly spring back into place your cat is dehydrated.

Dehydration can cause all sorts of extra issues so if it appears he is so and he refuses to drink on his own use a eyedropper to give him water (in small amounts) every hour or so until you can get him to a vet.

Good luck and just get him to a vet ASAP.

Answer 4

Anything within a pet that makes you this alarmed, including these signs: drastic behavior change, loss of appetite, change in bathroom routine/not using/peeing outside box suddenly with clean litter inside/lethargy --are all signs that something is VERY WRONG.

Please do what you can to get an appointment with the vet or call an emergency animal hospital (if you have one) in your area.

It is far better to be SAFE than SORRY and mourning the loss of a beloved pet.

Best of luck!

Answer 5

I know it's late/early, but you should definitely try to take him to an emergency vet (look in the phone book or online to find one in your area). Good luck with your kitty! Any time anything is out of the ordinary with your pets and it worries you, you should at least CALL a vet office where they can advise you well (and more quickly than on here). Then if it IS serious, you're already in the best position to let them know you're on your way. Good luck :)

Answer 6

Please please get your kitty to the vet asap. I had a kitten do something similar a few years ago and she was having a terrible asthma attack and almost died. I wasn't sure what was going on with her at the time either. Asthma is very common in cats and honestly can kill them...mine had her airways completely collapse, but they were quickly fixed with meds....please please get her to the vet.

I just read your additional details...please don't postpone the vet visit...if it's asthma she may die before you get her there and the only thing that will help it is appropriate meds from a vet. It sure sounds alot like how my cat was breathing at the time, and she almost died and I got her to the vet quickly.

Answer 7

i would defiantly take your cat to the vet. my friends cat was acting weird for a few days and she took him to the vet today to find that he had liver failure and had to put him to sleep poor buster. please don't let this happen to your cat if it is anything serious this way maybe they can find it soon enough to do something about it. please take your cat to the vet.

dude after reading your addition u really need to take this cat to a vet, we are not vets here we are people just like you. only person that can tell u what is wrong with the cat is a vet. take him or call an emergency vet instead of being on here adding more stuff to tell us about the cat.

Answer 8

the normal resperation rate for a cat is 20 to 30 breaths per min.
so count how many times his chest expends within a min. but young animals can be a bit faster than adults. (but not by much)

so provide plenty of water and check his mouth and throat is clear.
if it hassent got any better take him to your vet but call them now to see what they suggest as they have had more education on animal medicin than us.

Answer 9

take him to the vet! Seriously, even if you are not established somewhere, you can call an after hours vets, and atleast talk to a vet, or vet tech and they can help. This is the sort of thing, that he needs to be examined over. Please take him, just for a vet check in my town is only $32.00, so please take him. Better safe than sorry.

Answer 10

If you are concerned, its probably with good reason.

Why fill your days with worry and doubt? Take it to a VET.