Why is a cat panting?

Question

My friend has a cat. He is likely 14-15 years old, and overweight. Last night she said he started panting and lying flat on the bed. He wasn't running around or anything. She was afraid he was having a stroke, but the vet told her as long as he is eating and drinking, which he is, nothing to worry about. Has anyone else experienced this?

My friend said that her cat is sleeping right now.

Answer 1

I'd be a little suspicious, just based on the info you gave. Maybe the vet had more info that made him less concerned.

If the cat just flopped over and started panting with no external reasons, like heat or exertion, and if this is not the normal behavior of this cat, I'd be concerned enough to see a vet, particularly if it doesn't resolve in a day. If it just happened that once and the cat is now acting normal, particularly if the vet who knows him thinks it's OK, I'd just keep a close eye on him.

Answer 2

A cat panting (unless he has just been chased by something) is always something to worry about. I'm surprised a vet would say such a thing.

I'd take the cat to a vet, either the one your friend called, if he's the cat's regular vet and your friend trusts him or, preferably, another vet.

The cat may have a respiratory infection, some sort of obstruction in his mouth, throat, or lungs or, I think most likely, heart failure (cardiomyopathy). Or he may be in severe pain.

I'm not a vet but I have worked in a vet hospital for six years, and every cae I have ever seen of a cat panting for no reason was a very serious matter.

Answer 3

Yes, cats pant when they're hot - just like dogs, so do big cats. And they're covered with fur, so if it was hot and humid in the house, the cat may have just been warm. Especially if he's obese. That extra fat can get hot.

If the house was cool, and the cat hadn't been active immediately before the panting, I would suggest that your friend get a vet exam, with a full blood panel. There are several (treatable) medical conditions which can cause elevated body temperatures, such as thyroid disease, or diabetes. Common in older obese cats. This possibility should be ruled out first.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Cats normally do not pant as dogs do unless in labour, extremely overheated or stressed. Much of the time what cat owners may perceive as panting is really another type of behavior called the flehman reaction. When a cat smells something it is interested in or something extremely pungent, it may curl back its lips and open its mouth to further investigate the scent. What your cat is doing is tasting the smell it has detected. This is completely natural behavior and no cause for alarm

Answer 5

My cat does this.I have never had a cat in all my life that has panted.The only time mine does it is when he is playing for a while.I also called the vet and they said if he is only doing it when he is playing then it is OK,otherwise if he isn't doing anything at the time and starts panting then I would get him checked out. My cat is only two years old and your friends cat is older.I do agree this is a weird thing for a cat to do.

Answer 6

Yea, I would say that the cat is in pain also. Usually a cat only pants when it has been running a long period of time

Answer 7

Yes. My cat pants all the time. He/she could of been hot. Just like humans cats have those problems too.
=)
if you see any changes, get him/her to the vet. But as long as its eating and drinking, should be nothing to worry about.

Vets normally arent wrong =)

good luck

Answer 8

I would guess that the cat is HOT. Try to keep him cool and don't overwork him with too much exercise all in a short period. Also, cats lay flat and stretched out when they are hot and they curl up and cover their nose when they are cold.

Answer 9

The vet is wrong! The cat is in pain! get the cat in right away!

Answer 10

The cat is old and over weight? Well then, it is having a hard time breathing or it could be hot, hungary, sick, or thirsty, keep it drinking lots of fluids... water!