Since I hadn't really paid that much attention to it, I'm not entirely
sure. But I think it settles down fairly quickly. I'm very hopeful it's
just her not knowing when to quit. She has an appointment with her vet
next week (vet wasn't in until then, and I would rather wait on her than
go with someone else).

The times it's happened were always after she's been running, either
from room to room (which she does, and doesn't stop, plus makes detours
on and off of anything she sees), or going after her laser dot. I've
never seen a cat play as hard as she does, and that's a lifetime of cats.

When we get started with the laser dot (that I use as a nighttime way to
wear her out so she'll sleep through the night), I'm always the one who
tires first. And I'm just sitting there pointing it around the room! By
the time I stop, I'm nearly panting myself just from watching her.

Usually when she wakes up from a nap, she's a sleepy head for a couple
of minutes. She has bed head and her eyes are squinty and she does a lot
of stretching and yawning. (She's also super cuddly) But if she wakes up
and sees the dot, she's off immediately, running and going crazy for it.

I've really never seen anything like it...this dot is her crack pipe.

So I'm really hoping that the panting is my fault for not stopping the
dot sooner.

Thanks, Rhonda. I think I had an attack of self pity last night,
thinking worst case scenario. I was thinking what a cruel twist of fate
it would be to have to face heart problems and possibly a short life
span so soon after losing Dmitri.

And then I just cried and cried for Jack, because bless his heart, he's
gone through so much loss in his life.

Today I have a better spin on it, and that's that if she *does* have a
heart problem, then I know for sure Dmitri picked her out for me. I may
not know that much about cat health (which is why I come here), but I'm
willing to learn and do everything I can to give them a good life. He
knew that.

But I'm really hopeful it will be okay. Jack and I love that little
sprite so much.

Juls

No, no, no, Ginger-lyn, you didn't upset me! You're not the only one who
has suggested cardiomyopathy, plus I'm still grieving for Dmitri, who
passed away in his sleep. (He was 16 and had early stage CRF, but his
death was a horrible shock and devastated Jack and me) I upset myself by
thinking worst case scenario when she hasn't even had her exam yet.

I'm always very emotional when it comes to my pets. (Gee, is that
obvious??) Jasmine (the panting kitten) is deaf, and it was just tearing
me up that she might have a heart problem too. But now I'm just hoping
she doesn't, and if she does, then I'm glad I adopted her and not
someone who wouldn't care and wouldn't do what's necessary to help her
live a good life. I was also really upset thinking about Jack, and how
horrible it would be for him to lose another buddy. Dmitri's death tore
him up so much. (He's had loss...started out as a feral, then was
adopted, had some tragedy in that, and then was given up by his owner
who was dying of breast cancer...I adopted him from her and he had to
travel halfway across the country to get to me, but he's been so happy)

Tell me, what kind of tests did they do on your cats with the panting?
My vet does not have a sonogram machine, so I'm wondering if I'll be
okay with her analysis, or need to find one somewhere with a machine. I
trust my vet, but I'm also bad about second guessing things, and I don't
want to miss something because I didn't get a sonogram.

I should start a new thread and ask others as well....

Juls

My question is, is this specific to cats? After all, humans who
overexert pant, too. The critical thing is how long it takes to get back
to normal (in humans). Isn't that part of the stress test?

I haven't had a chance to look up panting in cats, but thought I'd ask.
My own pants a bit when it's really hot out, but he's never been so
overexerted that he's gotten to that point.