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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / July 2004fast, shallow breathing
I have a 4 1/2 month old female kitten that's been with me for six weeks. Aside from coming home with a tapeworm, which has now been eliminated, she seems the picture of health. Enormous appetite, weed-like growth, and possessed of astonishing energy and strength (she'll jump 5 feet straight up to grab things out of my hand). The only thing that concerns me is that she breathes more rapidly and shallowly than my other two cats. When running around or otherwise active, she breathes about 60 - 70 times per minute, sometimes even panting briefly. When my other two cats sleep, they breathe so slowly that sometimes I've occasionaly awakened them to make sure they're still alive. With the kitten, her sleep-breathing is still fast and shallow. She doesn't cough, wheeze, or vomit, and shows no signs of breathing distress. She's very active, and will romp around for hours without stopping. Is this, rapid shallow breathing cause for concern? > The only thing that concerns me is that she breathes more rapidly and shallowly than my other two cats. I wouldn't even venture a guess until she has been to a vet. Well, she has a tinier little respritory system so her breathing will probably be faster somewhat. I will also say this, when my Sugar was that age (and basiclaly until she turned one) she did not have an OFF when it came to play. *I* had to be the off switch and control the rate of speed of the play because she would run and play herself to a frenzy, panting and the whole nine yards. So as long as the panting stops within a minute or so of play stopping its probably OK. I did not have that problem with her brother, even as a kitten. When he got tired he stopped, but not Sugar. She did eventually learn however. > I have a 4 1/2 month old female kitten that's been with me for six weeks. > Aside from coming home with a tapeworm, which has now been eliminated, she [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Is this, rapid shallow breathing cause for concern? >When running around or otherwise >active, she breathes about 60 - 70 times >per minute, sometimes even panting >briefly. The average breaths per minute for a cat at rest is 20-30. 60-70, even with activity, seems high and the cat panting so easily is worrisome. These symptoms can be indicative of a heart condition. My cat Omar had these symptoms and was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy. You should definitely take the kitten in for an exam and talk to your vet about scheduling an echocardiogram to see if there is indeed a heart condition. If caught early, and depending on the type of problem, it is possible to treat with medication and have a good quality of life for quite some time. Megan  Signature"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray >>When running around or otherwise >>active, she breathes about 60 - 70 times [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > >- W.H. Murray I'd echo the heart disease caution. My brother's poor cat exhibited those symptoms, and the vet found heart problems. Also cats can breathe rapidly and shallowly when in pain or distress. HOWEVER - balance this with some restraint .. it IS a kitten, and perhaps it's just whipping itself into a frenzy. Nonetheless, a trip to the Vet may be a very good idea. Better to catch something early than have it become life-threatening (and far more expensive to treat) later. Brian Link, Minnesota Countertenor ---------------------------------- "I think animal testing is a terrible idea; they get all nervous and give the wrong answers." - regmech Hi, Megan. How is Omar doing? My Maxx, who also had dilated cardiomyopathy, lost his fight and died today. :`( Would you email off the group please? Linda : The average breaths per minute for a cat at rest is 20-30. 60-70, even : with activity, seems high and the cat panting so easily is worrisome. [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] : : - W.H. Murray --- SignatureOutgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Hi, Megan. How is Omar doing? My Maxx, who also had dilated > cardiomyopathy, lost his fight and died today. :`( Linda I am So sorry to hear this :((( Thank you very much, Karen. I miss Maxx simply terribly and just don't know what I'm going to do without him. He was a total "in your face&lap" cat and was with me constantly. Now there's just a big empty hole in my life... If you'd like to see him, here's a picture I took of him a week before he died. http://www.picturetrail.com/bluemaxx - Maxx is in the "Family, Friends and Flowers" folder, along with my other 2 furrbabies. hugz, Linda : > Hi, Megan. How is Omar doing? My Maxx, who also had dilated : > cardiomyopathy, lost his fight and died today. :`( : > : Linda I am So sorry to hear this :((( --- SignatureOutgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Aww....he was quite handsome. I know that Siamese type. They are VERY in your face-I will sit on you- you must pet me until I am done and if you put me off I will grumble- in attitude aren't they? My Pearl is black but that is just a Siamese in disguise. My most heartfelt condolences. Maxx will very likely send you a kitten in need that is just what you need one day when you need it most. Karen > Thank you very much, Karen. I miss Maxx simply terribly and just don't > know what I'm going to do without him. He was a total "in your [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > --- > I have a 4 1/2 month old female kitten that's been with me for six weeks. > Aside from coming home with a tapeworm, which has now been eliminated, she [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Is this, rapid shallow breathing cause for concern? My first thought was an enlarged heart or congenital lung problems, but those usually cause other symptoms which it doesn't sound like she has, such as stunted growth, poor appetite, lethargy, and the like. Is it possible she's just being a normal kitten and you're used to your adult cats? Kittens do breathe at a more rapid rate than adult cats. It is not unusual for kittens to pant for a minute or so after intense activity. All my kittens have. If you're at all concerned, talk to your vet. Always better safe than sorry. I've taken more than one pet to the vet for something that turned out to be nothing. I figure the fee was worth it for my peace of mind. :) Signature-- ~kaeli~ Shotgun wedding: A case of wife or death. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace Tiger breathes normally except when purring. Then his breath rate doubles. It has always been like that. ---MIKE--- Kaeli wrote: >My first thought was an enlarged heart or >congenital lung problems, but those >usually cause other symptoms which it >doesn't sound like she has, such as >stunted growth, poor appetite, lethargy, >and the like. Not necessarily. There are many cats that have been diagnosed with heart conditions that have shown none of these symptoms, and there have been posts here in the past from people who had no idea their cats had a heart problem until they found them dead. Sometimes the only symptoms of a heart condition are panting and/or fast shallow breathing, which is exactly what happened in Omar's case. In all other respects he acted normal. Megan Signature"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray The kitten is going to the vet Thursday morning. Also, I measured her breathing rate a little more accurately this afternoon. While sleeping, it was a consistent 27 per minute. |
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