9.5 lbs vs 12lbs..sorry

I'd get him to the vet to be checked out. He might have an upper respiratory
infection or it could be asthma. My vote would be the URI. I've seen a lot
of that with our rescues lately and it seems to take forever for them to get
over the sneezing.

W

I might be asthma. It could also be an enlarged heart. The vet can test
for that with an x-ray. My dog has this, and she gets out of breath
easily when playing too much. The problem is that her heart, which is
not unhealthy, just larger than ideal for her body size; pushes on her
windpipe. So, when it pumps faster, it pushes more, and causes her to
get out of breath.

When she gains weight, she starts coughing, more at night, but during
the day too. The added fat leaves less room in the body, putting more
pressure on her. So, we have to keep her on a special diet to keep the
weight off. She was diagnosed with the enlarged heart about 8 years
ago, shortly after I got her. She was 4 at the time, so 12 now, and she
is doing great. It is just a matter of keeping her weight and check,
not taking her on long walks, and making sure she takes a break if
playing too much with the other dog.

I would definitely take him to the vet and find out what is wrong. Once
you know, you can learn how best to deal with it. Knowledge is power. I
was so freaked out when my dog was diagnosed. I went the university
library to study more, was not satisfied, and ordered an expensive vet
book on heart conditions in small animals. Once I read up on it, I felt
much better.

What did the vet say when you took Fred in for evaluation?

Priscilla

Please get your cat to a vet ASAP. What you describe is consistent with
a heart problem and you need to get an ultrasound done immediately to
best diagnose what's going on and get him on a treatment regimen.
Panting is a classic sign of cardiomyopathy, not asthma.

Megan-BTDT

                                   

I also want to add that I had the same exact thing happen when trying to
trim my cat Omar's (RB) claws and I immediately made an appointment with
the vet and he was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. The panting
was caused by related fluid accumulation in the chest cavity which was
brought under control with Lasix. That's why I am underlining the need
for you to get Fred to the vet ASAP.

Megan

                                   

You definitely should get Fred checked out by a vet. The sneezing would
indicate he might have an upper respiratory illness. Cats also sometimes
sneeze if they're infested with worms.

It's also known that cats sometimes will start panting (which is the
behavior you described) when they're frightened, in pain, or under some
other kind of stress. The claw trimming could have caused great enough
distress to Fred that he reacted by panting. I've seen it happen with
one of my own cats: When I adopted Leo about six weeks ago, he was
panting quite heavily on the drive home. The vet gave him a clean bill
of health, and said the poor cat was simply so upset about being in the
car that he reacted by panting. Just a possibility. But get Fred checked
out in any case.

Sounds like upper respitory, take him to the vet. It's easily treated
but go soon.