{"id":6669,"date":"2023-02-21T02:11:04","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T02:11:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cats.com\/?p=6669"},"modified":"2025-11-21T16:54:52","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T16:54:52","slug":"heavy-breathing-cat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the 3 Types of Heavy Breathing in Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-73941 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cute-colorful-kitten-lying-on-the-floor.jpg\" alt=\"Cute colorful kitten lying on the floor\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cute-colorful-kitten-lying-on-the-floor.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cute-colorful-kitten-lying-on-the-floor-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cute-colorful-kitten-lying-on-the-floor-624x312.jpg 624w, https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cute-colorful-kitten-lying-on-the-floor-780x390.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"toc\"><span class=\"toc-title\">In This Article<\/span><ul class=\"toc-items\"><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#what-is-the-normal-respiration-rate-for-a-cat\" data-title=\"What Is the Normal Respiration Rate for a Cat?\">Normal Respiration Rate for Cats<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-3-types-of-heavy-breathing-in-cats\" data-title=\"The 3 Types of Heavy Breathing in Cats\">The 3 Types of Heavy Breathing in Cats<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#possible-causes-of-heavy-breathing-in-cats\" data-title=\"Possible Causes of Heavy Breathing in Cats\">Possible Causes<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#when-to-call-the-vet\" data-title=\"When to Call the Vet\">When to Call the Vet<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#treatment-of-heavy-breathing-in-cats\" data-title=\"Treatment of Heavy Breathing in Cats\">Treatment<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#prevention-of-cat-breathing-heavily\" data-title=\"Prevention of Cat Breathing Heavily\">Prevention<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>    <script>\r\n        document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function(event) {\r\n            let links = jQuery('.toc ul.toc-items li a');\r\n\r\n            let htmlspecialchars = function (text) {\r\n                var map = {\r\n                    '&': '&amp;',\r\n                    '<': '&lt;',\r\n                    '>': '&gt;',\r\n                    '\"': '&quot;',\r\n                    '\u201c': '&quot;',\r\n                    '\u201d': '&quot;',\r\n                    \"'\": '&#039;',\r\n                    \"\u2019\": '&#039;'\r\n                };\r\n\r\n                return text.replace(\/[&<>\"\u201c\u201d']\/g, function(m) { return map[m]; });\r\n            };\r\n\r\n            let titleToCompare = function(text) {\r\n                \/\/text = htmlspecialchars(text.trim());\r\n                text = text.trim();\r\n                text = text.toLowerCase();\r\n                text = text.replace('\u201c', '').replace('\u201d', '').replace('&amp;', '').replace('&lt;', '').replace('&gt;', '').replace('&quot;', '').replace('&#039;', '').replace('<', '').replace('>', '').replace('\"', '').replace(\"'\", '').replace(\"\u2019\", '');\r\n\r\n                return text;\r\n            };\r\n\r\n            links.each(function() {\r\n                let link = jQuery(this);\r\n\r\n                let title = titleToCompare(link.attr('data-title'));\r\n                let id = link.attr('href');\r\n\r\n                let selector = '.entry-content h2';\r\n\r\n                let headings = jQuery(selector);\r\n\r\n                headings.each(function() {\r\n                    heading = jQuery(this);\r\n                    headingId = heading.attr('id');\r\n\r\n                    var currentTitle = titleToCompare( heading.text() );\r\n\r\n                    console.log(title + ' == ' + currentTitle);\r\n\r\n                    if (currentTitle === title) {\r\n                        if (headingId > '') {\r\n                            console.log(title + ' == ' + headingId);\r\n                            link.attr('href', '#' + headingId);\r\n                        } else {\r\n                            heading.attr('id', id.replace(\"#\", \"\"));\r\n                        }\r\n\r\n                        return false;\r\n                    }\r\n                });\r\n            });\r\n\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \/\/ let setLeftPadding = function() {\r\n            \/\/     let toc = jQuery('.toc');\r\n            \/\/     let tocWidth = toc.outerWidth();\r\n            \/\/     let maxWidth = tocWidth - 40;\r\n            \/\/\r\n            \/\/     let items = jQuery('.toc ul.toc-items li');\r\n            \/\/\r\n            \/\/     let innerWidth = 0;\r\n            \/\/\r\n            \/\/     items.each(function() {\r\n            \/\/         let item = jQuery(this);\r\n            \/\/         let width = item.outerWidth() + 22;\r\n            \/\/\r\n            \/\/         innerWidth += width;\r\n            \/\/\r\n            \/\/         if ( innerWidth > maxWidth ) {\r\n            \/\/             innerWidth -= width;\r\n            \/\/\r\n            \/\/             return false;\r\n            \/\/         }\r\n            \/\/     });\r\n            \/\/\r\n            \/\/     let paddingLeft = (tocWidth - innerWidth) \/ 2;\r\n            \/\/\r\n            \/\/     toc.css({'padding-left': paddingLeft + 'px'});\r\n            \/\/ };\r\n            \/\/\r\n            \/\/ setLeftPadding();\r\n            \/\/\r\n            \/\/ jQuery(window).on('load', setLeftPadding);\r\n            \/\/ jQuery(window).resize(setLeftPadding);\r\n        });\r\n    <\/script>\r\n    \n<p>Breathing difficulties are both a symptom of and cause for distress in cats.<\/p>\n<p>The respiratory system, composed of the nose, trachea, and lungs, is a life-giving system that affects a cat\u2019s entire body. Air enters your cat\u2019s body through their nose and moves into their lungs, transferring oxygen into your cat\u2019s blood and nourishing the organs. As oxygen enters your cat\u2019s body through the nostrils, carbon dioxide moves out and into the atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p>The movement of breath is controlled by the respiratory center in your cat\u2019s brain and a network of nerves in their chest. When their body is in balance, your cat\u2019s breath is smooth and moderate without halting, wheezing, or excessive stomach movement. Changes in your cat\u2019s breathing pattern have a world of root causes. They might involve direct trauma or disorder in the respiratory system or could develop as a way to restore homeostasis in the body.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"What-is-the-normal-respiration-rate-for-a-cat\">What Is the Normal Respiration Rate for a Cat?<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever tried to synchronize your breath with your cat\u2019s and gotten lightheaded in the attempt, you know that cats naturally breathe more rapidly than do humans. While an adult human\u2019s resting respiration rate ranges from 12-16 breaths per minute, a cat might take between 16-30 breaths every minute.<\/p>\n<p>To measure your cat\u2019s resting respiration rate, count the number of breaths your cat takes while sleeping or calm and resting. Each breath is defined as one inhalation and one exhalation. Count the breaths for 30 seconds, then multiply by two to get the number of breaths your cat takes each minute.<\/p>\n<p>Some healthy cats take fewer than 20 breaths per minute while resting, but a number higher than 30-40 is reason for concern.<\/p>\n<p>Heavy breathing isn\u2019t always rapid, however. Heavy breathing manifests in several forms.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" data-cliversesrc=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WT6rhvVYVgg\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"The-Three-Types-of-Heavy-Breathing-in-Cats\">The 3 Types of Heavy Breathing in Cats<\/h2>\n<p>Your cat\u2019s heavy breathing can be broken down into three classifications: dyspnea, tachypnea, and panting. Let\u2019s learn more about each type of a cat&#8217;s heavy breathing.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Dyspnea\">1. Dyspnea: Labored Breathing<\/h3>\n<p>Dyspnea means \u201cdifficulty breathing\u201d. Cats with dyspnea may exhibit the following symptoms:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Increased effort &#8211; cat stomach contracting when breathing<\/li>\n<li>Open-mouthed breathing<\/li>\n<li>Noisy (wheezing, gasping) breaths<\/li>\n<li>Nostrils may flare open with each breath<\/li>\n<li>Restless, unable to settle or sleep<\/li>\n<li>Extension of head and neck when trying to breathe<\/li>\n<li>Either <a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/pale-gums-in-cats\">pale or bluish tint<\/a> (cyanosis) to the gums and mucous membranes<\/li>\n<li>Distress<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"Tachypnea\">2. Tachypnea: Rapid and Shallow Breathing<\/h3>\n<p>Tachypnea is when a cat\u2019s respiratory rate rises over the normal level (usually counted as over 40 breaths\/minute). Tachypnea can go alongside dyspnea, or can be a sole symptom with the cat breathing fast but otherwise normal.<\/p>\n<p>Cats who are purring can sometimes be mistaken for cats showing signs of tachypnea. It is easy to check if your cat is purring by either listening closely for that motorboat sound, or gently feeling the throat for the vibrations associated with purring.<\/p>\n<p>True and concerning rapid breathing can be accompanied by the following symptoms:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pale or bluish tint (cyanosis) to the gums and mucous membranes<\/li>\n<li>Fatigue<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"Panting\">3. Panting: Rapid Breathing With the Mouth Open<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/cat-panting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cat panting<\/a> is, essentially, tachypnea with the mouth open.<\/p>\n<p>Panting can be a normal physiological response. However, as cats are usually obligate nasal breathers (always breathe through their nose), panting is a sign of considerable stress to the system\u2014such as through <a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/stress-in-cats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stress<\/a>, extreme heat or exertion. Panting may also point to serious underlying medical conditions, including <a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heart-disease-in-cats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">heart<\/a> and lung disease.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Causes\">Possible Causes of Heavy Breathing in Cats<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_23541\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23541\" class=\"wp-image-23541\" src=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Kitten-Panting.jpg\" alt=\"cat breathing heavily\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Kitten-Panting.jpg 700w, https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Kitten-Panting-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Kitten-Panting-624x416.jpg 624w, https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Kitten-Panting-540x360.jpg 540w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-23541\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">As respiration is such an essential function, stress to almost any bodily system can result in changes to breathing.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>There are many potential causes of heavy breathing in cats, although many are related to the heart and respiratory system.<\/p>\n<h3>Causes of Dyspnea in Cats<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Disorders of the trachea, including foreign objects stuck in the throat, tumors, or an elongated soft palate<\/li>\n<li>Nasal disorders, including undersized nostrils, infections, tumors, or bleeding.<\/li>\n<li>Diseases of the lungs and lower windpipe, such as infections, pneumothorax, fluid in the lungs, <a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heartworm-disease-in-cats\">heartworms<\/a>, or tumors.<\/li>\n<li>Disorders in the chest wall, including physical trauma and paralysis caused by toxins.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/congestive-heart-failure-in-cats\">Congestive heart failure<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Disorders in the abdomen, such as an enlarged liver, bloating, or fluid buildup.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Causes of Tachypnea in Cats<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Hypoxemia (low oxygen levels in the blood)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/anemia-in-cats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Anemia<\/a> (decreased red blood cell count)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/lung-cancer-in-cats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lung cancer<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Heart failure<\/li>\n<li>Heartworms<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/fever-in-cats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fever<\/a>, which can cause tachypnea as your cat breathes rapidly in an attempt to cool down their body<\/li>\n<li>Stress, such as from travel or vet visits or when coming across another animal outdoors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Causes of Panting in Cats<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Heat:<\/strong> Just like dogs, cats use panting as a thermoregulation mechanism, although less commonly than their canine friends. This open-mouthed rapid breathing helps them to manage their body temperature in hot weather. Panting can be a sign of heat stress or heatstroke.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Exertion:<\/strong> Cats can pant when exercising or playing. This may happen because your cat is overweight, or it could be a normal response to continued exertion, especially if the weather is warm.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Stress:<\/strong> This is a common source of panting. Cats often pant when they\u2019re in the car or while at the veterinarian.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Heart problems:<\/strong> Complications such <a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy-in-cats\">hypertrophic cardiomyopathy<\/a> (abnormally thickened heart muscles) could cause panting.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/cat-bronchitis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Asthma<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> In addition to <a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/cat-coughing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">coughing<\/a>, hacking, and wheezing, some asthmatic cats pant.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"Call\">When to Call the Vet<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_73338\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-73338\" class=\"wp-image-73338 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/vet-and-cat.jpg\" alt=\"vet checking cat\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/vet-and-cat.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/vet-and-cat-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/vet-and-cat-624x416.jpg 624w, https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/vet-and-cat-540x360.jpg 540w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-73338\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Heavy breathing can indicate a serious medical concern in cats, and should warrant a veterinary trip.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Most cases of heavy breathing in cats require urgent veterinary attention. Cats breathing with their mouth open, with noisy breaths, or with significant effort to take in breaths should be taken to a veterinarian as an emergency.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A cat breathing heavily while resting, cool and calm, should be taken for veterinary attention. <\/span>Cats should have a resting respiratory rate of 16-30 breaths per minute. \u00a0A resting respiration rate of over 30 is considered unusual and anything over 40 breaths\/minute should be treated as urgent.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s helpful to check first if your cat is purring, as this can sometimes make it look like they&#8217;re breathing rapidly, even while resting. This is an easy thing to check for and rule out. However, purring does not involve any additional effort. Additional effort or exertion is always abnormal.<\/p>\n<p>If your cat is breathing rapidly while hot, stressed or during\/after exercise, this may be a temporary response. Bring them into a cool, calm environment, and encourage them to have water and rest. If their breathing doesn\u2019t quickly return to normal, contact your veterinarian as they may have an underlying issue such as <a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heart-disease-in-cats\">heart disease<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heatstroke-in-cats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">heatstroke<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Treatment\">Treatment of Heavy Breathing in Cats<\/h2>\n<p>If your cat is in respiratory distress, they should be seen urgently by a vet. They will likely need immediate stabilization with oxygen therapy as an emergency measure, along with other treatments such as a mild sedative and fluid assessment.<\/p>\n<p>Your vet will look for the underlying problem causing the changes to breathing. This may include <a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/cat-bloodwork\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bloodwork<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/radiographs-for-cats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">x-rays<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/ultrasound-for-cats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ultrasound scans<\/a> and assessing for any fluid in the chest or abdomen.<\/p>\n<p>Treatment will depend on the underlying cause. Many cats will require oxygen supplementation, alongside medications to help open up the airways and reduce any fluid build-up if present.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Prevention\">Prevention of Cat Breathing Heavily<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_23540\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23540\" class=\"wp-image-23540\" src=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Cat-Panting-Feature.jpg\" alt=\"Maine Coon Panting\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Cat-Panting-Feature.jpg 700w, https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Cat-Panting-Feature-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Cat-Panting-Feature-624x416.jpg 624w, https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Cat-Panting-Feature-540x360.jpg 540w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-23540\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">If a cat is panting due to heat, move them into a cool, shaded or indoor area and encourage them to drink.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Many causes of respiratory difficulties cannot be prevented, as they often involve underlying health issues such as heart or lung disease. It is recommended for cats to have regular veterinary check-ups at least once or twice a year.<\/p>\n<p>Because cats are very good at hiding underlying health conditions, especially early on, regular health screening with your vet can be crucial to early detection and reducing the risk of a sudden and severe onset of a heavy breathing crisis.<\/p>\n<p>There are some measures to take to prevent physiological causes of rapid or open mouthed breathing.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ensure cats have a cool place to rest in hot weather, and plenty of cool, fresh water to avoid heatstroke.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid sources of stress where possible.<\/li>\n<li>When playing or exercising your cat, provide plenty of opportunity to rest.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<!-- Shortcode [ask-a-vet-new] does not match the conditions -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Breathing difficulties are both a symptom of and cause for distress in cats. The respiratory system, composed of the nose, trachea, and lungs, is a life-giving system that affects a&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat\">Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":73941,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[15,72,47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cat-health","category-cat-symptoms","category-most-popular"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Understanding the 3 Types of Heavy Breathing in Cats - Cats.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Breathing difficulties are both a symptom of and cause for distress, both in the respiratory system and throughout your cat\u2019s body. Find out more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Understanding the 3 Types of Heavy Breathing in Cats - Cats.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Breathing difficulties are both a symptom of and cause for distress, both in the respiratory system and throughout your cat\u2019s body. Find out more.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Cats.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wwwallaboutcats\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-02-21T02:11:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-21T16:54:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cute-colorful-kitten-lying-on-the-floor.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mallory Crusta\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Doron0204\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Doron0204\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mallory Crusta\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Mallory Crusta\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/#\/schema\/person\/ce99ca960918f7de23d88db865b518ca\"},\"headline\":\"Understanding the 3 Types of Heavy Breathing in Cats\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-02-21T02:11:04+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-21T16:54:52+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat\"},\"wordCount\":1401,\"commentCount\":76,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cute-colorful-kitten-lying-on-the-floor.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Cat Health\",\"Cat Symptoms\",\"Most Popular\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat\",\"name\":\"Understanding the 3 Types of Heavy Breathing in Cats - Cats.com\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cute-colorful-kitten-lying-on-the-floor.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-02-21T02:11:04+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-21T16:54:52+00:00\",\"description\":\"Breathing difficulties are both a symptom of and cause for distress, both in the respiratory system and throughout your cat\u2019s body. Find out more.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cute-colorful-kitten-lying-on-the-floor.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cute-colorful-kitten-lying-on-the-floor.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":600,\"caption\":\"Cute colorful kitten lying on the floor\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/\",\"name\":\"Cats.com\",\"description\":\"In-depth cat product reviews, behavior guides, and vet-written education on symptoms, diseases, and more.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Cats.com\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cats-com-logo.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cats-com-logo.svg\",\"width\":115,\"height\":24,\"caption\":\"Cats.com\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wwwallaboutcats\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/Doron0204\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/doronwolffberg\/were-all-about-the-cats\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC2fX-cJNCODSByMC3SpuQSQ\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/#\/schema\/person\/ce99ca960918f7de23d88db865b518ca\",\"name\":\"Mallory Crusta\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/cropped-Small-pfp-96x96.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/cropped-Small-pfp-96x96.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Mallory Crusta\"},\"description\":\"Mallory is an NAVC-certified Pet Nutrition Coach. Having produced and managed multimedia content across several pet-related domains, Mallory is dedicated to ensuring that the information on Cats.com is accurate, clear, and engaging. When she\u2019s not reviewing pet products or editing content, Mallory enjoys skiing, hiking, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. She has two cats, Wessie and Forest.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mallory-crusta-6b4382130\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/cats.com\/author\/mcrustawildernesscat-com\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Understanding the 3 Types of Heavy Breathing in Cats - Cats.com","description":"Breathing difficulties are both a symptom of and cause for distress, both in the respiratory system and throughout your cat\u2019s body. Find out more.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Understanding the 3 Types of Heavy Breathing in Cats - Cats.com","og_description":"Breathing difficulties are both a symptom of and cause for distress, both in the respiratory system and throughout your cat\u2019s body. Find out more.","og_url":"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat","og_site_name":"Cats.com","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wwwallaboutcats\/","article_published_time":"2023-02-21T02:11:04+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-11-21T16:54:52+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":600,"url":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cute-colorful-kitten-lying-on-the-floor.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Mallory Crusta","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@Doron0204","twitter_site":"@Doron0204","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Mallory Crusta","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat"},"author":{"name":"Mallory Crusta","@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/#\/schema\/person\/ce99ca960918f7de23d88db865b518ca"},"headline":"Understanding the 3 Types of Heavy Breathing in Cats","datePublished":"2023-02-21T02:11:04+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-21T16:54:52+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat"},"wordCount":1401,"commentCount":76,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cute-colorful-kitten-lying-on-the-floor.jpg","articleSection":["Cat Health","Cat Symptoms","Most Popular"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat","url":"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat","name":"Understanding the 3 Types of Heavy Breathing in Cats - Cats.com","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cute-colorful-kitten-lying-on-the-floor.jpg","datePublished":"2023-02-21T02:11:04+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-21T16:54:52+00:00","description":"Breathing difficulties are both a symptom of and cause for distress, both in the respiratory system and throughout your cat\u2019s body. Find out more.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/heavy-breathing-cat#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cute-colorful-kitten-lying-on-the-floor.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cute-colorful-kitten-lying-on-the-floor.jpg","width":1200,"height":600,"caption":"Cute colorful kitten lying on the floor"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/cats.com\/","name":"Cats.com","description":"In-depth cat product reviews, behavior guides, and vet-written education on symptoms, diseases, and more.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/cats.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/#organization","name":"Cats.com","url":"https:\/\/cats.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cats-com-logo.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cats-com-logo.svg","width":115,"height":24,"caption":"Cats.com"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wwwallaboutcats\/","https:\/\/x.com\/Doron0204","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/doronwolffberg\/were-all-about-the-cats\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC2fX-cJNCODSByMC3SpuQSQ"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/#\/schema\/person\/ce99ca960918f7de23d88db865b518ca","name":"Mallory Crusta","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/cats.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/cropped-Small-pfp-96x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/cropped-Small-pfp-96x96.jpg","caption":"Mallory Crusta"},"description":"Mallory is an NAVC-certified Pet Nutrition Coach. Having produced and managed multimedia content across several pet-related domains, Mallory is dedicated to ensuring that the information on Cats.com is accurate, clear, and engaging. When she\u2019s not reviewing pet products or editing content, Mallory enjoys skiing, hiking, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. She has two cats, Wessie and Forest.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mallory-crusta-6b4382130\/"],"url":"https:\/\/cats.com\/author\/mcrustawildernesscat-com"}]}},"modified_by":"Dr. Chris Vanderhoof, DVM, MPH","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6669","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6669"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6669\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":107653,"href":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6669\/revisions\/107653"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/73941"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cats.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}