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Comfort your cat when they’re panting due to heat, stress, or overexertion
Unlike dogs, cats don’t typically pant to cool down on a hot day, so it can be worrisome to observe your cat breathing rapidly. To alleviate your cat’s distress, you first need to determine the cause of their panting. In most cases, cats pant because they’re feeling overheated, anxious, or have been exerting themselves too much during playtime. The good news is that there are straightforward and effective methods to calm your cat and help them stop panting in these situations. In this guide, we’ll explain how to recognize your cat’s panting, techniques to calm them down, and when panting might indicate a need for a visit to the veterinarian.
Key Points to Remember
- To soothe a panting cat, provide them with a cool, quiet spot to rest and eliminate any stressors from their environment.
- Cats typically pant because they’re feeling too warm, anxious, or have overexerted themselves during play.
- If your cat continues to pant heavily and breathe rapidly, it’s advisable to contact your veterinarian or schedule an appointment. This could be indicative of an underlying illness.
Practical Steps
Helping Your Cat Cool Down
Guide your cat to a cool area and provide water. To lower your cat's body temperature, switch on the air conditioning or set up a standing fan. Place a cotton blanket in a shady, cool spot and position a large bowl of cold water nearby. Comfort your cat by gently patting them with a slightly damp towel under their chin, around their ears, on their paws, and their belly.
- To prepare for hot weather, scatter water bowls throughout your home and arrange a bed or cardboard box in a cool, secluded spot where your cat can rest.
- If your cat spends time outdoors, ensure there are shaded areas in your yard. On extremely hot days, keep them indoors.
- Allow your cat to rest during hot weather—lengthy, vigorous play sessions can cause them to overheat rapidly.
Comforting a Anxious Cat
Remove your cat from stressful situations promptly. Loud noises and unfamiliar visitors frequently trigger stress and anxiety in cats. To lower your cat's stress levels, reduce noise and relocate your cat to a quiet, isolated area in your home. If your cat becomes anxious during car journeys, provide cool air, calming music, and securely place them in a carrier with visibility.
- Ensure there are secure hideaways around your home where your cat can retreat to and relax, such as a tall cat tower or a pet house tucked away in a tranquil corner.
- Artificial pheromones that mimic the natural chemicals your cat emits from their facial glands can also ease your cat's anxiety. Install a pheromone diffuser in a calm room or near your cat's preferred hiding spot. For when you're on the move, utilize a pheromone spray on your cat carrier to soothe their nerves.
Comforting a Fatigued Cat
Encourage your cat to rest and discontinue playtime. If you observe your cat panting after engaging in play with a teaser toy or chasing a catnip mouse, remove the toy. Speak softly to your cat and guide them to a cool, quiet area where they can relax.
- To further calm them down, use a pheromone spray on their bed or in the room.
Causes of Cat Panting
They’re overheated. Heat commonly triggers panting in cats, especially when they have no other means of cooling down. Your cat may pant if the environment is warm and lacks shaded areas for them to rest, or if there's insufficient ventilation during car rides.
- Cats primarily regulate their body temperature through their paw pads, sweating to cool off. If they can't find a cool, shaded spot, they resort to panting to alleviate heat.
They’re experiencing stress. Identify potential stressors that may agitate your cat. Perhaps a visit to the vet induces anxiety during car rides, or the presence of a friend's new puppy overwhelms your cat with noise and unfamiliarity.
They've exerted themselves. Consider your cat's recent activities before they started panting. It could be vigorous play with a laser pointer or a sudden burst of energy known as the zoomies.
Possible Illness If your cat is panting and you cannot identify any apparent causes such as heat or stress, there may be an underlying illness or condition contributing to their panting. Look for additional behavioral signs to determine if your cat is unwell, such as lethargy, coughing, and difficulty breathing.
When to Seek Veterinary Attention
Prolonged Panting If your cat continues to pant even after calming down, it could indicate illness. Panting due to heat, stress, or exertion typically subsides after a few minutes once your cat relaxes. However, persistent, unprovoked panting warrants a trip to the veterinarian.
Wheezing and Coughing Rapid breathing and wheezing could indicate asthma in your cat. If you observe quick breathing accompanied by wheezing, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.
Lack of Energy Respiratory infections caused by viruses or bacteria can affect your cat's energy levels and playfulness. If your cat is lethargic, panting, and coughing, arrange a veterinary visit promptly.
Loss of Appetite This could indicate heart disease. If you observe your cat refusing to eat, being less active, and experiencing difficulty breathing, schedule an immediate appointment with your veterinarian. Untreated, heart disease may progress to congestive heart failure.
Difficulty Breathing Panting and difficulty breathing might signal heartworm disease in your cat. While there's currently no cure for this disease, your veterinarian can provide advice and treatments to alleviate inflammation and manage your cat's symptoms.
- Consider discussing monthly heartworm medication with your veterinarian to prevent infection.
Blue Gums and Rapid Breathing If you notice these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately. This typically indicates insufficient oxygen intake for your cat.
