Understanding cat Breathing

h2 style="text-align: left;"> Causes and Concerns

Why does a cat breathe with its mouth open? 🤨

"My cat breathes like a dog." Such a condition often worries owners. The reasons for this type of breathing can be physiological or pathological.Your cat care. 

Physiological reasons:

• Physical activity. After a long play session or a marathon around the apartment, a kitty may continue to breathe with its tongue out for a while. This condition usually resolves on its own within 5-7 minutes.

• Overheating. High ambient temperatures can lead to overheating. This type of breathing regulates heat exchange in the body. Cats with long fur, excess weight, or certain breed predispositions are prone to this.Cat care. 

• Stress. Stress leads to intense psychological and emotional strain, resulting in the body producing a large amount of adrenaline, causing the heart to beat faster and breathing to become rapid.

With physiological reasons, if the irritant is removed, breathing should return to normal.

‼️Pathological reasons are dangerous for the pet's life! Shortness of breath is just a symptom that hides serious pathologies, including:

• Cardiovascular diseases (including cardiogenic pulmonary edema)

• Respiratory system pathologies (bronchitis, rhinitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, asthma, etc.)

• Allergic reactions (Quincke's edema);

• Trauma of various etiologies (head, chest, abdominal injuries)

• Pain and shock (circulatory disorders);

• Poisoning by toxic substances (household chemicals, indoor plants, volatile toxic substances, etc.)

• Foreign object entering the respiratory tract

All these dangerous conditions may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath (normal respiratory rate is 12-27 breaths per minute)

• Blue or grayish-white mucous membranes

• Disorientation in space,

• Forced body position

• Cough

• Drooling, etc.

If you notice these symptoms in your cat, you should immediately seek veterinary cat care, where a veterinarian can assess the animal's condition and provide assistance.