Possibly asthma?

[sasssykat]

Have a kitten that is 5 months and she pants when she plays too hard.
So I read up and got concerned about HCM. Took her into the dr's and
did a chest xray - nothing out of place. Just did the ECG and they
don't see anything wrong with her heart. But they mentioned that it
could, maybe, possible be a beginning to asthma. They didn't suggest
any other tests but thought it might be an idea to treat her with a
neublizer. Now I wanna be a good mama but I don't know what to
think???? I don't want to treat her with steroids if she's just an
oddball. She only pants after mega-exertion and will stop quickly
(less than a minute) if we stop playing with her. She doesn't stop
herself from playing so it can't be that drastic.

I'm just wondering if other folks have seen this and did it turn out
to be asthma and at what point should we start treating??? Thanks for
any advice.

[Karen]

in article , sasssykat at
wrote on 9/30/03 5:43 PM:

> Have a kitten that is 5 months and she pants when she plays too hard.
> So I read up and got concerned about HCM. Took her into the dr's and
> did a chest xray - nothing out of place. Just did the ECG and they
> don't see anything wrong with her heart. But they mentioned that it
> could, maybe, possible be a beginning to asthma. They didn't suggest
> any other tests but thought it might be an idea to treat her with a
> neublizer. Now I wanna be a good mama but I don't know what to
> think???? I don't want to treat her with steroids if she's just an
> oddball. She only pants after mega-exertion and will stop quickly
> (less than a minute) if we stop playing with her. She doesn't stop
> herself from playing so it can't be that drastic.
>
> I'm just wondering if other folks have seen this and did it turn out
> to be asthma and at what point should we start treating??? Thanks for
> any advice.

My cat SUgar panted when she played hard when she was little. She didn't
know when to stop, and I had to take that as a cue. As she got older, she
figured out when she was done playing. It's if they pant when not doing
really hard play, or the panting doesn't stop after a few seconds (like 30
or so.) that you should worry.

Karen

[Karen]

in article , sasssykat at
wrote on 9/30/03 5:43 PM:

> Have a kitten that is 5 months and she pants when she plays too hard.
> So I read up and got concerned about HCM. Took her into the dr's and
> did a chest xray - nothing out of place. Just did the ECG and they
> don't see anything wrong with her heart. But they mentioned that it
> could, maybe, possible be a beginning to asthma. They didn't suggest
> any other tests but thought it might be an idea to treat her with a
> neublizer. Now I wanna be a good mama but I don't know what to
> think???? I don't want to treat her with steroids if she's just an
> oddball. She only pants after mega-exertion and will stop quickly
> (less than a minute) if we stop playing with her. She doesn't stop
> herself from playing so it can't be that drastic.
>
> I'm just wondering if other folks have seen this and did it turn out
> to be asthma and at what point should we start treating??? Thanks for
> any advice.

My cat SUgar panted when she played hard when she was little. She didn't
know when to stop, and I had to take that as a cue. As she got older, she
figured out when she was done playing. It's if they pant when not doing
really hard play, or the panting doesn't stop after a few seconds (like 30
or so.) that you should worry.

Karen

[Karen]

in article , sasssykat at
wrote on 9/30/03 5:43 PM:

> Have a kitten that is 5 months and she pants when she plays too hard.
> So I read up and got concerned about HCM. Took her into the dr's and
> did a chest xray - nothing out of place. Just did the ECG and they
> don't see anything wrong with her heart. But they mentioned that it
> could, maybe, possible be a beginning to asthma. They didn't suggest
> any other tests but thought it might be an idea to treat her with a
> neublizer. Now I wanna be a good mama but I don't know what to
> think???? I don't want to treat her with steroids if she's just an
> oddball. She only pants after mega-exertion and will stop quickly
> (less than a minute) if we stop playing with her. She doesn't stop
> herself from playing so it can't be that drastic.
>
> I'm just wondering if other folks have seen this and did it turn out
> to be asthma and at what point should we start treating??? Thanks for
> any advice.

My cat SUgar panted when she played hard when she was little. She didn't
know when to stop, and I had to take that as a cue. As she got older, she
figured out when she was done playing. It's if they pant when not doing
really hard play, or the panting doesn't stop after a few seconds (like 30
or so.) that you should worry.

Karen

[-L.]

(sasssykat) wrote in message >...
> Have a kitten that is 5 months and she pants when she plays too hard.
> So I read up and got concerned about HCM. Took her into the dr's and
> did a chest xray - nothing out of place. Just did the ECG and they
> don't see anything wrong with her heart. But they mentioned that it
> could, maybe, possible be a beginning to asthma. They didn't suggest
> any other tests but thought it might be an idea to treat her with a
> neublizer. Now I wanna be a good mama but I don't know what to
> think???? I don't want to treat her with steroids if she's just an
> oddball. She only pants after mega-exertion and will stop quickly
> (less than a minute) if we stop playing with her. She doesn't stop
> herself from playing so it can't be that drastic.
>

Panting after heavy play is completely normal in kittens.

Your vet shafted you, big time.

-L.

[-L.]

(sasssykat) wrote in message >...
> Have a kitten that is 5 months and she pants when she plays too hard.
> So I read up and got concerned about HCM. Took her into the dr's and
> did a chest xray - nothing out of place. Just did the ECG and they
> don't see anything wrong with her heart. But they mentioned that it
> could, maybe, possible be a beginning to asthma. They didn't suggest
> any other tests but thought it might be an idea to treat her with a
> neublizer. Now I wanna be a good mama but I don't know what to
> think???? I don't want to treat her with steroids if she's just an
> oddball. She only pants after mega-exertion and will stop quickly
> (less than a minute) if we stop playing with her. She doesn't stop
> herself from playing so it can't be that drastic.
>

Panting after heavy play is completely normal in kittens.

Your vet shafted you, big time.

-L.

[-L.]

(sasssykat) wrote in message >...
> Have a kitten that is 5 months and she pants when she plays too hard.
> So I read up and got concerned about HCM. Took her into the dr's and
> did a chest xray - nothing out of place. Just did the ECG and they
> don't see anything wrong with her heart. But they mentioned that it
> could, maybe, possible be a beginning to asthma. They didn't suggest
> any other tests but thought it might be an idea to treat her with a
> neublizer. Now I wanna be a good mama but I don't know what to
> think???? I don't want to treat her with steroids if she's just an
> oddball. She only pants after mega-exertion and will stop quickly
> (less than a minute) if we stop playing with her. She doesn't stop
> herself from playing so it can't be that drastic.
>

Panting after heavy play is completely normal in kittens.

Your vet shafted you, big time.

-L.

[kaeli]

In article >,
enlightened us with...
> Have a kitten that is 5 months and she pants when she plays too hard.

That's pretty normal. Cats, like dogs, pant when they are warm to lose
heat.

Mine all did it until they got old enough to be lazier and to know when
to quit. About 6-7 months of age.

I wouldn't worry unless she pants for more than 30-60 seconds or if she
pants when she is NOT playing.

-------------------------------------------------
~kaeli~
All I ask for is the chance to prove that money
cannot make me happy.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace
-------------------------------------------------

[kaeli]

In article >,
enlightened us with...
> Have a kitten that is 5 months and she pants when she plays too hard.

That's pretty normal. Cats, like dogs, pant when they are warm to lose
heat.

Mine all did it until they got old enough to be lazier and to know when
to quit. About 6-7 months of age.

I wouldn't worry unless she pants for more than 30-60 seconds or if she
pants when she is NOT playing.

-------------------------------------------------
~kaeli~
All I ask for is the chance to prove that money
cannot make me happy.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace
-------------------------------------------------

[kaeli]

In article >,
enlightened us with...
> Have a kitten that is 5 months and she pants when she plays too hard.

That's pretty normal. Cats, like dogs, pant when they are warm to lose
heat.

Mine all did it until they got old enough to be lazier and to know when
to quit. About 6-7 months of age.

I wouldn't worry unless she pants for more than 30-60 seconds or if she
pants when she is NOT playing.

-------------------------------------------------
~kaeli~
All I ask for is the chance to prove that money
cannot make me happy.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace
-------------------------------------------------

[sasssykat]

Thanks for the feedback. I totally don't want to be neglectful but
didn't see anything alarming so your comments helped allay my fears!
I'll certainly watch her and make sure it doesn't change but chill out
for now :) Thanks again

[sasssykat]

Thanks for the feedback. I totally don't want to be neglectful but
didn't see anything alarming so your comments helped allay my fears!
I'll certainly watch her and make sure it doesn't change but chill out
for now :) Thanks again

[sasssykat]

Thanks for the feedback. I totally don't want to be neglectful but
didn't see anything alarming so your comments helped allay my fears!
I'll certainly watch her and make sure it doesn't change but chill out
for now :) Thanks again

[Yngver]

>Have a kitten that is 5 months and she pants when she plays too hard.
>So I read up and got concerned about HCM. Took her into the dr's and
>did a chest xray - nothing out of place. Just did the ECG and they
>don't see anything wrong with her heart. But they mentioned that it
>could, maybe, possible be a beginning to asthma. They didn't suggest
>any other tests but thought it might be an idea to treat her with a
>neublizer. Now I wanna be a good mama but I don't know what to
>think???? I don't want to treat her with steroids if she's just an
>oddball. She only pants after mega-exertion and will stop quickly
>(less than a minute) if we stop playing with her. She doesn't stop
>herself from playing so it can't be that drastic.
>
>I'm just wondering if other folks have seen this and did it turn out
>to be asthma and at what point should we start treating??? Thanks for
>any advice.
>
Five months would be pretty young to start developing asthma. I'd wait and see.
One of our cats also used to do that when she was 5-6 months old. She didn't
know when to stop playing so hard, and would sometimes play so much she would
have to stop and pant for a while. She grew out of it, though. I think lots of
times, kittens just don't know their limits yet.

I agree with the other posts. Just watch her for the time being. I wouldn't
worry unless it gets worse and she is panting after little exertion. Our cat
with asthma, btw (not the same cat that used to play too hard) doesn't pant
from exertion. She may cough, but she also coughs sometimes while resting too
(or she did, before she started on Flovent to control it).

[Yngver]

>Have a kitten that is 5 months and she pants when she plays too hard.
>So I read up and got concerned about HCM. Took her into the dr's and
>did a chest xray - nothing out of place. Just did the ECG and they
>don't see anything wrong with her heart. But they mentioned that it
>could, maybe, possible be a beginning to asthma. They didn't suggest
>any other tests but thought it might be an idea to treat her with a
>neublizer. Now I wanna be a good mama but I don't know what to
>think???? I don't want to treat her with steroids if she's just an
>oddball. She only pants after mega-exertion and will stop quickly
>(less than a minute) if we stop playing with her. She doesn't stop
>herself from playing so it can't be that drastic.
>
>I'm just wondering if other folks have seen this and did it turn out
>to be asthma and at what point should we start treating??? Thanks for
>any advice.
>
Five months would be pretty young to start developing asthma. I'd wait and see.
One of our cats also used to do that when she was 5-6 months old. She didn't
know when to stop playing so hard, and would sometimes play so much she would
have to stop and pant for a while. She grew out of it, though. I think lots of
times, kittens just don't know their limits yet.

I agree with the other posts. Just watch her for the time being. I wouldn't
worry unless it gets worse and she is panting after little exertion. Our cat
with asthma, btw (not the same cat that used to play too hard) doesn't pant
from exertion. She may cough, but she also coughs sometimes while resting too
(or she did, before she started on Flovent to control it).

[Yngver]

>Have a kitten that is 5 months and she pants when she plays too hard.
>So I read up and got concerned about HCM. Took her into the dr's and
>did a chest xray - nothing out of place. Just did the ECG and they
>don't see anything wrong with her heart. But they mentioned that it
>could, maybe, possible be a beginning to asthma. They didn't suggest
>any other tests but thought it might be an idea to treat her with a
>neublizer. Now I wanna be a good mama but I don't know what to
>think???? I don't want to treat her with steroids if she's just an
>oddball. She only pants after mega-exertion and will stop quickly
>(less than a minute) if we stop playing with her. She doesn't stop
>herself from playing so it can't be that drastic.
>
>I'm just wondering if other folks have seen this and did it turn out
>to be asthma and at what point should we start treating??? Thanks for
>any advice.
>
Five months would be pretty young to start developing asthma. I'd wait and see.
One of our cats also used to do that when she was 5-6 months old. She didn't
know when to stop playing so hard, and would sometimes play so much she would
have to stop and pant for a while. She grew out of it, though. I think lots of
times, kittens just don't know their limits yet.

I agree with the other posts. Just watch her for the time being. I wouldn't
worry unless it gets worse and she is panting after little exertion. Our cat
with asthma, btw (not the same cat that used to play too hard) doesn't pant
from exertion. She may cough, but she also coughs sometimes while resting too
(or she did, before she started on Flovent to control it).

[Ginger-lyn Summer]

On 30 Sep 2003 15:43:01 -0700, (sasssykat) wrote:

>Have a kitten that is 5 months and she pants when she plays too hard.
>So I read up and got concerned about HCM. Took her into the dr's and
>did a chest xray - nothing out of place. Just did the ECG and they
>don't see anything wrong with her heart. But they mentioned that it
>could, maybe, possible be a beginning to asthma. They didn't suggest
>any other tests but thought it might be an idea to treat her with a
>neublizer. Now I wanna be a good mama but I don't know what to
>think???? I don't want to treat her with steroids if she's just an
>oddball. She only pants after mega-exertion and will stop quickly
>(less than a minute) if we stop playing with her. She doesn't stop
>herself from playing so it can't be that drastic.
>
>I'm just wondering if other folks have seen this and did it turn out
>to be asthma and at what point should we start treating??? Thanks for
>any advice.

I've seen it in several cats, plus I have two asthmatic cats who have
never exhibited actual panting symptoms. The asthmatic cats breathe
hard, and wheeze a bit.

The cats that have panted are different. One, our beloved Mojo (RB),
did, I firmly believe, have undiagnosed HCM. His panting was
sustained and it sometimes could take 15 minutes, in air conditioning,
for him to stop panting. By the time I did enough research to find
out about HCM, he developed a urinary blockage, was diagnosed with a
significant heart murmur at the emergency vet, and did not survive the
unblocking process because of his heart. SInce your vet did the X-ray
and ECG, you can probably assume it is not HCM and breathe a sigh of
relief.

Merlyn scared me because she also panted, although she would stop
quickly once she stopped being rowdy, or as soon as she was put in an
air conditioned room. The vet diagnosed her with "panting of unknown
origin". I elected not to do an ECG, because her panting does not
seem consistent with HCM. I believe she is very heat sensitive, and
also has only this past summer outgrown her kittenish tedency to
overdo play.

Wolfie also panted when we first got him, only after heavy play, and
it stopped within seconds after he stopped playing. He quickly
learned not to overdo play, and has not panted since.

Hope that helps.

Ginger-lyn

[Ginger-lyn Summer]

On 30 Sep 2003 15:43:01 -0700, (sasssykat) wrote:

>Have a kitten that is 5 months and she pants when she plays too hard.
>So I read up and got concerned about HCM. Took her into the dr's and
>did a chest xray - nothing out of place. Just did the ECG and they
>don't see anything wrong with her heart. But they mentioned that it
>could, maybe, possible be a beginning to asthma. They didn't suggest
>any other tests but thought it might be an idea to treat her with a
>neublizer. Now I wanna be a good mama but I don't know what to
>think???? I don't want to treat her with steroids if she's just an
>oddball. She only pants after mega-exertion and will stop quickly
>(less than a minute) if we stop playing with her. She doesn't stop
>herself from playing so it can't be that drastic.
>
>I'm just wondering if other folks have seen this and did it turn out
>to be asthma and at what point should we start treating??? Thanks for
>any advice.

I've seen it in several cats, plus I have two asthmatic cats who have
never exhibited actual panting symptoms. The asthmatic cats breathe
hard, and wheeze a bit.

The cats that have panted are different. One, our beloved Mojo (RB),
did, I firmly believe, have undiagnosed HCM. His panting was
sustained and it sometimes could take 15 minutes, in air conditioning,
for him to stop panting. By the time I did enough research to find
out about HCM, he developed a urinary blockage, was diagnosed with a
significant heart murmur at the emergency vet, and did not survive the
unblocking process because of his heart. SInce your vet did the X-ray
and ECG, you can probably assume it is not HCM and breathe a sigh of
relief.

Merlyn scared me because she also panted, although she would stop
quickly once she stopped being rowdy, or as soon as she was put in an
air conditioned room. The vet diagnosed her with "panting of unknown
origin". I elected not to do an ECG, because her panting does not
seem consistent with HCM. I believe she is very heat sensitive, and
also has only this past summer outgrown her kittenish tedency to
overdo play.

Wolfie also panted when we first got him, only after heavy play, and
it stopped within seconds after he stopped playing. He quickly
learned not to overdo play, and has not panted since.

Hope that helps.

Ginger-lyn

[Ginger-lyn Summer]

On 30 Sep 2003 15:43:01 -0700, (sasssykat) wrote:

>Have a kitten that is 5 months and she pants when she plays too hard.
>So I read up and got concerned about HCM. Took her into the dr's and
>did a chest xray - nothing out of place. Just did the ECG and they
>don't see anything wrong with her heart. But they mentioned that it
>could, maybe, possible be a beginning to asthma. They didn't suggest
>any other tests but thought it might be an idea to treat her with a
>neublizer. Now I wanna be a good mama but I don't know what to
>think???? I don't want to treat her with steroids if she's just an
>oddball. She only pants after mega-exertion and will stop quickly
>(less than a minute) if we stop playing with her. She doesn't stop
>herself from playing so it can't be that drastic.
>
>I'm just wondering if other folks have seen this and did it turn out
>to be asthma and at what point should we start treating??? Thanks for
>any advice.

I've seen it in several cats, plus I have two asthmatic cats who have
never exhibited actual panting symptoms. The asthmatic cats breathe
hard, and wheeze a bit.

The cats that have panted are different. One, our beloved Mojo (RB),
did, I firmly believe, have undiagnosed HCM. His panting was
sustained and it sometimes could take 15 minutes, in air conditioning,
for him to stop panting. By the time I did enough research to find
out about HCM, he developed a urinary blockage, was diagnosed with a
significant heart murmur at the emergency vet, and did not survive the
unblocking process because of his heart. SInce your vet did the X-ray
and ECG, you can probably assume it is not HCM and breathe a sigh of
relief.

Merlyn scared me because she also panted, although she would stop
quickly once she stopped being rowdy, or as soon as she was put in an
air conditioned room. The vet diagnosed her with "panting of unknown
origin". I elected not to do an ECG, because her panting does not
seem consistent with HCM. I believe she is very heat sensitive, and
also has only this past summer outgrown her kittenish tedency to
overdo play.

Wolfie also panted when we first got him, only after heavy play, and
it stopped within seconds after he stopped playing. He quickly
learned not to overdo play, and has not panted since.

Hope that helps.

Ginger-lyn

[Yngver]

(Ginger-lyn Summer) wrote:

>I've seen it in several cats, plus I have two asthmatic cats who have
>never exhibited actual panting symptoms. The asthmatic cats breathe
>hard, and wheeze a bit.

Yes, our asthmatic cat never actually panted or even had labored breathing.
Just coughing and wheezing.
>
>The cats that have panted are different. One, our beloved Mojo (RB),
>did, I firmly believe, have undiagnosed HCM. His panting was
>sustained and it sometimes could take 15 minutes, in air conditioning,
>for him to stop panting. By the time I did enough research to find
>out about HCM, he developed a urinary blockage, was diagnosed with a
>significant heart murmur at the emergency vet, and did not survive the
>unblocking process because of his heart. SInce your vet did the X-ray
>and ECG, you can probably assume it is not HCM and breathe a sigh of
>relief.
>
>Merlyn scared me because she also panted, although she would stop
>quickly once she stopped being rowdy, or as soon as she was put in an
>air conditioned room. The vet diagnosed her with "panting of unknown
>origin". I elected not to do an ECG, because her panting does not
>seem consistent with HCM. I believe she is very heat sensitive, and
>also has only this past summer outgrown her kittenish tedency to
>overdo play.
>
>Wolfie also panted when we first got him, only after heavy play, and
>it stopped within seconds after he stopped playing. He quickly
>learned not to overdo play, and has not panted since.
>
>Hope that helps.
>
I just want to add that a stressful situation (like going to the vet) can cause
some cats to pant even if they aren't overheated. I don't think that's the case
with this kitten, however, since it's clearly related to playing hard.

[Yngver]

(Ginger-lyn Summer) wrote:

>I've seen it in several cats, plus I have two asthmatic cats who have
>never exhibited actual panting symptoms. The asthmatic cats breathe
>hard, and wheeze a bit.

Yes, our asthmatic cat never actually panted or even had labored breathing.
Just coughing and wheezing.
>
>The cats that have panted are different. One, our beloved Mojo (RB),
>did, I firmly believe, have undiagnosed HCM. His panting was
>sustained and it sometimes could take 15 minutes, in air conditioning,
>for him to stop panting. By the time I did enough research to find
>out about HCM, he developed a urinary blockage, was diagnosed with a
>significant heart murmur at the emergency vet, and did not survive the
>unblocking process because of his heart. SInce your vet did the X-ray
>and ECG, you can probably assume it is not HCM and breathe a sigh of
>relief.
>
>Merlyn scared me because she also panted, although she would stop
>quickly once she stopped being rowdy, or as soon as she was put in an
>air conditioned room. The vet diagnosed her with "panting of unknown
>origin". I elected not to do an ECG, because her panting does not
>seem consistent with HCM. I believe she is very heat sensitive, and
>also has only this past summer outgrown her kittenish tedency to
>overdo play.
>
>Wolfie also panted when we first got him, only after heavy play, and
>it stopped within seconds after he stopped playing. He quickly
>learned not to overdo play, and has not panted since.
>
>Hope that helps.
>
I just want to add that a stressful situation (like going to the vet) can cause
some cats to pant even if they aren't overheated. I don't think that's the case
with this kitten, however, since it's clearly related to playing hard.

[Yngver]

(Ginger-lyn Summer) wrote:

>I've seen it in several cats, plus I have two asthmatic cats who have
>never exhibited actual panting symptoms. The asthmatic cats breathe
>hard, and wheeze a bit.

Yes, our asthmatic cat never actually panted or even had labored breathing.
Just coughing and wheezing.
>
>The cats that have panted are different. One, our beloved Mojo (RB),
>did, I firmly believe, have undiagnosed HCM. His panting was
>sustained and it sometimes could take 15 minutes, in air conditioning,
>for him to stop panting. By the time I did enough research to find
>out about HCM, he developed a urinary blockage, was diagnosed with a
>significant heart murmur at the emergency vet, and did not survive the
>unblocking process because of his heart. SInce your vet did the X-ray
>and ECG, you can probably assume it is not HCM and breathe a sigh of
>relief.
>
>Merlyn scared me because she also panted, although she would stop
>quickly once she stopped being rowdy, or as soon as she was put in an
>air conditioned room. The vet diagnosed her with "panting of unknown
>origin". I elected not to do an ECG, because her panting does not
>seem consistent with HCM. I believe she is very heat sensitive, and
>also has only this past summer outgrown her kittenish tedency to
>overdo play.
>
>Wolfie also panted when we first got him, only after heavy play, and
>it stopped within seconds after he stopped playing. He quickly
>learned not to overdo play, and has not panted since.
>
>Hope that helps.
>
I just want to add that a stressful situation (like going to the vet) can cause
some cats to pant even if they aren't overheated. I don't think that's the case
with this kitten, however, since it's clearly related to playing hard.