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fast, shallow breathing
I have a 4 1/2 month old female kitten that's been with me for six weeks.
Aside from coming home with a tapeworm, which has now been eliminated, she seems the picture of health. Enormous appetite, weed-like growth, and possessed of astonishing energy and strength (she'll jump 5 feet straight up to grab things out of my hand). The only thing that concerns me is that she breathes more rapidly and shallowly than my other two cats. When running around or otherwise active, she breathes about 60 - 70 times per minute, sometimes even panting briefly. When my other two cats sleep, they breathe so slowly that sometimes I've occasionaly awakened them to make sure they're still alive. With the kitten, her sleep-breathing is still fast and shallow. She doesn't cough, wheeze, or vomit, and shows no signs of breathing distress. She's very active, and will romp around for hours without stopping. Is this, rapid shallow breathing cause for concern? |
"Rick Vigorous" wrote: The only thing that concerns me is that she breathes more rapidly and shallowly than my other two cats. I wouldn't even venture a guess until she has been to a vet. |
"Rick Vigorous" wrote: The only thing that concerns me is that she breathes more rapidly and shallowly than my other two cats. I wouldn't even venture a guess until she has been to a vet. |
Well, she has a tinier little respritory system so her breathing will
probably be faster somewhat. I will also say this, when my Sugar was that age (and basiclaly until she turned one) she did not have an OFF when it came to play. *I* had to be the off switch and control the rate of speed of the play because she would run and play herself to a frenzy, panting and the whole nine yards. So as long as the panting stops within a minute or so of play stopping its probably OK. I did not have that problem with her brother, even as a kitten. When he got tired he stopped, but not Sugar. She did eventually learn however. "Rick Vigorous" wrote in message om... I have a 4 1/2 month old female kitten that's been with me for six weeks. Aside from coming home with a tapeworm, which has now been eliminated, she seems the picture of health. Enormous appetite, weed-like growth, and possessed of astonishing energy and strength (she'll jump 5 feet straight up to grab things out of my hand). The only thing that concerns me is that she breathes more rapidly and shallowly than my other two cats. When running around or otherwise active, she breathes about 60 - 70 times per minute, sometimes even panting briefly. When my other two cats sleep, they breathe so slowly that sometimes I've occasionaly awakened them to make sure they're still alive. With the kitten, her sleep-breathing is still fast and shallow. She doesn't cough, wheeze, or vomit, and shows no signs of breathing distress. She's very active, and will romp around for hours without stopping. Is this, rapid shallow breathing cause for concern? |
Well, she has a tinier little respritory system so her breathing will
probably be faster somewhat. I will also say this, when my Sugar was that age (and basiclaly until she turned one) she did not have an OFF when it came to play. *I* had to be the off switch and control the rate of speed of the play because she would run and play herself to a frenzy, panting and the whole nine yards. So as long as the panting stops within a minute or so of play stopping its probably OK. I did not have that problem with her brother, even as a kitten. When he got tired he stopped, but not Sugar. She did eventually learn however. "Rick Vigorous" wrote in message om... I have a 4 1/2 month old female kitten that's been with me for six weeks. Aside from coming home with a tapeworm, which has now been eliminated, she seems the picture of health. Enormous appetite, weed-like growth, and possessed of astonishing energy and strength (she'll jump 5 feet straight up to grab things out of my hand). The only thing that concerns me is that she breathes more rapidly and shallowly than my other two cats. When running around or otherwise active, she breathes about 60 - 70 times per minute, sometimes even panting briefly. When my other two cats sleep, they breathe so slowly that sometimes I've occasionaly awakened them to make sure they're still alive. With the kitten, her sleep-breathing is still fast and shallow. She doesn't cough, wheeze, or vomit, and shows no signs of breathing distress. She's very active, and will romp around for hours without stopping. Is this, rapid shallow breathing cause for concern? |
When running around or otherwise
active, she breathes about 60 - 70 times per minute, sometimes even panting briefly. The average breaths per minute for a cat at rest is 20-30. 60-70, even with activity, seems high and the cat panting so easily is worrisome. These symptoms can be indicative of a heart condition. My cat Omar had these symptoms and was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy. You should definitely take the kitten in for an exam and talk to your vet about scheduling an echocardiogram to see if there is indeed a heart condition. If caught early, and depending on the type of problem, it is possible to treat with medication and have a good quality of life for quite some time. Megan "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
When running around or otherwise
active, she breathes about 60 - 70 times per minute, sometimes even panting briefly. The average breaths per minute for a cat at rest is 20-30. 60-70, even with activity, seems high and the cat panting so easily is worrisome. These symptoms can be indicative of a heart condition. My cat Omar had these symptoms and was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy. You should definitely take the kitten in for an exam and talk to your vet about scheduling an echocardiogram to see if there is indeed a heart condition. If caught early, and depending on the type of problem, it is possible to treat with medication and have a good quality of life for quite some time. Megan "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
In article ,
loaf enlightened us with... I have a 4 1/2 month old female kitten that's been with me for six weeks. Aside from coming home with a tapeworm, which has now been eliminated, she seems the picture of health. Enormous appetite, weed-like growth, and possessed of astonishing energy and strength (she'll jump 5 feet straight up to grab things out of my hand). The only thing that concerns me is that she breathes more rapidly and shallowly than my other two cats. When running around or otherwise active, she breathes about 60 - 70 times per minute, sometimes even panting briefly. When my other two cats sleep, they breathe so slowly that sometimes I've occasionaly awakened them to make sure they're still alive. With the kitten, her sleep-breathing is still fast and shallow. She doesn't cough, wheeze, or vomit, and shows no signs of breathing distress. She's very active, and will romp around for hours without stopping. Is this, rapid shallow breathing cause for concern? My first thought was an enlarged heart or congenital lung problems, but those usually cause other symptoms which it doesn't sound like she has, such as stunted growth, poor appetite, lethargy, and the like. Is it possible she's just being a normal kitten and you're used to your adult cats? Kittens do breathe at a more rapid rate than adult cats. It is not unusual for kittens to pant for a minute or so after intense activity. All my kittens have. If you're at all concerned, talk to your vet. Always better safe than sorry. I've taken more than one pet to the vet for something that turned out to be nothing. I figure the fee was worth it for my peace of mind. :) -- -- ~kaeli~ Shotgun wedding: A case of wife or death. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace |
Tiger breathes normally except when purring. Then his breath rate
doubles. It has always been like that. ---MIKE--- |
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