What is the average respiratory rate of a cat

The normal sleeping respiratory rate in a cat is breaths per minute. Dogs normally breathe with their mouth open to pant, which is a natural way for them to cool down. If your dog has just run or played hard, their respiratory rate and effort will be normally increased. When cats purr, the respiratory rate is increased, and this is normal. Signs of abnormal respiration that require veterinary attention: Cats do not normally pant or breathe with their mouths open.

The only exception is when they are anxious such as on a car ride. Unwilling to lie down or rest. Anxious or distressed facial expression. Deeper labored breathing wider chest excursions. Labored breathing and also coughing. If your cat is breathing rapidly, it can be a sign of a variety of issues from stress to heart disease. Cats are generally subtle in showing their caregivers signs of illness so cat caregivers must be especially vigilant to notice symptoms like rapid breathing.

First, you need to know a healthy respiratory rate breathing for a cat, which is 16 to 40 breaths per minute when resting calmly or sleeping. To measure your cat's resting respiration rate, count the number of breaths your cat takes while sleeping. Use your phone or watch to time 30 seconds and count how many breaths occur during that 30 second period.

Next, multiply the number of breaths you counted by two to get the number of breaths in a minute. There are several types of breathing disorders which can affect cats, but this article will focus on rapid breathing. A cat who is hot, stressed, or active may exhibit rapid breathing, but this should decrease after a few minutes. If the breathing does not subside or worsens, it is a symptom of a serious condition that needs to be addressed by a veterinarian immediately.

Any breathing difficulty is a medical emergency and requires urgent veterinary attention. Rapid breathing in cats is a symptom of a variety of illnesses and injuries and should be evaluated by your veterinarian right away. Some possible causes include:. If your cat is breathing rapidly, consider any factors that may be causing it and remove them from your cat's environment. Some factors include emotional distress and heat.

Being aware of life stage changes can help you stay on top of your pets health, keeping them happy and healthy throughout their lifetime. As expected, kittens are packed with all the curious energy their little bodies can contain!

A rule of thumb is that the first year of life is devoted to kittenhood and after they become full fledged cats. By 12 weeks old a kitten begins losing their baby teeth and by 9 months old a kitten will have their full set of 30 adult teeth.

At each veterinary visit during kittenhood your pet should have their heart listened to as part of their physical exam. While not as common as in puppies, kittens can have heart murmurs, or abnormal blood flow sounds, and your vet will want to monitor the murmur to make sure it is not increasing in severity.

Heart murmurs heard past 4 months of age may be investigated further by a veterinary cardiologist to make sure your cat does not need any early interventions or specialized care. With boundless energy and curiosity kittens should be engaging with family members daily and explore their surroundings with sometimes mischievous vigor! Interact with your kitten in fun ways by using extension toys that allow you to play at a distance and minimize confusion for your kitten.

While it is completely natural for kittens to pounce and bite hands and feet, mimicking what they would do to prey, in a home setting you want to separate that confusion and use your hands for gentle pets while the toys sustain pouncing and swatting.

Make sure your kitten has elevated resting spots, hiding spots where they can retreat to and feel safe, and food, water, and litter boxes - ideally all in separate areas that are quiet and have low foot traffic. With all the development in the first year expect a vigorous appetite for most kittens. A sudden decline in appetite or energy levels warrants a trip to the vet to make sure there are no major issues.

One of the most common reasons kittens can become lethargic is from eating an object they had played with such as string or plastic. Cats become adults from 1 to 10 years old. Typically most cats are done physically growing around one year of age but certain large breeds,like Maine Coons, may not physically mature until two years old. A growing problem most adult cats face is obesity from overeating and lack of exercise.

Breathing rate is an indicator of overall health - if your cat is suddenly breathing fast while sleeping consistently more than 30 breaths per minute , this could be an early clinical sign of heart-failure. Lower rates may be no cause for concern providing your pet is otherwise behaving normally.

Also note that for some cats, your vet may consider rates lower than 30 breaths per minute as increased and abnormal - the right breathing rate for your cat should be assessed on an individual basis. Your vigilant observations can help limit how ill your pet gets, reduce his or her chance of needing overnight hospital stays and help reduce costs related to the treatment of heart failure.

Your cat may simply need an adjustment in medications. If you see other symptoms along with faster sleeping breathing rate or symptoms have become worse, this may be a medical emergency.

Your kitty will also be stabilized provided with a steady supply of oxygen. At our hospital, we use in-house diagnostic tools to provide the most accurate diagnosis of medical conditions and customize treatment plants to the needs of your pet. Along with the steady supply of oxygen, an IV catheter may be placed so emergency drugs and fluids can be administered intravenously.