Approved by Dr. Dwight Alleyne, DVM
Did you know that your cat’s breathing rate is a clinical sign that can tell you if your pet is (or isn’t) doing well? Learn why regular monitoring makes all the difference in your pet’s health.
As a caring cat parent, you are always looking out for the well-being of your furry friend. Understanding your cat’s vital signs, such as breathing rate, plays an important role in this. In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about cat respiration rates, what’s normal and what’s not, so you can stay informed about your pet’s health.
Key Takeaways
- A cat’s normal breathing rate is 15-30 breaths per minute (while resting/sleeping).
- A resting rate of more than 30 breaths per minute is considered abnormal.
- Regularly monitoring your cat’s heart rate and breathing rate can allow you to spot problems early and reduce illness in your pet.
- If your cat’s breathing rate seems abnormal, it’s time to get checked out by your vet.
- If your cat is showing other signs of illness along with an abnormal breathing rate, it may be considered a medical emergency.
- You can easily monitor your cat’s breathing (and more) with the Tractive Smart Cat Tracker.
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Why your cat’s breathing rate is important
Monitoring your cat’s breathing rate is an easy way to keep up to date with its health. As with people, changes in how fast they breathe or drink can indicate potential health problems such as heart disease. Spotting these changes early helps you act quickly, getting your furry friend the care they need before things get worse. That means you can:
- He is a little worried
- Reduce your cat’s suffering too
- See a vet sooner rather than later if you haven’t noticed these changes
Respiratory Rate (RRR) in cats it refers to the number of breaths your cat takes per minute while sleeping or resting. Although the breathing rate can fluctuate throughout the day, the resting breathing rate should remain constant. This is why RRR is so important; An elevated resting respiratory rate is a clinical warning sign that something may be wrong with your pet.
What is a normal cat’s respiratory rate?
In cats, the normal/sleeping breathing rate is moderate 15 and 30 breaths per minute1. In some cases, a low level may be normal as long as your pet is healthy. If your cat is active, hot, or stressed, the breathing rate will naturally be higher/faster2. So it’s also normal for your cat’s breathing rate to fluctuate throughout the day, depending on their mood and activity.
What is considered an abnormal respiratory rate in cats?
It is important to note any abnormalities in your cat’s breathing rate. If your cat’s breathing rate is consistently above 30 breaths per minute, it is considered abnormal.. And in some cases, a cat’s breathing rate below 30 breaths per minute can also be considered high and abnormal by your veterinarian. If in doubt, ask your veterinarian to help determine your cat’s normal breathing rate.
How to measure your cat’s breathing rate
To find out your cat’s breathing rate, you can simply observe and count its breathing at home. Follow these steps to do so:
- Choose a time when your cat is sleeping (or resting). They should not drink at this time. Note: Their breathing rate will naturally be slightly lower when they are sleeping compared to resting.
- Watch your cat’s chest. Each breath consists of one inhale and one exhale, where the chest moves in and out accordingly.
- Set a timer for 30 seconds and count how many breaths you see in that time.
- Multiply that number of breaths by 2 to get breaths per minute. This is your pet’s breathing rate.
- Keep a record of their breathing rates over time so you can see changes.
How often should you measure your cat’s breathing rate?
It’s a good idea to monitor your cat’s breathing regularly to keep you updated on his health. Ideally you can count the resting respiratory rate (RRR) once a day until you learn what their normal baseline is. Then, together with your vet, you can decide how often to continue monitoring it.
If your cat has asymptomatic heart disease, your veterinarian will advise you on whether monitoring is necessary. In general, monitoring is important in cats with advanced heart disease who are at risk of heart failure, where a check once or twice a week may be sufficient. For cats with heart disease on medications such as furosemide, daily check-ups are important to ensure they are responding well to treatment.1.
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Why is my cat breathing fast?
Cats that are stressed, physically active, or overheated will breathe faster than cats that are resting. But if your cat’s breathing rate is too high (above its normal baseline), it may be rapid breathing in cats or tachypnea.3.
There are many reasons why a cat may have rapid breathing, including (but not limited to):
- Allergies
- Anemia
- Asthma
- Internal bleeding
- Heart disease or failure
- Pain or shock
- Heartworms
- Tumors
- Respiratory diseases
- Hypoxemia
- Fluid in the lungs
- Airway obstruction
- Trauma, injury or poisoning
When to see a vet
Since many negative health conditions can be associated with rapid breathing in cats, it is important to have your cat checked by a veterinarian if you notice an elevated RRR, elevated heart rate, or any other signs of illness such as:
- Breathing hard or loud
- Coughing or gagging
- Lethargy, weakness or tiredness
- Open mouth breathing or panting
- Crying through his nose
- Rapid movements of the chest or abdomen
- Green gums
These can be signs of health problems that require professional attention. Early detection and treatment can make a big difference, helping your cat get back to playing, cleaning up quickly. Always trust your instincts; if anything goes wrong, it’s best to be safe and have them checked by a vet.
Conclusion: How monitoring your cat’s breathing helps keep it healthy
As we have learned, a cat’s respiratory rate is an important indicator that can give you important, subtle and often fleeting signs about your pet’s health. By monitoring it regularly to make sure it falls within the normal range, you can spot potential health problems early. Early detection and treatment leads to better health outcomes – what more could you want for your feline best friend? Today, the world’s best smart pet technology is here to help: equip your cat with a GPS and health tracker by monitoring vital signs for peace of mind.
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Our cats can’t always tell us when something is wrong. But if their tracker detects unusual changes in their system, you will receive an alert, which helps you catch potential problems early.
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The health and well-being of your furry friend means as much to us as it does to you. So we have made it a priority to share only medical related content on our blog. This post has been vetted, double-checked, and clinically verified is a Georgia-based veterinarian, Dr. Dwight Alleyne.
Originally from Long Island, New York, Dr. Alleyne began her career at a no-kill animal shelter before becoming a licensed veterinarian. He graduated from Cornell University Veterinary College in 2006 and completed an internship at Purdue University. Now that he is working in Georgia, Dr. Alleyne specializes in soft tissue surgery and ultrasounds. She also writes pet health articles on her website, “The Pet Blog” (www.anmldrblog.com).