Signs that matter
Breathing difficulty can appear as increased effort, unusual posture, open-mouth breathing, abnormal sounds or distress.
- Keep handling to the minimum needed for safety
- Call the clinic before leaving
- Use a secure, well-ventilated carrier if possible
- Allow the cat to choose a comfortable position
Avoid delay
A cat’s breathing cannot be safely assessed through a webpage.
- Do not force the cat to lie down
- Do not put anything in the mouth
- Do not force food, water or medication
- Do not wait to see whether severe signs pass
Information to bring
Share any known heart or respiratory history and the timing of the change.
- Recent medication and doses
- Possible trauma or exposure
- Video only if already available and safely captured
- Time the difficulty began
