Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cats

Cat panting: 5 reasons behind this behavior and what you should do about it

Cats pant for all sorts of reasons some of which require medical attention

Rebekkah Adams
By
Orange Maine Coon cat playing outside
ottawagraphics / Pixabay

Just about any cute dog account on social includes plenty of panting pics. But cat influencers? Not so much. That might cause you to panic a little any time your lovable feline sticks out their tongue or breathes heavily, even when you don’t have to worry. Cats can pant, too, and many of the reasons pose no danger. So when should you intervene? We’ll cover the five most common sources of cat panting.

Close up of a cat sticking out her tongue
Nennieinszweidrei / Pixabay

Why is my cat panting?

Some kitties never pant at all, which doesn’t indicate anything bad. It’s not necessary for a lot of cats to pant. On the other hand, certain animals are more likely to breathe heavily on occasion. As always, a sudden change in behavior should mean a trip to the vet, but you may have also just landed an animal that wishes to act like a canine.

Recommended Videos

Heat

Dogs do it. Humans do it. And yes, cats do it, too. Panting from high temps seems to pervade the animal kingdom. Much of the time, your mouser will be able to cool themselves down by lying in a cold spot until they get back to normal. Sometimes though, cats get heatstroke and need you to intervene (more on that later).

Asthma and respiratory illnesses

In the case of a cat cold, you’ll likely notice other symptoms that go along with the panting, like sneezing and coughing. A stuffy kitty could pant to get oxygen to their body. Many illnesses work themselves out, but they might need medicine to help it along. You’ll also want to check for asthma, which affects many cats. Your vet will help with the right treatment to manage the condition.

Obstructions

Assuming the foreign object is lodged in their upper digestive tract, you can often find a way to take care of this on your own. Don’t ever pull anything out of your cat’s throat, though, if they aren’t able to remove it with a few coughs. Assuming your animal can breathe well enough, take them to the vet or emergency where a doctor can safely remove the obstruction, sometimes after x-rays to diagnose.

Heart problems

Heart problems often lead to breathing problems. An older cat or one with a previous condition like congestive heart failure might develop some tricky issues. Heartworm can cause some coughing or panting as well, but it’s completely treatable when caught early on. Your vet will routinely test your pet for this parasite and you should administer preventative as prescribed.

Pain

If you’ve ever stubbed your toe and then found yourself trying to breathe through the pain, you’ll get why your cat might do this, too. Sadly, this reason nearly always necessitates an immediate trip to the vet or pet ER. The only exception is if you discover a minor injury that explains it and can fix it at home; for example, a thorn in their paw that’s easy to remove.

Cat sits on the stairs panting
Piya Nimityongskul / Pexels

How do you cool down a panting cat?

When a cat overheats, you’ll need to take quick action. Truly, you should probably take them to the vet no matter what, but if you have just a slightly warm cat, try these tricks first. The most important part is to get them out of the circumstances that are making them too warm. So find an air-conditioned room and bring them there. If AC isn’t an option, try a fan, though your kitty might not want to stand directly in its path.

Turn down the lights and bring in their water dish. Then wipe your cat with water or spray some gently on their fur to further reduce body temperature. Don’t do anything too drastic, such as putting them outside in the winter or in a walk-in freezer. You want to slowly but surely get them stable.

Owner scratches her cat's chin
Yerlin Matu / Unsplash

When should I worry about my cat panting?

Any one of these could be cause for concern, so it’s best to ask your vet about it, if panting is a new behavior for your pet. Your cat doctor may do a physical exam, blood work, and x-rays to get to the bottom of the issue. In the case of an overheated pet, they might need fluids or other treatment. However, if you adopt a cat that pants frequently, get it looked at during her annual, but then don’t worry about it too much.

Some cats just pant and it might be nothing to worry about. On the flip side, obese and elderly cats, as well as those with known heart conditions or breathing problems, will be more likely to pant. No matter the situation, take note of the behaviors and call your kitty doctor for a check-up or an emergency vet visit if it gets worse

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Rebekkah Adams
Rebekkah Adams
Contributor
Rebekkah’s been a writer and editor for more than 10 years, both in print and digital. In addition to writing about pets…
When can kittens eat dry food? The lowdown on what you should feed them
Tips on feeding your new kitten
A tabby kitten standing in a bowl of kibble

Caring for kittens is hard work, but it's one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime. Not only are you responsible for the most adorable little lives, but you get to watch them grow and thrive! Preparing to keep them fed and happy, however, is a lot more work. 

Just like human babies have different nutritional needs than adults, kittens have different dietary requirements than adult cats. With few exceptions, your new feline fur baby is considered a kitten for the first year of life. (Large cat breeds like Norwegian forest cats and Maine Coon cats mature more slowly and don't reach adulthood until they're two years old.) Have you ever asked yourself, "When can kittens eat dry food?" We'll give you the full scoop on what you should feed your kittens — and when to change their diet.
Do kittens need wet and dry food? 

Read more
Why do cats lick themselves? It goes beyond just cat grooming
This totally normal behavior could mean a few different things
A cat licking his paw while lying in front of a blue background

Cats spend the majority of their time doing one of a few things: eating, resting, grooming, using the litter box, or causing havoc. Their routines can become predictable at times, so it's not even worth a second glance when you catch your cat licking themselves as obviously -- and loudly -- as possible. Cats groom themselves all the time, after all, but when does licking become a bit too much?
Even though cat grooming is completely normal, if it becomes noticeably excessive, your kitty may be licking themselves -- or even licking you -- for another reason. Luckily, we can help you understand why cats lick themselves and how you can tell what may be going on. Here's what you'll want to know and what to look out for.

Is my cat grooming? When licking is normal

Read more
Why do cats open their mouths when they smell? It’s for a really cool reason
The Flehmen response is a little-known reaction in felines that allows them to take in more of their surroundings
A white and tabby cat with their mouth open

Think of the last time you smelled something foul. How did you react? If you're truly made of steel, you may not have reacted at all, but for most people, it's impossible not to flare your nostrils at least. You may have even made a face! All of these reactions are perfectly natural, though humans aren't the only species that reacts to smells, both good and bad. Even your cuddly cat sniffs out the world around them sometimes,
If you've ever noticed your cat reacting to a smell, you're not alone. Some folks have even noticed their cat opening their mouth -- and even sticking out their tongue -- while smelling, but it's not so clear what this means. Is this a reaction to a scent, or is it just a way to get an extra thorough sniff? Whatever it may be, we're here to find out.
Needless to say, you're not alone if you're wondering, "Why do cats open their mouths when they smell?" We've scoured trusted sources to find out, and this is what we know.

Why do cats open their mouths when they smell?
Watching your curious cat open their mouth in a kind of sneer while they get a good sniff of something can raise a lot of questions -- it's understandable. When people do this, it's usually a response to an unpleasant smell, but when cats do this, they're actually trying to get a better understanding of the scent in the air.

Read more