Your cat is breathing with its mouth open

There are many possible causes of open-mouth breathing or other obvious respiratory distress in cats. These are all serious and indicate a critical condition. Unlike dogs, who often pant to cool down, cats don't typically breathe with their mouths open.

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When a cat is brought to the vet for open-mouth breathing, they're often admitted to intensive care for oxygen therapy and support to help them breathe easier. This allows us to perform diagnostics like chest X-rays, examine the heart, and check for any fluid in the chest cavity that needs draining. We'll also investigate why this fluid has built up.

Always pay attention to your cat's breathing patterns! If you notice them struggling to breathe in any way, you should immediately take them to the nearest emergency animal hospital or clinic.