Cat breathing problems – when should I see a vet?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

See a vet now

This can be an emergency – contact your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Breathing problems in cats can be linked to shock or stress, feline asthma, cat flu, accidents and injuries, heart problems, heat stroke, anaemia, certain cancers or flat-faced breeds.

When to contact a vet What to do now

Contact a vet if you see any of this

Struggling to breathe
Mouth breathing
Collapsed
Stopped breathing

What you can do now

Contact your vet.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.
Let your cat rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it can mean

Breathing problems in cats can be linked to shock or stress, feline asthma, cat flu, accidents and injuries, heart problems, heat stroke, anaemia, certain cancers or flat-faced breeds.^[1] A cat with a breathing problem may breathe loudly or quickly, cough, take small shallow breaths, or, in very severe cases, breathe through its mouth.^[1]

Other signs that can come with it

Breathing loudly
Breathing quickly
Coughing
Taking small shallow breaths

Possible causes

Shock or stress
Feline asthma
Cat flu
Accidents and injuries
Heart problems
Heat stroke
Anaemia
Certain cancers
Flat-faced breeds

What the experts say

“Contact your vet immediately if your cat is struggling to breathe ; If your cat stops breathing, start CPR and contact your vet straight away ; Never wait to see if things improve. The faster your cat is treated”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What can breathing problems in cats mean?

They can be linked to shock or stress, feline asthma, cat flu, accidents and injuries, heart problems, heat stroke, anaemia, certain cancers or flat-faced breeds.^[1]

When should I contact a vet?

Contact your vet immediately if your cat is struggling to breathe, breathing through its mouth or has collapsed.^[1]

What might breathing problems look like in a cat?

You might notice loud or quick breathing, coughing, small shallow breaths or, in very severe cases, mouth breathing.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages