Cats pant primarily to breathe in more oxygen or to cool themselves down, as they do not sweat like humans do. Panting in cats can happen due to a variety of reasons, some normal and others potentially serious. Common causes include:
- Intense exercise or overexertion, where cats pant briefly after vigorous play.
- Heat or overheating, where panting helps cats cool down.
- Stress or anxiety, such as during vet visits or car rides.
- Severe pain, which may cause panting as a sign of distress.
- Respiratory issues like asthma or infections that make breathing difficult.
- Heart problems, including congestive heart failure or heartworm disease.
- Ingesting or inhaling foreign objects causing airway obstruction.
- Anemia or other medical conditions impairing oxygen delivery.
While occasional panting after activity is often normal, persistent, excessive, or unexplained panting could indicate a health problem and warrants a visit to the veterinarian for examination and treatment.
