Cat exhibiting open-mouth breathing

Open-mouth Breathing in Cats–What Does It Mean?

The only time it may be normal for cats to breath through their mouth is following vigorous exercise. Cats cool themselves by expediting evaporation of body fluids on their tongue and in their mouth and lungs. Mouth breathing is the quickest way for cats to reduce body temperature. When mouth breathing is accompanied by labored breathing, foaming at the mouth or agitation, your Braselton emergency care vet strongly urges cat owners to get their pet evaluated and treated as soon as possible.

Open-mouth Breathing and Feline Asthma/Respiratory Illness

Cats can suffer asthma attacks just like humans. Attributed to seasonal allergies, heartworm disease, reaction to cat litter and other environmental irritants, feline asthma may force cats to breathe through their mouths, wheeze, and cough repeatedly. Their tongue and lips could also turn blue if they are not receiving enough oxygen. Treatment for feline asthma attacks includes antihistamine medication to decrease airway swelling and use of adapted inhalers.

Pleural Effusion

Pleural effusion, or fluid accumulating around a cat’s lungs, prevents their lungs from expanding enough to allow oxygen to fill air sacs. Usually caused by lung infections, blood clots lodged in the lungs, lymph drainage abnormalities or cancer, pleural effusion. Signs of fluid buildup affecting lung flexibility include open mouth breathing, difficulty breathing and foaming around the mouth. Emergency care for cats suffering pleural effusion involves your Braselton vet quickly removing excess fluid through thoracocentesis and providing oxygen therapy as needed.

Upper Respiratory Infections

Viral infections such as feline herpes and feline calicivirus can cause feline URIs while bacterial infections like Bordetella and chlamydia may produce symptoms of an upper respiratory illness. Constant sneezing, coughing, runny nose, fever and open mouth breathing due to severe congestion are symptoms of a URI in cats. Since URIs are contagious, cats diagnosed with a URI will need isolated and given appropriate medications to eliminate the infection.

Heat Stroke

In addition to open mouth breathing and foaming at the mouth, signs of heat stroke in cats include drooling, rapid breathing and vomiting. If a cat is very lethargic or unconscious due to heat exhaustion, place a baggie of frozen ice between her legs and get her to the vet immediately. Do not try to bring the cat back to conscious. Waiting to get veterinary treatment for feline heat stroke by attempting to cool the cat off yourself could seriously endanger the cat’s health.

If your cat (or dog) is breathing through their mouth, experiencing breathing problems and acting distressed, please bring your pet to our emergency animal hospital in Braselton or call (470) 209-7222.
​