Kitten Acts Strange

[Jason2321]

First of, I'm calling my vet first thing in the morning.

Now I have a 8 - 9 week old rescued kitten, she's been a stud so far.

But the past couple of days I've started to notice strange things, which I do not like, at all.

Firstly, she's always been very active and playful and had no trouble breathing;
The past few days I've noticed that she's having trouble breathing through her nose, and occasionally coughs and sneezes. I hear her blowing air out her nose in a quick and hard fashion occasionally as well.
Something that had never happened before was when she's running around a bit, she pants like a dog now, mouth open breathing.

Secondly, I have seen it once when she was only 3 weeks old and see it all the time now. While sleeping, she stops breathing for 2 - 3 seconds and I see no movement in her body/lungs, at all. After a couple of seconds the breathing resumes and her body/lungs move as usual. I've been observing her the past 20 minutes and it has happened 3 - 4 times, which I do not like at all, reminds me of apnea. Which makes me think it's a heart thing.

Thirdly, related to the second, she has episodes while she's sleeping where she breaths way too fast, like she's in the middle of running a marathon. She even once woke up during one and started panting with her mouth open.

Her nose is also always very dry, if that means anything

I'm usually not one to panic rapidly, but these are highly concerning to me, I have a feeling there is a genetic defect in her heart and or lungs, or at least something is going on.

I'm always a positive person, but I do fear for my little one



Has anyone had similar experiences with their cat(s)?
I'd like to hear if you have and what exactly it was or what caused it
How did you treat it, if even possible, and what the outcome was

Any feedback is greatly appreciated

 

[Pixelated Cat]

Hello there, I'm sorry you are going through this. I know from experience how scary it can be. I'm glad you are calling the vet tomorrow. Just this last week, my cat Pixie (he's my avatar) was having coughing fits and his mouth was hanging open afterwards. Pixie was also breathing really hard, he couldn't take any deep breaths. I took him to the vet yesterday and he was diagnosed with asthma after the vet listened to his breathing and chest x-rays. Right now he is on prednisolone to reduce the swelling in his airways. After the radiologist reviews the x-rays, the vet will call us with the results and we will discuss how we are going to manage his asthma. I'm not saying your kitten has asthma as I am no veterinarian by any means, I'm just telling you my experience. My vet explained other conditions could cause similar symptoms. Please keep us updated and let us know what the vet says.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Any update yet? I am so sorry I'm late getting here. Sundays are a "no computer day" for me...saves my sanity!

 

[Jason2321]

I'm over in Europe so we have a bit of a time difference, but I called the vet today and I'm going there first thing tomorrow morning when she had an open spot and has a second doctor present to look at her as well.

She said it's uncommon for a cat to act like that, she said sometimes the causes are harmless but sometimes they're not, so we'll have to see and wait.

She has a "small practice" but has radiology machines at her own practice, so that's probably gonna come in handy as well.

For now I'm trying not too worry too much, all I know is she'll be in capable hands tomorrow, fingers crossed!

Thanks for checking in and for the concerns.

After the radiologist reviews the x-rays, the vet will call us with the results and we will discuss how we are going to manage his asthma.

Good luck, I hope things will turn out well!

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Excellent, that you have the appointment. Keep us posted, please. Once we get involved with an issue, to some degree that cat becomes "our" cat, as well. We fret.

 

[Pixelated Cat]

I'm over in Europe so we have a bit of a time difference, but I called the vet today and I'm going there first thing tomorrow morning when she had an open spot and has a second doctor present to look at her as well.

She said it's uncommon for a cat to act like that, she said sometimes the causes are harmless but sometimes they're not, so we'll have to see and wait.

She has a "small practice" but has radiology machines at her own practice, so that's probably gonna come in handy as well.

For now I'm trying not too worry too much, all I know is she'll be in capable hands tomorrow, fingers crossed!

Thanks for checking in and for the concerns.

I'm glad you got the appointment tomorrow! As Mamany1953 said, please keep us updated. I thought about your kitty today. Thank you for your kind words, I know Pixie will be okay.



Good luck, I hope things will turn out well!

 

[Jason2321]

The vet took a long listen to her heart from all different angels and said it's good and it beats regularly. Which was her main concern.

Her upper airways sounded a bit rough and sliightly congested, the enduring extreme warm weather around here was most likely to blame she said, which reduces a bit of the oxygen in the air and increases the fine dust and of course increases body temperature. Which would result in the panting after physical movements, as panting is one of the few ways a cat can relieve a little of the heat. A cat doesn't really sweat or lose heat mostly besides via the paws.

She recommended to use a damp washcloth to rub her paws and her ears a bit and gave me a solution she made to put on / in her nose twice a day, two drops each-hole to clear the upper airways. ( it's a nasal and ophthalmic salt solution which she injected with Lysomucil, but I think that's a local Belgium thing, which I think belongs to the Acetylcysteine family)

I also told her I put some ice pads and wrapped it in a towel for her to play with to help with cooling her down and she said that was a good idea as well.

So, basically I'll be cooling her down as long as it remains this hot around here. I do remember her paws and mouth felt extremely hot when I started giving her ice to play with and rubbing her with some damp cloths.

In any case, the vey was very glad I came in with the symptoms she was having, but reassured me right now everything is fine with her!


The vet did check her heart (and other things) a few weeks ago during her first vaccination, and also did it when I first found her around 3 weeks old.

And I'll be going back in a week or so to get the second vaccinations, so they'll check her again then, so if anything would be wrong, I'm sure they'll notice it.

Quite relieving! And also reassuring to have a couple of highly competent and experienced vets! Lovely, caring, friendly ladies, you can't help but feel your pets are in great hands with them!

Thanks for the interest and concern, it does mean a lot to have the support from others and genuine interest of the well being of our fur babies.

 

[Jason2321]

Sundays are a "no computer day" for me...saves my sanity!

Something I definitely should also do! It's taking over our lives !

 

[Noirele]

I don't want to scare you (and probably my experience means nothing in this case) but this sounds EXACTLY like how my kitten acted. When the vet visited him, he founds nothing. A few days later he was way worse and the vet found out pneumonia (via x-ray, again nothing much at the visit). So, just a quick word of advice: if the kitten starts to pant more, consider doing an x-ray.

 

[Jason2321]

I don't want to scare you (and probably my experience means nothing in this case) but this sounds EXACTLY like how my kitten acted. When the vet visited him, he founds nothing. A few days later he was way worse and the vet found out pneumonia (via x-ray, again nothing much at the visit). So, just a quick word of advice: if the kitten starts to pant more, consider doing an x-ray.

Thank you for the info, I'm still on the lookout for the symptoms and pneumonia is still a very big concern for me.

If I see a change for the worse or if it remains the same without any improvement I'm calling back. I'll be going back in a week or 2 weeks, depending on how she does. (for vaccinations)

I'm keeping a very close eye on her.

I should have seen both my regular vet and her colleague today, unfortunately the vet I usually see (which is the older more experienced vet whom I know is highly capable) was absent because of an emergency, I will see her for the second vaccinations in a week or so, I'll make sure to still raise a concern about the breathing and tell her I was worried about the heart and lungs. She will no doubt take a second listen and if I still see symptoms I'll tell her my concern about pneumonia as well. If anything happens before that, I'm going back immediately.

Again thank you for reminding, it's an important possibility that's not off the table yet!

 

[Jason2321]

I don't want to scare you (and probably my experience means nothing in this case) but this sounds EXACTLY like how my kitten acted. When the vet visited him, he founds nothing. A few days later he was way worse and the vet found out pneumonia (via x-ray, again nothing much at the visit). So, just a quick word of advice: if the kitten starts to pant more, consider doing an x-ray.

Btw, how was your cat energy level / playfulness and appetite at the time?

I'm figuring out if that could be an indicator or not

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Thanks for the interest and concern, it does mean a lot to have the support from others and genuine interest of the well being of our fur babies.

That's what we're here for! This really is a community...we laugh together, cry together, celebrate and mourn, tell silly stories, come to each other's aid (and occasionally, defense). And we read, we learn, we experience, and then pass that along to another in need.

If your kitten is maintaining a high energy level, and still plays normally, then whatever is going on is either not awfully serious, or is in very early stages (and that means more easily treatable).

 

[Jason2321]

Kitten is still very active and playful, still eats a lot and has good stool.

But I noticed an increase in the panting and hear she's having a harder time breathing through her nose, so I e-mailed my vet with the changes I've noticed the past week and she told me to come back in to do a re-check and take an x-ray to take away any doubt

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Let us know what the results are! You and little Whatsherface (WHAT is this kitten's name?) are part of us now!

 

[Noirele]

Btw, how was your cat energy level / playfulness and appetite at the time?

I'm figuring out if that could be an indicator or not

He has always been very playful and energetic, and he ate A LOT. No changes at all. So I would say not necessarily, but it's of course a sign that there is no systemic illness

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Um...kitten's name? Pretty please...

 

[Jason2321]

Oh damn, didn't log in for a while.

Kitten's name is Mila, I work on a horse farm and it's the year of the "M"

The vet took a very long and close listen, nothing weird.
Also tried to make an ECG, but that little gal didn't stay still enough.
Before she's gonna get sterilized we will make an ECG, etc.

When the weather has changed and become colder, the panting stopped.
Now she only pants after extreme physical activity and her paws feel hot and sweaty when she does it.

I'm not that concerned about the panting, looked to be a normal symptom.
However, next time she goes to the vet they'll make sure to check it again they told me.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Well, I know this for sure...Mila is one stinkin' cute kitten! I'm way past happy that the symptoms are easing off with the cooler weather. Wish you could send some of that my way. Still in the 90s, with the humidity almost as high!

Horse farm...I miss horses. Badly.

 

[Jason2321]

Well, I know this for sure...Mila is one stinkin' cute kitten! I'm way past happy that the symptoms are easing off with the cooler weather. Wish you could send some of that my way. Still in the 90s, with the humidity almost as high!

Horse farm...I miss horses. Badly.

The drought was a distater for the fields and horses. Hauled gigantic amounts of water and we're already feeding a ton of our winter hay, pretty much no grass left.

I'm glad it has started raining and cooling down again, feels good, I wish I could send some you way for sure!
We also have around 60 Shetland ponies too and probably 20+ cats on the farm; fun times. Can't imagine life without horses tbh, I would miss them badly as well! Can relate!


Thanks so much for all the support btw!!

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Thanks so much for all the support btw!!

That's what we're here for! I found this community when my cat, Hekitty, was very ill, and just...never left. I've now made some of the dearest friends of my life here.