Il gatto respira **always through the nose**. If it breathes with its mouth open, it is **a veterinary emergency**. Breathing difficulties in cats are always serious. Let's look at the causes and what to do.

## Normal Breathing of Cats

- **20-30 breaths per minute** at rest
- **Always through the nose**
- **Silent**
- **Chest rising and falling regularly**

## Signs of Problems

### Mild

- Faster than normal breathing (40+ breaths/min at rest)
- Slight wheezing or "noise" of breathing
- Occasional cough

### Severe (EMERGENCY)

- **Mouth breathing** (never normal in cats)
- **Belly rising with breath** (abdominal breathing, sign of exhaustion)
- **Blue/gray tongue or gums** (cyanosis)
- **Foam or liquid from the nostrils**
- **Neck extension** to breathe better
- **Apathy, collapse**

## Possible Causes

### 1. Feline Asthma

Syndrome similar to human asthma. Crisis of:
- Dry cough, prolonged "sneezing"
- Wheezing
- Acute crises with breathing difficulty

**Most predisposed breeds:** Siamese, Oriental.

### 2. Pleural Effusion

Fluid in the chest cavity. Often secondary to:
- Heart failure
- Lymphoma
- Pyothorax (infection)
- Chylothorax

**Characteristic:** **rapid and shallow** breathing, cat assuming the "penguin position" (neck extended).

### 3. Heart Failure

Especially in predisposed breeds (Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Persian).

**Symptoms:**
- Labored breathing
- Rare cough (unlike dogs)
- Decreased tolerance to play

### 4. Pneumonia

Lung infection. Often secondary to:
- Viral infections (calicivirus, rhinotracheitis)
- Aspiration (rare)

### 5. Pulmonary Edema

Fluid in the lungs. Cardiac or toxic causes.

### 6. Thoracic Trauma

From falling from a height (parachute cat syndrome).

### 7. Foreign Body in Trachea or Throat

Small objects swallowed.

### 8. Thoracic Tumors

Lymphomas, mediastinal masses.

### 9. Brachycephaly

Breeds like Persian and Exotic have structural breathing difficulties. They worsen in heat and stress.

### 10. Acute Stress

Veterinarian visit, travel, moving can cause temporary hyperventilation.

## What to Do at Home

### For Acute Problems (cat with open mouth, blue, collapsed):

1. **Immediate calm** (no rough handling)
2. **Open carrier, cool environment**
3. **Immediate vet** (call warning of respiratory emergency)
4. **DO NOT give human medication**
5. **DO NOT attempt CPR** without training

### For Mild Problems (rapid breathing without other symptoms):

1. **Calm the cat** (quiet area)
2. **Measure the frequency** (breaths per minute at rest)
3. **Check gum color** (should be pink)
4. **Observe for 30 minutes**
5. If it persists or worsens → **vet within 24h**

## Diagnosis

### Tests the vet will perform:

- **Chest auscultation**
- **Chest X-ray**
- **Echocardiogram** (if cardiac suspicion)
- **Blood tests** (complete blood count, profile)
- **Thoracocentesis** (in case of effusion, to analyze the fluid)

## Treatments

Vary by cause:

- **Asthma:** bronchodilators, corticosteroids (also for inhalation)
- **Heart failure:** diuretics, ACE inhibitors, pimobendan
- **Pneumonia:** antibiotics
- **Effusion:** drainage + treatment of underlying cause
- **Tumors:** chemotherapy, palliative care

## Prognosis

Totally depends on the cause:

- **Asthma:** chronic management, good quality of life with therapy
- **Heart failure:** months to years with therapy (depends on severity)
- **Thoracic lymphoma:** variable (4-12 months on average with chemo)
- **Pneumonia:** generally good prognosis
- **Trauma:** depends on severity

## Prevention

### Regular Vaccinations

Calicivirus and rhinotracheitis (FVRCP) prevent **viral pneumonias**.

### Annual Check-ups

Routine cardiac auscultation catches early heart diseases.

### Parasite Control

Heartworm also affects cats (rare but documented).

### Safe Environment

Avoid aspiration of water, dust.

## The Most Important Thing

Breathing difficulty in cats = ALWAYS an emergency. Never wait "for it to pass." Time is critical: every minute of hypoxia damages organs. Knowing the signs of emergency (open mouth, blue gums, abdominal breathing) and acting immediately is the difference between saving your cat and losing it.