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My cat pants after playing hard. Is this normal or a concern?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | unneutered | 6 months old | 2 lbs

I have read that it can b normal for a cat to pant after exercise (heavier than normal) it only lasted 6minutes then he was and is still fine.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on April 1st, 2017

You're right that it can be normal to see short periods of panting after active play or other exercise, especially in young cats. But, this can also be a sign of heart disease or other problems. If your kitten sometimes pants, it would be best to have him examined be a vet to make sure that his heart and lungs are normal. If no problems are found, then you'll know there is no need to worry :)

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on August 12th, 2017

    Panting is not normally seen as often as dogs, however, it can occur in non-emergency situations. Cats often pant when they are stressed out or when they are very hot. They can also pant because of an upper respiratory infection or heart or lung disease, which would necessitate medical treatment. If it was only a brief time and she resumed normal activity, I would not worry about it much. If she is inside and has been calm and is still panting, it may be wise to have her checked out by a vet.

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    Answered By Ana M, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 15th, 2018

    Thank you for submitting your question regarding Nugget. If his open mouth breathing or panting was directly after hard play, this is usually not a cause for concern. If he does this while at rest or with minimal activity, then it is worrisome. FIP can result in fluid in his chest which can cause difficulty breathing. By the time the disease progresses to this point, the cat is typically acting ill in other ways as well (lethargic, not eating or drinking, etc). Difficulty breathing can also be associated with other conditions such as heart disease, pneumonia or asthma. If Nugget is acting like himself in all other ways, you probably just wore him out playing! I hope this information helps.

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    Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 1st, 2019

    I am sorry to hear about Pelly. Panting is concerning in a cat if it is not occuring after strenuous activity or exposure to heat or stress. If your kitty is panting after just mild activity I would recommend an examination at a veterinarian to check for underlying lung or heart problems.

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