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My cat wheezes and gasps. Could it be asthma, even if the vet says no?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | neutered | 6 years and 1 month old | 13 lbs

We noticed that Felix's breathing sounds at times like a wheezing, or at times can't catch his breath. It doesn't normally happen. It's usually when he plays around, or gets into a fight with one of our other cats. Point being, we have asked the vet about it but they kinda brushed it off. So I was wondering if this is something we should keep bugging the vet with, so they can run more test? Or could it be just a normal reaction based on stress or over excitement? Thanks for your time btw.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on April 8th, 2017

Wheezing and gasping for breath are certainly not "normal" findings, even if they only occur during times of stress or excitement. Definitely mention this to Felix's vet again because this could indicate the presence of feline asthma. Chest x-rays are not a definitive test for asthma, but are likely to raise or lower the suspicion of this condition. Always trust your gut when it comes to your pets' health!

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