My old cat breathes fast, circles, and has nosebleeds. What's wrong?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 14 years old | 6.6 lbs
I searched online and it says that a normally a cat takes 20-30 breaths per minute. My cat takes 38 breaths per minute. Recently local vets confirmed her loss in sight and that happened due to her high blood pressure. So she has had 2 nose bleeds and she circles a lot when she’s in her cage. She has an uneven heart beat, but nothing serious. She was born in 2004 and she’s a small cat (3 kilos and she cannot afford to lose anyone weight).
1 Answer
Most Helpful Answer
Published on January 23rd, 2018
Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! An elevated respiratory rate can be caused by heart disease or lung disease and can be an indication of difficulty breathing. High blood pressure can be secondary to heart disease and occasionally thyroid issues, both of which can be controlled with medications. I recommend having Molly seen by her vet as soon as possible, as this can progress quickly to pulmonary edema and even heart failure. She may need to be seen by a veterinary cardiologist for a second opinion and titration of medications.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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