My cat was in the sun, shaking & panting. Is it heatstroke?

Question

My cat seems to have cut her mouth a few days ago but she's eating fine. However, today she had accidentally been locked out in the sun, and when I got to her she was shaking panting and drooling heavily. Will she be okay when she cools down or should I take her to a vet? Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 13 years and 10 months old

Penelope Graben, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello! Cats are very stubborn nose-breathers and hate panting. This means they usually only pant if they are in severe respiratory distress. This, associated with the drooling and being outdoors makes me very concerned that she could have been suffering from severe heat distress or heat stroke. Sometimes cats can also hide signs of heart and lung disease until they are truly struggling to breathe, and this could be exacerbated by heat by as well. I would recommend taking her into a vet to be seen. They will likely recommend bloodwork and x-rays to start evaluating her major organ function, check for signs of infection, and evaluate the heart and lungs. I hope you find this helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

My cat was in the sun, shaking & panting. Is it heatstroke?

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