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Why is my senior cat breathing through his mouth? Is it an emergency?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | British Shorthair | Male

Hello I own a male cat 11 years of age and he is breathing from his mouth. This happened today 10pm

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on July 30th, 2019

Oh dear! Open-mouth breathing in cats is a serious issue, as this is not normal behavior for them and usually indicates a breathing problem of some kind. I would recommend taking Felix to the vet right away to be seen. Your veterinarian can listen to his heart and lungs to check for any obvious abnormalities, and may recommend chest x-rays or other testing if needed to help determine what's wrong.

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