Why is the stray kitten in my yard breathing so fast and shallowly?

Question

Hello, For a few weeks now, a stray kitten (probably 2-3 months) has been staying in our yard for good portions of the day, just laying down or sleeping. The problem is that he breaths extremely quickly and shallowly at rest. I just counted close to 200 breaths in a minute (judging by abdominal expansion/contraction). His gums appear to be pink. From what I've read, it seems like he could possibly have some form of worms. Would an OTC dewormer like Panacur be appropriate? Thank you very much. Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 2 lbs

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

Worms cause GI upset more than they likely affect breathing, unless the pet is also anemia (which is less likely if the gums are pink). More likely would be upper respiratory infection, heat, stress, pneumonia, or other heart or lung disease. A dewormer won't hurt anything, but it may not help, either. The best thing to do would be to have the kitten evaluated by a vet.

Why is the stray kitten in my yard breathing so fast and shallowly?

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