Why is my cat breathing fast with his abdomen after being outside?

Question

I noticed my cat (11 months male) breathing very rapidly with abdomen after a night outside the house. I took him to the vet immediately and he stayed at the clinic over night. The vet examined him, took an x-ray, a blood test. No broken bones, no fluid in lungs, no heart problems, no inflammation. The vet said he can't explain this and that beside that my kitten is fine. The Cat breaths about 50 times per minute while sleeping, so I'm still very concerned. Thank you for answering. Best, S.M. Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 11 months and 14 days old

Makenzie Kurth, DVM · Accepted Answer

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I’m sorry to hear about Lerdi! I too am somewhat concerned but have a few ideas. Least scary is just that he is painful or developing a fever. A fractured rib that is difficult to see on X-ray is also possible- this makes deep breathing quite painful so animals tend to take shallow, frequent breaths. A more scary idea is that he could have a slow leak of air or buildup of fluid into the chest cavity which is compressing the lungs. Keep a close eye on the color of his gums (pale pink in most cats) and that respiration rate. If those guns become white, grey, blue-tinged or that respiration rate keeps climbing, you head to the emergency vet immediately. Otherwise, Call the first vet back and see what they recommend- a repeat X-ray or chest ultrasound might be indicated. Best of luck to you and Lerdi!

Why is my cat breathing fast with his abdomen after being outside?

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