My cat has had elevated breathing rate for 24+ hours
PLEASE WATCH FULL VIDEO WITH SOUND
Looking for advice while I wait to get a vet appointment. I’ll attach a video (unfortunately the sound isn’t very clear in the recording).
Background:
• Male cat, overweight
• His companion cat (female) was hospitalized yesterday and hasn’t come back home yet (IBD stomach issues)
Symptoms started exactly when she was taken away
What I’ve been observing for the past 24+ hours:
• Breathing rate consistently elevated: 45-60 rpm awake, ~41-48 rpm when nearly asleep. Never drops to a normal resting rate
• Visible effort in the nose/abdomen with each breath
• Frequent lip licking and swallowing (like nausea)
• Whining/whimpering sounds — soft, like a puppy crying — sometimes synchronized with his breathing
• Deep sighs
• Can’t fully fall asleep despite being exhausted — keeps startling at sounds, ears constantly moving
• One episode of what looked like a coughing/choking fit lasting ~7 seconds (boyfriend described it as “trying to expel something” — possibly hairball attempt)
• Overnight: audible grunting/groaning sounds accompanying each breath while sleeping, stopped when touched
• Some unusual sounds at the end of his purr
• Ate normally, gums are pink, responds to affection, purrs and kneads
History worth mentioning:
• In summer he tends to breathe faster than usual (has done this for years, even before gaining weight)
• Occasional episodes after running/playing where he stops and breathes heavily for a few seconds, like he can’t catch his breath
• No previous cardiac workup that I know of
What I’ve ruled out visually:
• Gums are normal pink
• No open-mouth breathing
• No neck stretching
• No blue/pale gums
• Elbows not splayed out
• Eating and drinking normally