As a cat owner myself, I can understand why so many people enjoy the purring. It’s actually a type of breathing with more purpose than most people believe.
Cat owners usually associate purring with content and they’re right to some degree as cats usually purr when they’re content and relaxed, but here’s the kicker. Purring also has self-healing properties thanks to the high frequency of vibrations.
Moreover, cats breathe faster when sleeping and purring. It’s a natural process, so don’t worry if you notice your cat breathing faster while sleeping on your lap.
However, having breathing difficulties and increased respiratory rate due to purring isn’t the same. A range of factors can cause breathing difficulties in felines.
In today’s article, I will discuss both purring and breathing difficulties in great detail, so you can better understand their meaning and help your cat if necessary.
Why Does My Cat Breathe Weird When Purring?
Cats usually purr noticeably but they don’t breathe loudly, therefore when you catch your feline breathing loudly while purring, there’s probably a reason why.
A slight increase in the respiratory rate is normal while purring in cats but what isn’t normal is labored breathing.
If your cat seems distressed and unable to breathe properly, visit the local vet clinic right away as they’re probably in danger.
Keep in mind, though, that sometimes cats breathe faster when they’re stressed out, as rapid breathing is a normal response to stress in cats.
How Do Cats Purr?
Cats come in various shapes, sizes, and of course, personalities, but one thing they all share in common is purring.
Nothing compares to a cat’s purr. It’s one of the most beautiful sounds your cat can make when they sleep or rest on your lap as it’s a clear sign of happiness.
In case you didn’t know, purring is actually a type of breathing produced by rhythmic contractions of a cat’s larynx muscles as well as diaphragm. The vocal cords of your feline vibrate at a high frequency of 25-150 vibrations per second.
The contractions of the muscles open and close the glottis. And as your feline takes air in, the air touches the muscles in the throat, releasing the purring sound you love and enjoy.
Is Rapid Breathing a Part of Purring?
Throughout this process, cats typically breathe at a normal pace. but might seem as if they’re breathing faster.
Their heart rate might increase slightly but that’s normal during purring, so if they’re usually purring while breathing normally, there’s no need for panic.
However, if you suspect there’s something wrong with your cat’s breathing, call your vet right away and schedule a checkup.
Why Does My Cat Breathe Fast When I Pet Her?
Cats can breathe fast due to several reasons including stress, anxiety, or overheating.
However, if your cat’s breathing heavily which resembles panting in dogs, visit your local vet clinic right away as there’s a bigger issue at hand.
Do Kittens Breathe Faster Than Cats?
Adult cats usually take about 20-30 breaths per minute. However, kittens and young felines will usually breathe a little faster than this. Both adult and young cats breathe faster due to common reasons such as anxiety, stress, overheating, etc.
So, if you’re not certain if your feline is breathing properly, count their breaths when sleeping or resting for more accurate results.
If the respiratory rate exceeds 30 breaths per minute or their breathing seems off in any way, irregular, or shallow, seek medical care right away.
Why Do Cats Breathe Fast When Sleeping?
Cats breathe through their mouths when sleeping due to heat exhaustion or stress. It also happens when felines overexert themselves.
So, it’s completely normal for cats to take a break and sleep off their exhaustion as they need to recharge their batteries just like people.
If this is a regular occurrence, open-mouthed rapid breathing or panting could be a result of a serious underlying condition such as heart or lung disease.
Panting also indicates that your feline can’t breathe properly using their nose. If you have a flat-faced cat, open-mouthed breathing isn’t anything unusual for these types of breeds.
Colds, sinus issues, and infections can cause blockages as well. And if the problem persists, your cat can develop a serious upper respiratory disease.
Other possible causes of respiratory distress in cats include:
- Seizures
- Items stuck in the throat
- Pulmonary edema
- Lung cancer
If you notice anything unusual in your kitten’s breathing going on for a while, don’t let your pet suffer and schedule a vet appointment as soon as possible.
Cat Breathing Fast but Otherwise Normal
If your feline’s breathing fast all of the sudden, seek medical attention right away.
In fact, any sign of abnormal breathing such as unwillingness to lie down, distressed facial expression, and labored open-mouthed breathing requires vet attention.
Furthermore, if your cat breathes fast when purring, they could be in pain. Some cats can experience cardiac diseases or asthma, resulting in fast breathing while purring and resting.
Rapid breathing can signify low oxygen levels in the blood or something even more serious as well, so seek medical help right away.
Is Noisy Breathing in Cats Dangerous?
Purring isn’t the same as noisy breathing, so if your cat purrs, it’s not dangerous in itself, but purring accompanied by heavy or rapid breathing can be a cause of alarm.
Noisy breathing in felines during inhalation resembles low-pitched snoring which is a result of a blockage of the airway in their throat. Abnormal breathing is often loud, so you can hear a cat breathing fast without any special equipment.
I also want to mention that noisy breathing isn’t anything new in certain breeds like Himalayans and Persians as they have flat faces and short noses. And because of these features, they usually have paralysis of their voice box.
In regular cats, blocked passageways can result in loss of voice as well as changes in breathing such as loud open-mouthed breathing and extended head.
If you notice any of these signs in your feline, avoid anything that can make matters worse such as exercise, excitement, drinking, and eating.
These things can increase air movement in and out of their lungs, hence worsening airflow. In this case, keep your cat cool and calm and let your vet handle the issue as soon as possible.
Cat Breathing Heavily While Resting
Breathing rate and effort can reveal a lot about your cat’s health.
Furthermore, it’s important to monitor these things in cats with heart and respiratory diseases, so here’s how to measure the respiratory rate of your feline at home.
Step 1: Make Sure Your Pet is Sleeping
The best time to count your cat’s respiratory rate is when they’re sleeping or resting peacefully. Also, make sure your cat is in a sleeping position in which you can observe their inhalation and exhalation with ease.
Moreover, avoid touching your cat while measuring their respiratory rate as this can falsely raise their respiratory rate. If they’re moving, start over because this can also falsely increase their breathing rate.
Step 2: Use a Digital Watch or Watch With a Second-Hand
You can either measure your cat’s respiratory rate with a digital watch or one with a second hand. Count the number of breaths in 15 seconds.
Keep in mind that one inhalation and one exhalation count as a single breath. Then, multiply the number of breaths in 15 seconds by 4 and you will yield the respiratory rate per minute.
Cats have a normal sleeping respiratory rate of 20-30 breaths per minute, so if your feline takes over 30 breaths per minute, there’s something wrong.
When is Increased Respiratory Rate Normal?
When cats sleep and purr, they have a slightly increased respiratory rate. However, there’s a difference between normal and abnormal respiration.
Cats with abnormal respiration usually breathe or pant with their mouth open. Keep in mind that cats can also act in this way if they’re stressed or anxious such as on a car ride.
However, if your feline doesn’t show any sign of stress or anxiety but has their mouth open while breathing, they need immediate medical attention.
Common signs of abnormal respiration include distressed facial expression, obvious changes in their breathing like wider chest excursions, unwillingness to rest, etc.
If your cat has a respiratory rate per minute that exceeds 30, and there’s no reason for a falsely increased rate such as sniffing, exercise, or hot weather, seek medical attention immediately.
Is My Cat Purring or Having Trouble Breathing?
Back in time, people used to believe that only domestic cats purr. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Bigger cats like tigers, cheetahs, leopards, pumas, and lions can also purr. The only difference is that they only purr when breathing out, whereas domestic kittens purr when they inhale and exhale.
And while a slightly increased respiratory rate is normal while purring in cats, rapid breathing isn’t, but how to tell the two things apart?
Purring Cat
When your feline breathes, the air goes over their vibrating vocal cords, producing a sound known as purring.
Moreover, cats usually breathe with their mouths shut, unless they’re stressed, such as on a car ride. In this case, they open their mouth while breathing and experience rapid breathing.
Cats breathe through their nose, so they breathe silently. And if yours isn’t sick, you shouldn’t hear loud breathing or any weird noises coming from their throat, nose, or lungs.
Healthy and happy cats purr while breathing to express their positive emotions like happiness, excitement, etc.
Maybe you have offered tuna as a treat and they’re all excited or you’re petting them in a spot they enjoy such as beside their cheeks or under their chin.
Rapid Breathing
Healthy cats take 15-60 breaths per minute. When they’re resting or sleeping, they shouldn’t take more than 30 breaths per minute.
So, you can easily determine if they’re just sleeping and purring or experiencing respiratory distress by their breathing rate.
If your cat breathes loudly and takes more than 30 breaths per minute, it’s time to visit your vet and have your feline examined by a professional.
Conclusion
Sometimes, cats breathe slightly faster when purring, so there’s no room for panic if this isn’t a regular occurrence in your feline. You can even notice open-mouth breathing from time to time when a healthy cat sleeps in a weird position.
However, if you suspect there’s something wrong with your cat’s breathing, it’s best to talk to your vet, provide a complete medical history including when the labored breathing began, and see what they say.
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*image by Wirestock/depositphotos