How many times a cat breathes per minute is normal?

The normal respiratory rate of cats is on average 20-40 times/min. The respiratory rate of young animals will be faster, about twice that of adult animals.
The cat is panting laboriously, making a deep, thick sound, and you see the cat’s belly rise and fall slowly. You are curious and measure the ups and downs of your cat’s breathing in one minute. The result makes you feel worried: Why does your cat breathe 22 times in 60 seconds?

The good news is that your cat is experiencing a normal rise and fall in breathing. But the bad news is that you need to pay attention to why your cat’s panting becomes labored and the sound becomes louder.

There are two ways to observe the rise and fall of a cat’s breathing. The first method is to observe the ups and downs of the cat’s belly. The cat can be placed slightly above the ground about 45 cm. You stand 1.5 meters away from the cat. It doesn’t have to be 60 seconds. You can use the 3-minute measurement method and calculate the average.
The second method is to look at the cat from the front. The cat’s sides will bulge slightly when it breathes. This method is suitable for young cats, but older cats sometimes get nervous when you look at them like this, so they run away quietly. It’s best not to hold a watch or timer in your hand while observing, as this can confuse some cats. The best way is to observe the cat quietly with your bare hands, which will help the cat calmly cooperate.

A variety of factors can cause a cat’s breathing to rise and fall faster or slower. Temperature is one of the important influencing factors. When the temperature is high, breathing will rise and fall significantly faster. Generally, cats will have an increase of about 15%, which is normal. However, under high temperature conditions, if the cat at home has shortness of breath and the breathing rises and falls more than 40 times in 60 seconds, you need to pay attention to whether the cat has heat stroke.

When heatstroke causes ups and downs in a cat’s breathing, the cat will appear weak and easily sleepy. Some cats will be unable to stand, and the cat will stay at the water basin but cannot drink. At this time, you can cool down appropriately and observe the ups and downs of the cat’s breathing again. If it drops to about 30 to 35 times in 60 seconds, this is a positive situation.
Cats will also experience increased breathing when they find an object of interest. Cats under 15 months old are especially prone to this phenomenon due to lack of experience. Experienced big cats often adjust their breathing and stay quiet in order not to be noticed by the other party.
The change in the ups and downs of the cat’s breathing at this time is short-lived. But you need to be aware of the agitation that occurs in some cats. When chasing a target without success, some cats will become more irritable, and the sound of the kitten’s breathing will be noticeably louder. At this time, you need to suspend the cat’s behavior, put the cat in another place, or use a new thing to arouse the cat’s interest.
When the cat’s target disappears, some cats will become sleepy as their breathing frequency decreases. This is normal and you need to allow your cat to sleep peacefully at this time.
Cats in the growing stage have not yet learned how to coordinate running and breathing. So some cats pause briefly after jumping and running. The cat suddenly stops and then becomes motionless. After 3 to 5 seconds, the cat will breathe hard and the cat’s abdomen will rise and fall obviously.

In cats after 15 months of age, this phenomenon will decrease. But exercise will still make the cat’s breathing rise and fall faster. However, you need to pay attention to the duration. Under normal circumstances, after the cat calms down, the cat’s breathing fluctuations can return to normal within 25 minutes.

Cats experiencing health problems will have increased breathing rates. In addition to the common hidden dangers of cat diseases, lack of adequate diet can also cause cats to increase their breathing in a short period of time, and then gradually become weak. In particular, a lack of water can cause this in cats. So when you observe your cat’s breathing rising and falling rapidly, your first reaction is to check the cat’s water basin and make sure your cat can take in enough water in a timely manner.
When you notice changes in the ups and downs of your cat’s breathing. The safest way is to first put the cat in a flat and cool place. Place a low drinking bowl next to the cat. You can use 2 to 3 pots of cat grass to cover the cat, which will calm the cat as quickly as possible.
If the cat is not medically unwell, you can leave quietly and let the cat rest alone in the area. Cats that are dehydrated or in a comatose state need to be taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible. On the way, you can use a towel soaked in cold water to gently wipe the cat’s paw pads.
When your cat is healthy, you can record the ups and downs of your cat’s breathing quarterly. This makes it easier for you to observe changes in your cat at any time and detect any troubles your cat encounters in a timely manner. If your cat’s breathing is always rapid and the cat appears chronically tired, it’s not because your cat is overweight. It is one of the unhealthy signs of the cat. You need to check the cat’s condition more comprehensively and get the cat the corresponding treatment as early as possible.