Irregular Breathing - Am I Paranoid or Rightfully Concerned?

So as if my poor kitty hadn't already made a name for herself on this site I'm back again. I recently posted two separate questions about her peeing outside the litter box and her aggression towards my other cat, but now I'm thinking I might have found the root to both problems, but I need to know if I'm being overly paranoid or if I have a reason for concern.

Ever since Kimi (the cat in question) was a kitten, I've always noticed she breathed a little different. I remember making my mom drive me to a vet because she would shake as a kitten but only when completely calm or sleeping. They told me since they didn't see her do it while she was at the vet, they would ahve to do a full work-up and send her for a neurological test which would cost me way too much money. They said it was probably normal she shook, as some small dogs just shake naturally and it could be the same for her. As she got older she stopped shaking, but I began to notice that every once in a while she would breath weird. It almost seemed like she was out of breath. She took short, quick breaths, and her whole stomach/body would move. This usually would only happen when she was laying on her side and as she was trying to fall asleep, otherwise she was completely normal. Normal energy, normal appetite, normal behavior.

Recently, she's been acting randomly aggressive towards my other cat (which has thankfully calmed down for now) and has been peeing outside her litter box. I guess by recently I mean it's been going on for at least 3 years now. It got worse in the last year (the peeing and aggression), and every time I would take her to the vet, the doctors said everything was normal. I would bring up her peeing problem, the aggression problem, and the breathing problem, but they said they didn't notice anything strange on her work up and she was probably fine. Kimi gets so stressed out at vet visits that sometimes they can't even see her because she's so aggressive towards the vet and nurses, so I always wonder if they actually looked as closely as they should.

Now, I'm beginning to wonder (after all this time) if maybe I should be more concerned than I am. My husband thinks that because of her peeing problem and assuming it could be a medical problem, that I'm searching for something to be wrong with my cat. Who knows, he could be right, but I'm just not 100% convinced it's nothing quite yet. I attached a video of just audio of her breathing, and I'm hoping someone can put my concerns to rest - or tell me I'm not totally paranoid.

You may need to turn up your volume, but yeah. Any thoughts on my cat would be nice. And if nothing seems wrong I'll leave it alone, but I'd at least like some other opinions than Banfield. Thanks in advance!

First off, my apologies for your thread not being answered yet.

That is not a normal, relaxed way for a cat to be breathing and you are not being paranoid. At first, I thought it was a revved up purr. If she is breathing this way on and off, I would recommend an xray of her heart and lungs right away. It seems as if your kitty has had some other health issues since being a kitten and may have some sort of condition that has not been diagnosed as of yet. I would encourage your vet to listen to this recording too. I know it can be very, very hard for a vet to listen to a nervous pet at their office. The cats can get so worked up with stress that the vet can't tell which is what. Still, Kimi should be seen for this breathing issue. Keep us posted. for Kimi :rub:

p.s. Please DO consider going to another vet for a second opinion if you are not getting answers at Banfield. I think at this point it may be warranted if you are not getting answers. :nod:

"p.s. Please DO consider going to another vet for a second opinion if you are not getting answers at Banfield. I think at this point it may be warranted if you are not getting answers. "

I think this might be wise too.

Hi Duck,
At first it sounds like purring, sometimes when they get excited and purr real hard fluid will fill up in their bronchial tube which at first that sounds like to me. I have some questions which may help me assist you. Does she only make this sound when lying down to go to sleep? Is she a sheltered or stray cat? How old was she when you got her? Tell where her favorite sleeping spot is? Does she ever cough or sneeze?

I'm going to listen to the tape some more and give you my thoughts and share my knowledge with you. Right now my suspicion is everything is ok and just hates your litter boxes or litter. The noise you hear is snorting a sign of serious contentment. But try to answer my questions as I think she is snorting which is what newborns do when kneading their Mom's to stimulate the milk flow while they are nursing. I will review then send you another note by tonight but for sure by tomorrow.

Regards,
Blackcat