Heavy Breathing

First off, I'm sorry if this is the wrong place to post this.

Anyway, my calico kitty of 17 years is acting really strange. Over the past few days, she's had trouble breathing. Now she's lying in a corner in the kitchen, opening and closing her mouth like she's trying to get air in. Earlier she was acting like she was coughing something up, but I don't think she did cough up anything. I think she might be on the verge of death... but I'd like someone to confirm this. I wish I could take her to the vet, but I think she'd freak out because she HATES the vet.

You have to at least call your vet, and I think you'll probably have to bring her in, too, but at least call your vet for advice.

Originally Posted by calicokitty2

I think she might be on the verge of death... but I'd like someone to confirm this.

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I'll be honest - it doesn't sound good to me. Having said that - things are not always what they appear, either with cats or humans.

Please ring your vet immediately for advice, so that you can decide how best to help your little friend.

Good luck.

Your cat needs a vet right now, and probably sooner.

It does not matter if she hates the vet, you can take her to the vet and it is wrong not to. If she is dying then the vet can help make her at least feel better, and she might not be dying and the vet could help her get better.

One thing is for certain, your cat is having an emergency situation that needs prompt medical attention, and nobody on this board is going to tell you "yes, she is dying don't take her in". We cannot make a diagnosis over the internet, aside from what you already know which is that your cat is very very sick and also that she depends on you for care and what she needs right now is medical attention.

Please let us know how it goes after you get back from the vet today. You will be in our thoughts.

If a cat has to open her mouth to breathe, she is extremely oxygen deprived. You need to get her to a vet RIGHT NOW. Take her to the emergency vet if necessary.

I read your profile and realized you are only 14. In that case, you probably cannot take her to the vet yourself, so you need to tell your parents what is going on and that your kitty needs to go to the vet ASAP.
Good luck, sweetie.

Okay... here's the news...
Well, we were going to take her to the vet, but just as we get ready, my kitty's nowhere to be found. We checked EVERYWHERE upstairs and downstairs, in closests, under beds, etc... we just can't find her. She's been inside ever since we noticed the heavy breathing, and I think we would have noticed if she slipped outside... I can't go looking for her outside now, not only is it dark outside it's storming too... I hope she's still alive by morning...

EDIT: We found her! She was in one of our bathrooms... I don't know why we haven't seen her before. She's still breathing heavily though, but we're taking her to the vet first thing in the morning. Poor thing, I don't think she can even sleep.

Originally Posted by calicokitty2

We found her! She was in one of our bathrooms... I don't know why we haven't seen her before. She's still breathing heavily though, but we're taking her to the vet first thing in the morning. Poor thing, I don't think she can even sleep.

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She was probably hiding/resting.

Please let us know how it goes - my thoughts and prayers go with you and her.

Well, my mom checked on my kitty this morning, and she still had heavy breathing, but two hours later my mom found her dead in the bathroom... ):
We called the vet and she said that our kitty probably had respiratory failure.
I'll miss my kitty, but I know she's in a better place now. My family will probably get her cremated; Tiffany (the cat's name) was originally my grandmother's cat before she died, so we might spread her ashes over my grandmother's grave. Thanks for all your help!

I'm so sorry about your cat.

Did the vet not want you to come in??? That seems odd.

I'm very sorry about your kitty and I'm sure she is in a better place now. We have a special forum called "Crossing the Rainbow Bridge" where you can post all about how sad you are and how wonderful your baby girl was.

Oh, I'm so sorry Calicokitty.