Rapid breathing only when happy-purring

[Daizen]

Hello! My cat pal Sonny Boy is a wonderful athletic orange tabby. He's a normal healthy boy, I got him when he was about 1 yr 3 mo, and now he's 4.

When we have a petting session, he starts purring while rapidly breathing in and out. When he's not purring he breaths normally. He shows no signs of difficulty breathing. I asked the vet and he said it's just his breathing pattern. I've seen cats that were overheated and they were panting at a similar rate, but it was clearly panting whereas this is just him breathing weirdly. Does anyone else have this, or have any insight?

 

[gitabooks]

I have pet-sat, fostered, and owned many cats and in my experience when cats are excited and purring they breath really rapidly. It should be normal. My Nocturne breaths faster while purring if she wants something than when she is relaxed and just wants cuddles. Its how I tell she wants to be fed.