My wheezing kitty..

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2004
My wheezing kitty..
10
Fri, 06-10-2005 - 5:17pm

I'm getting a little nervous for Vance. Ever since we got him, we noticed he gets sort of wheezy. It's been worse lately. He's so loud! We notice it more in the summer time. But he doesn't seem to be in any distress when it happens. We took him to the Vet when we first got him and they said he sounded fine and it was probably nothing, but it definately sounds louder and is getting more and more often. It's to the point where, if he's wheezing in the bedroom under the bed, you can hear it in the Kitchen in the Condo. Anyone have experience with this? It's not after exursion. In fact, it's usually when he's laying down, relaxed.

It really bothers me when he's hiding somewhere and doing it. Of course, follow the sound to find him, but I'm scared for him.
Any ideas what this could be? I'm sure it's not just a hairball. It happens at least 5-10 times a day, and he never coughs anything up or anything like that.
_ Jay
(PS. He is allergic to fleas, but I'm not sure if this is an allergy. He's had it in all 3 envirnoments he lives in. He is an inside cat - a stray we rescued.)

- J. Darling

Singehttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/JDarling/Headshots/Picture001.jpgr, Songwriter, Author for Celebr

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 06-10-2005 - 5:33pm

Awww, poor Vance.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2004
Fri, 06-10-2005 - 5:41pm
I didn't think of recording it for him! Great Idea! I'll have to work out a way to do that soon. Shouldn't be hard this weekend, since I'll be home more. Thanks!
Since we don't know his history before 6-8 months old, we don't really have much to go on. When we got him, his flea allergy had progressed to the point where he was bald from the neck down (everywhere he could scratch), covered with bleeding hives, and starving to death, but VERY friendly. We took him in, found out it was just a flea allergy and kept him (which is a challenge with our other kitty already "king of the castle"). 2 years later, we adopted the puppy (the now 8 month old Clydas), who is doing great, but we have to watch out for fleas big time!

- J. Darling

Singehttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/JDarling/Headshots/Picture001.jpgr, Songwriter, Author for Celebr

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Registered: 12-01-2003
Fri, 06-10-2005 - 5:54pm
Mine do sometimnes as the shape of their face but I think you should see the vet!


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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2004
Fri, 06-10-2005 - 6:37pm
Yup. Vance isn't a long haired cat, so he's got the regular sized muzzle. I'll try the recording first and get an opinion. Maybe it's just allergies and we moved to an area with more allergens now?
- Jay

- J. Darling

Singehttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/JDarling/Headshots/Picture001.jpgr, Songwriter, Author for Celebr

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2000
Fri, 06-10-2005 - 6:38pm

You really need to get Vance to the vet and go to another for a second opinion if need be. Wheezing in a cat is not normal especially when wheezing at rest. It is a sympton of several serious health problems such as asthma, heartworm, congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy.

See link for more info:

http://www.felineasthma.org/reldisease/

Good luck with your kitty.

Lynn

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2004
Fri, 06-10-2005 - 6:44pm

Yikes! Thanks! I think with a tape recorder, they might look into it further. It really is a great vet and they've been wonderful and very throughro with both of our cats and our puppy (all of whom were life threateningly ill when we aquired them or soon after).

I'll buy a little tape recorder tonight and give it a go.

I'd hate to come home and find him dead one day. We did de-worm him when we got him.
- Jay

- J. Darling

Singehttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/JDarling/Headshots/Picture001.jpgr, Songwriter, Author for Celebr

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 06-10-2005 - 7:03pm

He could have feline asthma and it may get worse during allergy season (which is now, pollen is out in force right now and can trigger attacks).

Cat =^..^=
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2000
Sat, 06-11-2005 - 9:00am

Jay,

If he is audibly wheezing at rest as much as you describe you shouldn't need a tape recording of it. Your vet should easily be able to detect the wheezing and run the appropriate tests. If this were my cat I would make the appointment ASAP. JMO

Good luck, Lynn

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Sat, 06-11-2005 - 2:12pm
Wanted to add get a second opinion if on this next visit the vet is unconcerned. I also have a couple of cats that have severe flea allergies. Luckily frontline helps them recover and a shot from the vet. I also have a cat that must be allergic to amoxic. (pink antibotic) cause I noticed she would breathe very heavily when on it, seemed to get worse each time, I came close to losing her a couple of times, I finally figured out it was her meds and had the vet switch her to something else. Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2004
Mon, 06-13-2005 - 2:37pm

He only really does it when he's relaxing, kicking back and all that- but at the vet's office, he's too high strung to do it.

We're bringing him in this week. I hope all goes well! I'm thinking more and more it's just allergies since it appears to be seasonal.
- Jay

- J. Darling

Singehttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/JDarling/Headshots/Picture001.jpgr, Songwriter, Author for Celebr