My cat suddenly panted hard with tongue out. Should I be worried?

No, panting in cats is never normal. I see that Tammy is quite young, but issues like asthma, heart failure, or toxin exposure could all cause signs of respiratory distress. On occasion, significant stress can trigger panting in some cats, but oftentimes there's also an underlying disease process. I strongly recommend taking Tammy to your vet or an emergency vet right away for evaluation. They'll need to perform a physical exam and will most likely recommend chest x-rays to try to get to the bottom of this situation. I hope that everything goes well for Tammy!

Thank you for asking this question about Luna. Just like people cats can become tired and breathe heavy after exercise. However, if this is a new behavior, or if she has never had a good thorough physical from a veterinarian then I would be more concerned. You may want to consider making a video of an event and having an examination from your veterinarian. This would give you peace of mind if all is normal or may be an important early find if there is a problem. Best of luck and I hope she does well. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Poor Kane! Given that he has calmed down, I am thinking that that panting was from stress; nevertheless, keep an eye on him just in case. If you see him start panting again, drooling, agitation (may be shown by pacing), a bright red tongue, or breathing distress, take him into a vet immediately. I hope this helps!

Oh no, poor Midnight! You are correct that her panting can be due to the heat, but she could also be in respiratory distress, or in a lot of pain. It's not normal for a cat to pant, and if it continues for more than five minutes, then yes I would take her into an emergency cat clinic right away.

Panting is always concerning and is usually a sign of respiratory distress in cats. She could be having respiratory problems, a heart issue, or have anemia from fleas. I'd recommend trying to find her outdoors if possible and taking her to a vet as soon as you can.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While panting and open mouth breathing can be due to nervousness to some extent, this most likely signals a respiratory condition such as asthma, heart disease, among many other possibilities. I highly recommend you consider taking Fluffy to your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They will likely recommend starting with an exam and chest radiographs. Hoping for the best! Good luck and have a great day!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Missy. I recommend that you seek emergency veterinary care this evening. Open mouth breathing is a sign of respiratory distress in a cat. The respiratory infection could have spread to her lungs resulting in pneumonia or she could have another problem. Heart disease and fluid in the chest can also cause this breathing pattern. I hope this information helps. Good luck.