Conference misery::feline_v1

    RE:  panting
    
    Is the kitty getting enough water?
    
    Marion

    
    
    	It could be a respiratory infection....even a heart problem.
     I don't mean to alarm you, but I would have it checked out by
    your Vet.
    
    	Good Luck-
    

    Hi Julie:
    
    I am not sure what the cause of the nervousness is.  It might be
    the heat or fleas.  Cat psychology has always eluded me.  I just
    do what they tell me.  Maybe someone else can help you.
                                                           
    As for the "panting", it sounds like your cat's gland in the back
    of his mouth has picked up a scent and is attempting to get a 
    better "taste" of it.  The gland is called Jacob's Ladder or something
    like that (anybody remember?).  It's very normal.  Nothing to worry
    about.    
    
    Anne                                             
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           

   
     RE:  Jacobs Ladder
    
    I always wondered about that!  Any time my kittys sniff something
    unusual (read - raunchy) they open their mouths slightly and breathe
    through their mouth for a short time.  I always figured that was
    their way of saying "I don't like that smell", since I figured they
    were breathing through their mouth for the same reason I do it when
    changing kitty litter.  Is Jacobs ladder the reason for it?
    
    Marion

    I agree with .2.  As long as it is really intermittent, you probably
    don't have anything to worry about.  However, I first noticed that
    Pussycat was having breathing difficulties when I noticed intermittent
    panting.  Closer inspection showed that he was breathing rapidly
    at other times.  Symptoms of breathing difficulties due to leukemia,
    which he turned out to have, are often hardly noticeable until the cat
    has lost a lot of its lung function.  I would have it checked out to be
    sure.
    

    This subject is interesting to me because of Spunky.  Whenever she
    sees a cat in the yard (they are housecats), she starts breathing
    heavy (is that panting?) and her heart starts racing and she runs
    to the window to get a better look.  I move closer to her and she
    is really breathing heavy (panting?) to the point where she is choking.
    Is this normal?  Could she have lung problems?  She sneezes alot,
    but does not have runny eyes or nose.
    
    Please calm my nerves and give me some feedback.  I hate to keep
    running to the vet with these questions, he'll think I'm nuts. 
    Plus, I am alittle disappointed in him.  Last month, Zildjian stepped
    onto a spot we had painted (oil paint).  I got worried because she
    naturally started cleaning her paws.  I called the vet and they
    did not want to say anything over the phone, they wanted me to bring
    her in.  Well, needless to say, it was Sunday and I didn't want
    to pay an emergency visit for some advice.  I then called the poison
    number and this woman was very intellegent about poison and after
    talking for about 15 min (reading the labels, etc) she told me not
    to worry (unless the cat started to vomit).
    
    Sorry to be so long winded, but I was very disappointed in my vet
    for not helping me over the phone (money hungry?).\
    
    See ya,
    
    Anna/Zildjian/Spunky
    

    HI MARION:                           
                                         
    Now that I think of it, I believe the gland is called Jacob's Organ.
     I may have an old article about it.  I will look it up and see
    if it has any more information.       
                                         
    I have noticed my cats tend to get more excited in Spring and Summer
    and it is more noticeable.    They remind me of those chinese dog
    sculptures (Foo dogs?).  The cat's head goes back and the tongue
    protrudes while they open their mouth to get a better sniff.  It
    looks sinister and can be a little scary if one is not used to it.
                                         
    However, It is tough to tell from Julie's memo if her cat is doing
    that or if it something more serious.
    
    Anne
    
                                                                

    I agree with Anne (.7);  it is hard to tell if Julie's puss is in
    any difficulty or not, that's why I vote for the vet.  as for .6,
    that doesn't seem to be a physical problem to me (I'd start looking
    for a new vet, though;  can't say I like the sound of the current
    one).
    

    Considering the amount of lawsuits these days, your vet was probably
    afraid to diagnose anything over the phone.  Vet's insurance premiums
    must be about as bad as doctors.  
    
    Old Russian Proverb: "Don't fear the law; fear lawyers."
    
    

    .6
    
    Sounds like your cat is doing what we Birman people call huffing.
    Birmans are known for huffing when they are upset.  Other breeds
    of cats do it too (I think) but it seems to be very prevalent in
    Birmans.
    
    The cat will literally huff and puff.  They will do this when they
    see strange cats outside the window, or dogs, or even do it to our
    other cats if they get mad.  Kalliste will sometimes huff at me
    if he thinks his bath is taking too long.  He is also known to race
    back and forth on the windowsill, huffing and puffing, whenever
    another cat gets anywhere near our yard.
    
    Jo