Cat breathing heavily while riding in a car

A cat breathing heavily while riding in a car may be due to high indoor temperature or motion sickness. First, since a cat's sweat glands are not well-developed, if the indoor temperature is high, it can lead to the cat breathing heavily. Secondly, when a cat suffers from motion sickness, it may also exhibit symptoms such as rapid breathing, and may even vomit or have diarrhea. When discovering that your cat is experiencing this, it is recommended to open the window for ventilation, and if possible, stop the car briefly to let the cat rest. The condition usually improves quickly. You can also feed it some motion sickness medication.

1. High indoor temperature

When the temperature inside the car is high and the oxygen content is insufficient, the cat will continuously open its mouth to breathe and cool down. In this case, it is recommended to open a small gap in the window for ventilation, and use water to wipe the cat's ears and foot pads to help it dissipate heat. Be careful not to open the window too wide to avoid letting the cat catch a cold.

1. Motion sickness

If the cat not only breathes heavily but also vomits and has diarrhea, it indicates that the cat's motion sickness is severe. In this case, it is recommended to stop the car, take the cat to a spacious and well-ventilated area to rest, and give it some water to drink. Continue driving after the cat recovers.

Note: Cats should be fasting and abstain from water for 4 to 6 hours before riding in a car to prevent vomiting and diarrhea during the journey. Also, if the cat exhibits severe stress while riding in a car, it is not recommended to take it out by driving.