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Cat panting continuously in car
Cat panting continuously in a car may be due to hypoxia, heat stroke, or stress response. First, if the car window is tightly closed or the cat is placed in a cat carrier, the closed environment may cause hypoxia, resulting in the cat panting. Secondly, if the interior temperature of the car is too high, the cat may pant heavily to cool down when it suffers from heat stroke. Lastly, cats are timid by nature, so they may exhibit stress reactions such as panting while riding in a car. Therefore, for the health of the cat, owners should take their cats for a checkup before driving, to see if the cat is suitable for car rides.
- Hypoxia
If the cat is in a closed environment while riding in a car, such as a tightly closed car window or a cat carrier, it may lead to hypoxia and cause the cat to pant continuously. In this case, the owner can open a small gap in the car window for ventilation, but avoid opening the window too wide to prevent the cat from catching a cold.
- Heat Stroke
Since cats have underdeveloped sweat glands, they may suffer from heat stroke when the interior temperature of the car is too high. This can cause the cat to pant for cooling, and may also be accompanied by symptoms such as increased body temperature, rapid heartbeat, and weak limbs. If this is the case, the owner should turn on the air conditioning or take the cat to a shady and well-ventilated place for cooling and temperature reduction, and give the cat enough water to drink.
- Stress Response
Cats are timid by nature, so they may experience stress reactions during car rides, which can lead to panting. They may also exhibit symptoms such as frequent licking of their fur, drooling, and vomiting. If this is the case, the owner can first stop the car in a safe place to let the cat rest. If it is not convenient to stop, some toys or snacks can be used to divert the cat's attention.
Note: The owner should try to minimize the bumpiness and noise during the car ride. When the car is relatively stable, the cat's reaction will be much better. Also, cats should be fasting before riding in the car to prevent vomiting during the ride.