What does it mean when a cat sticks out its tongue and pants?

A cat sticking out its tongue and panting may be due to hot environment, emotional stress, recent intense physical activity, heart problems, asthma, oral diseases, or other reasons. However, overall, panting with its tongue out is not a normal phenomenon for cats. Therefore, once the owner discovers this behavior, they should carefully observe whether the cat has any other abnormal expressions and judge the cause of this phenomenon. If the owner cannot confirm the cause, it is recommended to take the cat to the pet hospital for treatment promptly.

1. Hot environment

If the environment the cat is in is too hot, it will accumulate a large amount of heat in its body, causing the cat to pant with its tongue out to dissipate the heat. In this case, the owner should quickly move the cat to a cooler place and ensure it has enough water to prevent heatstroke.

1. Emotional stress

When a cat is emotionally stressed, it can lead to accelerated heartbeat, increased body temperature, and other stress reactions. Therefore, the cat will open its mouth to breathe to relieve the stress. In this situation, the owner should place the cat in a quiet environment and comfort its tense emotions. If the cat's stress reactions are severe, with symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea in addition to panting with its tongue out, it is best to go to the pet hospital for treatment.

1. Recent intense physical activity

After a cat has finished intense physical activity, it will also stick out its tongue and pant to increase oxygen intake and cool down through evaporating water from its breath. If this is the case, the cat will usually recover within a short period.

1. Heart problems or asthma

If a cat frequently pants with its tongue out, it may be due to heart problems or asthma. These two conditions can cause the cat to be oxygen-deprived. When the cat is oxygen-deprived, the cat will open its mouth to breathe harder to increase oxygen supply. Generally, in addition to panting with its mouth open, the cat will also show signs of lethargy and difficulty in movement. If the owner discovers these abnormal reactions, they should take the cat to the pet hospital for examination and diagnosis to avoid missing the best treatment opportunity.

1. Oral diseases

If the cat's mouth has an oral ulcer, facial disease, or feline stomatitis, the cat's mouth will be painful. To alleviate the pain and discomfort, the cat will open its mouth and stick out its tongue to avoid rubbing the wounds. Cats with this condition will also have increased saliva, difficulty eating, and poor condition. If the owner discovers this abnormal situation, they should take the cat to the pet hospital immediately.