TL;DR: Abdominal heaving is a life-threatening medical emergency indicating your cat is struggling to breathe; seek immediate veterinary care if you notice your cat using their belly muscles to respire.
What is abdominal heaving and why is it happening to my cat?
Abdominal heaving occurs when a cat uses their belly muscles to assist with the process of breathing. In a healthy cat, respiration is quiet and involves minimal movement of the chest. When you see the abdomen noticeably expanding and contracting with every breath, it indicates that your cat is struggling to move air into or out of their lungs, a condition known as dyspnea.
Is abdominal heaving in cats a medical emergency?
- Treat abdominal heaving as a critical medical emergency, as cats often hide discomfort until oxygen levels are dangerously low.
- Watch for critical accompanying signs such as open-mouth breathing, a blue or purple tint to the gums, or an extended neck.
- Transport your cat to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital immediately without waiting for a scheduled appointment.
How can a video or photo of my cat's breathing help the veterinarian?
- Capture a 5 to 10-second video of the breathing pattern only if it is safe and does not delay your trip to the vet.
- Use the recording to show the vet the behavior at home, as adrenaline during transport can temporarily mask symptoms.
- Provide the visual record to the veterinary team so they can accurately assess severity and begin the correct life-saving treatments faster.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
In cases of abdominal heaving in cats, emergency triage should include assessment for profound depression, dehydration, and abdominal pain. Abdominal palpation may induce immediate vomiting, but may reveal thickened intestinal loops and enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes. Careful examination of the oral cavity is critical to rule out linear foreign bodies anchored to the base of the tongue. Abdominal radiographs should be performed to look for radiopaque foreign objects or signs of intestinal distention, indicating possible obstruction. Signs of hypovolemic shock and abdominal pain usually accompany cases of intestinal incarceration. Laboratory findings may include leukocytosis with a mild left shift, or marked leukocytosis or leukopenia with a degenerative left shift in cases of gastrointestinal perforation and secondary bacterial peritonitis.
Chapter: Gastroenterology, Infectious Disease
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 797)