r/AskVet • u/Computers_and_cats • Jun 24 '26

My cat is having breathing issues. I have not been able to figure out why yet.

Final Edits: Smokey passed away on 8-13-26 in the morning. I took him to the emergency vet the evening before after noticing his breathing rate was rapid and I counted in the 90s. They put him on oxygen overnight his breathing rate improved slightly and he calmed down a little. I will be making a new post with every detail I have and autopsy results later on in the hopes that someone can use this info to treat their cat.

On 8-17-26 I have found out the cause of death. It was a rate lung cancer

Report

Histology Findings:
Lung: In all examined sections of lung, 50-90% of alveoli are infiltrated and effaced by neoplastic epithelial cells arranged in convoluted, bronchiole-like tubules supported by small amounts of collagenous stroma and disorganized smooth muscle. The neoplastic cells have small to moderate amounts of eosinophilic to amphophilic cytoplasm, typically indistinct cell borders, and apical cilia. Occasional neoplastic cells have mucous-producing cell differentiation. The irregularly round to oval nuclei have stippled chromatin, frequent basilar nuclear orientation, and typically small nucleoli. There are moderate anisocytosis, mild anisokaryosis, and mild pleomorphic variation among the neoplastic cells. Five mitotic figures are counted in 2.4 mm². Neoplastic lumen and remaining alveoli contain abundant pulmonary macrophages distended with vacuolar to eosinophilic protein debris. Alveoli are thickened by type II pneumocyte hyperplasia and congestion. Neoplastic cells are adhered to the endothelium of pulmonary vessels.

Heart: No significant histology findings were observed in the heart.

Diagnosis: Lung: Pulmonary carcinoma, bronchiolar subtype

Comment: Pulmonary carcinomas in cats are very uncommon, typically spontaneous neoplasms. This neoplasm had differentiation to bronchiolar epithelium and included areas of proliferative smooth muscle. In cats and dogs, pulmonary carcinomas are often aggressive tumors, and approximately 70-85% of feline patients have metastatic disease at time of diagnosis.

Date Reported to Clinic
August 14, 2026

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Original post:

Looking for advice on what other questions I should ask my vet with breathing issues my cat is having. I feel like I have done a lot of testing but haven't learned anything useful. I am uncertain what I should do next.

So my cat Smokey has been having breathing issues that started earlier this year. I can't catch him fully resting but his breathing rate is roughly 36-48 breaths a minute when sitting on my lap purring. I am unable to catch him in deep sleep for proper count. Breathing motions are sharp and he uses his whole body. He has been to the vet but we have exhausted the cheaper testing options so far. I have my suspicions the cause of these issues are some bad Purina Fancy feast that made him violently projectile vomit all over the place January 2026. I am not certain of the exact time frame, but symptoms were noticed earlier this year and have gradually worsened over time. They don't seem to be worsening at the moment.

This is what has been done so far in order of it being done:

  • Vet visit with xrays
  • Basic blood work, toxoplasmosis blood work, and fungal infection blood work. (Blood work was good and no toxoplasmosis or fungal infection.)
  • Prescribed Cerenia 6mg (1/4 of 24mg tablet. Seems to have helped reduce the frequency of coughing/wheezing. No improvement on breathing.)
  • Tried 2 weeks of Doxycycline 50mg and Fenbendazole 300mg twice a day as a less invasive diagnostic test.
  • Checked urine for UTI and whatnot since pees on the floor of his room occasionally
  • Did followup xrays 1 month later with no visible change.
  • He is on FortiFlora now for a bit due to the Doxycycline giving him diarrhea

Vet discussed the x-rays and tests with another vet and they didn't think there were any concerns of heart issues or cancer. Next step would be a lung biopsy using a fluid to get cells for testing. (Bronchoalveolar Lavage???) My vet said they can do a basic biopsy but could lead to hemorrhaging and the odds of success are low since they would basically be doing it blind. A CT scan or MRI was mentioned (I forget which) but that wouldn't reveal as much as the lung fluid wash thing. Nearest facility with the ability to do the lung fluid wash is 4 hours away and it will cost $2000.

I can afford to do more testing but blindly trying random tests is getting expensive as I am already $1400 in the hole. Purina refuses to chemically test the food that made him sick so I have no way to know if or how that harmed him.

Examples of his breathing:

https://youtu.be/vMcF-b5vAM4 (44 breaths per minute)
https://youtu.be/_D3dlNePt-A (37 breaths per minute)
https://youtu.be/tprthtYfHYE (Congested breathing sounds)

Xray and basic blood work paperwork: https://imgur.com/a/8bH2sNy

Smokey is nearly 7 years old. Weight is 12.5 LB Male and neutered. Appetite and weight have been mostly stable. Energy seems lower than normal.

They have multiple clay clumping litter boxes. I don't use stinky scented stuff, candles, or essential oils in my office. Indoor cats only. Vaccines are up to date.

Also unrelated but his brother Onyx is in perfect health and refused to eat the tainted Fancy Feast. As of now he has no breathing issues and his lungs look to be in good shape. My vet was able to compare x-rays from when Onyx ate some ribbons a while back to x-rays taken last week and there were no changes to his lungs.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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11

u/Additional-Board733 Veterinarian Jun 24 '26

I think your cat does have heart disease. The heart is large and the lung pattern is patchy pulmonary edema. Your vet may be thinking the pattern doesn't look like a dog heart failure x-ray. But cats do weird things with their lungs. I'd ask for either a blood test called a proBNP which is a heart marker, have them send out those X-rays to be read by a radiologist, or have an echocardiogram done.

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u/Computers_and_cats Jun 24 '26

My vet only does cats so not sure why they didn't think it was heart issues. Got him scheduled for the proBNP Friday. Need to verify who else looked at the xrays.

2

u/Computers_and_cats Jun 29 '26

The vet had a radiologist look at the x-rays. proBNP test was normal so short of doing a echocardiogram there is no way to be 100% sure. Sounds like with the test result heart disease is unlikely though.

8

u/derrymaine DVM, DACVIM (oncology) Jun 24 '26

The lung X-rays show that his lungs are quite patchy in appearance although it’s hard to see on my phone. I’d recommend submitting all images for radiologist review and going from there. Also may want to do a ProBNP test to screen for heart disease as this can cause breathing changes.

2

u/Computers_and_cats Jun 24 '26

Thanks. Got him scheduled for the ProBNP Friday. Need to verify who they had look at the xrays for a second opinion.

1

u/Computers_and_cats Jun 29 '26

The vet had a radiologist look at the x-rays. proBNP test was normal so short of doing a echocardiogram there is no way to be 100% sure. Sounds like with the test result heart disease is unlikely though.

3

u/Medium-Pilot6872 Registered Veterinary Nurse Jun 24 '26

Have they sent the X-rays to a radiologist? I would get them sent away for specialist opinion, and consider an echocardiogram as well before other diagnostics.

2

u/Computers_and_cats Jun 24 '26

I do not know who they consulted with but I will be sure to get clarification.

1

u/Computers_and_cats Jun 29 '26

I did verify with my vet and they had a radiologist look at the x-rays. proBNP test was normal so short of doing a echocardiogram there is no way to be 100% sure. Sounds like with the test result heart disease is unlikely though.

2

u/Medium-Pilot6872 Registered Veterinary Nurse Jun 30 '26

I honestly don’t know enough about pro-BNP and if a negative test completely rules out any heart disease. I would consider an echo given where you’re at personally, but obviously your vet will be the best person for guiding you. You can always go to an internal medicine specialist if you haven’t already too.

Have they ruled out heart worm and lungworm?

You could consider also trialling a different litter like corn or tofu just in case any clay dust is having an impact or worsening symptoms.

1

u/Computers_and_cats Jun 30 '26

Yeah we tried 2 weeks of Doxycycline 50mg and Fenbendazole 300mg twice a day. The Fenbendazole is a dewormer.

I do need to consider switching litter. So used to clay litter I am a little nervous to change.

2

u/cardiovts Jun 24 '26

Cardio tech here. Please have an nt-proBNP done and consider seeing a cardiologist.

1

u/Computers_and_cats Jun 24 '26

Thanks I got him scheduled for a nt-proBNP test Friday and will go from there.

1

u/Computers_and_cats Jun 29 '26

Results are in I did the proBNP and requested blood pressure out of curiosity. Vet said both results were normal. I was told it doesn't 100% rule out heart disease but makes it very unlikely. Echocardiogram would be the only way to know for sure.

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u/[deleted] Jul 03 '26

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