.svg)
A cat gets tired easily and doesn't want to play – could it be heart disease?
📞 Appointment booking for cardiac examinations: 010 739 9130
📍 Sacrum Animal Hospital, Porttisuontie 13, 01200 Vantaa
Quick answer: If your cat gets tired more easily than before, withdraws, breathes more heavily than usual, or doesn't want to play, it could be due to pain, an internal disease, or heart disease. The symptom should be investigated if the change is clear.
A cat's fatigue can develop slowly. Owners often first notice that their cat sleeps more, plays less, or avoids jumping.
When to see a vet?
Contact a veterinarian if any of the following apply:
- The cat breathes heavily or rapidly.
- The cat doesn't want to play like before.
- The cat is losing weight or eating less.
- The symptom is new or worsening.
What could be causing the symptom?
1. Heart disease
Heart disease can reduce exercise tolerance and cause respiratory symptoms.
2. Pain
Joint pain or dental pain can make a cat passive.
3. Internal diseases
Kidney or liver diseases, or e.g., diabetes may appear as tiredness.
What can you do at home?
- Monitor appetite, drinking, and breathing.
- Note down when the change began.
- Do not wait and observe if breathing becomes labored.
What happens at the vet?
During the examination, the heart and lungs are listened to, the general condition is assessed, and if necessary, blood tests are performed or a cardiac ultrasound is recommended.
Sacrum Animal Hospital can help
If you are unsure about the severity of a symptom, it's better to contact us than to wait and observe the situation for too long. A professional can help assess whether it's an emergency or if an appointment can be scheduled.
📞 Appointment booking for cardiac examinations: 010 739 9130
📍 Sacrum Animal Hospital, Porttisuontie 13, 01200 Vantaa
Does your cat have tartar, red gums, or bad breath? Read when dental care is necessary and why a cat's oral pain can go unnoticed.
Does the cat breathe with its mouth open or groan? This is always a serious symptom. Read the veterinarian's instructions on why a cat's breathing difficulty requires an immediate emergency visit.
Is your cat breathing with its mouth open or panting? Learn why this symptom is an emergency and why your cat needs to be brought to the emergency clinic quickly.
Did your vet hear a heart murmur in your dog? Read when a murmur requires further examination and what a cardiac ultrasound reveals.
Does your brachycephalic dog breathe heavily, snore, or get tired easily? Find out when BOAS symptoms require a veterinary evaluation.
Is your dog vomiting, tired, or experiencing abdominal pain? Read when the symptom might indicate pancreatitis and when a vet is needed.