Home Remedies for Treating a Cat With Difficulty Breathing

If your cat is having difficulty breathing, you want to be sure that you get veterinary help right away. Breathing problems can be just about anything from serious illness to injury to choking says Susan Cox, DMV, a veterinarian with Affiliated Vet Services in Golden Valley, Minnesota. However, there are some home remedies that you can try while you wait for the vet to be available, or on the way to the vet's office.

  1. Elevate Head

    • Keep your cat's head elevated. This might mean holding him so that his head is up in the air if he doesn't feel like standing up. Prop him up in your arms as you hold him. If you keep his head elevated, says Cox, this will prevent anything from draining into his throat and choking him. If he has congestion, and that is causing him problems, this will help him breathe easier while you wait for a vet's help.

    Keep Warm

    • Keep your cat warm in order to help with breathing problems. Cox says that warm, wet situations are better for breaking up congestion and making it easier for your cat to breathe. Keep her in warm, damp conditions while you wait for veterinarian help.

    Seek Care

    • Seek emergency vet care as soon as you can. Although keeping his head elevated and keeping him warm are two home remedies for treating a cat with difficulty breathing, Cox says that if you wait to seek vet care, you could endanger your cat's life. It is difficult for you to know why your cat is having problems breathing. He could be sick, have allergies, or have something stuck in his throat. Each of these have drastically different courses of action that will be followed by vets.