Cat panting out of fear?

[Anonymous]

I take my cat out daily for walks. He walks nicely on the leash. Yesterday I was walking him and he suddenly got extremely panicky. He started running on the leash and dragged me home. We were in the parking lot and there were no cars coming or going. That is our usual spot to walk. When he came inside the house, there was fear in his eyes and his hair had stood up. I offered him water and tried to pet him. He was extremely stressed out and had difficulty in breathing. He kept his mouth open for about half an hour. I have never seen a cat doing this. What could be wrong? Has anyone experienced this? Did he see something that I didn't notice in the parking lot? I offered him to go outside today and he didn't go.

[Anonymous]

Panic attack? Has something else stressed him out lately?

[Anonymous]

Could have also heard or smelled something you didn't notice.

[Anonymous]

Maybe he had heat stroke from being on pavement when it was 98 degrees!

You are not supposed to walk pets on concrete or asphalt when it is that hot. Touch your hand to it to see how it would feel on a paw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe he had heat stroke from being on pavement when it was 98 degrees!

You are not supposed to walk pets on concrete or asphalt when it is that hot. Touch your hand to it to see how it would feel on a paw.

This. Too hot for kitty.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I don't force him into walking. He meows really loud when we he wants to go out. I take him out and he walks only as much as he likes. Sometimes we are back in as less as 1 minute - especially when it is lightly drizzling. It was very hot last week sometime. He stepped outside, didn't like the bright sun and came back immediately. But what happened yesterday was a little different. We were walking in the evening and he was enjoying his walk, looking at birds and sniffing grass on the side walk. Out of nowhere he got panicky. Yes, could be - heat or something he saw or sniffed or maybe the crows? What should I do in situations like these? Are there emergency cares for animals that are open at nights?

[Anonymous]

There are 24 hour emergency animal hospitals, in VA at least. Our vet lists who to call after hours on their website.

Our dog acts this way when the fireworks start to go off. I'd guess it was just something environmental. That's just a guess, of course.

[Anonymous]

Depending on where you live,the heat may have done him in. for us It was 104 yesterday - your cat may have been dehydrated or paws burning from the asphalt. A friend lost a boxer that way (a breed that doesn't like heat) The nanny walked him too far on an unbearably hot day. he died.

[Anonymous]

My cat sticks her tongue and pants when she plays too hard.

But your cat was not physically exhausted. If he recovers, I would just keep an eye on him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could have also heard or smelled something you didn't notice.

+1000

[Anonymous]

You did the right thing by taking him right back home.

I would have done the same thing.

Could you have sensed a coyote or raccoon near by??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could have also heard or smelled something you didn't notice.

This.

[Anonymous]

OP here. You could be right that he rushed home due to heat. He asks to go out from the back door now where there is a wooden deck and a small piece of land with soil and grass. That area doesn't get too hot as it does not have concrete or tar. But he doesn't step out of the house from the front door which opens to the parking lot. Thanks everyone for your responses!!