My cat is having labored breathing. Is this an emergency?

Yes. Any time your pet has any difficulty breathing with an increased respiratory rate or effort she should be seen immediately by a veterinarian. Cats can experience labored breathing for a number of reasons including heart disease, cancer, and even asthma. Your cat will need to have chest x-rays taken to determine the cause of his/her labored breathing and treatment will be based on the radiographic findings.