Expert: Dear Tabbi - 1/31/2009

Question
my cat is 2 1/2 yrs old and for the past two days he has been just sitting around and panting and squinting his eyes like he is uncomfortable,he also coughs sometimes  he has been eating regular food (hairball control) and treats but i haven't noticed him using the litter box i was told by a vet that he could have "wet" FIP but i looked it up online and he only has one of the symptons and the vet did not do any invasive test on him he only suggested for me to put him to sleep after only spending less than 5 mins in the room with him  please tell me what ur opinion is, I just can't see myself putting him down because one person who has never seen him before tells me too. thank you very much appreciated.

Answer
Heather,

Your poor kitty! I am sorry that I am not a vet and/or qualified to answer your question BUT I did send it to a good friend that has worked for a vet for 17 years and IS knowledgeable. She was kind enough to send this reply to forward to you:

"First..there is a FIV test..its not a look at a cat diagnosis especially if the cats not urinating..other thing can cause plural effusion, cough and breath problems in cats and she sure needs the cat checked by a different vet for longer then five minutes..Wet FIV would be a fatal diagnosis but I think I would want a fiv test before I considered it diagnostic and put a cat to sleep..he might be correct  but it doesn't relieve owner anxiety and its a guess based on experience..they are not always correct.

In a young adult cat thats not the first thing I would think of if its never had breathing and panting problems before...heart problems and asthma are hard to differentiate  quickly and the cats in the right age range for both to be a problem..a acute asthma attack can be triggered in winter by a closed up home or apartment and a number of factors ..Xrays of the chest help to know whats going on..But he needs to see someone else asap..especially if he isn't urinating. he can also be bocked and in uremic toxicity and die..

Cats with asthma are usually young adults that have suddenly experienced difficulty breathing. Asthma is more common in Siamese and Persian cats than in other breeds. The condition is similar to asthma in people and is considered to be an allergic reaction. These pets could be allergic to cigarette smoke, house dust, mite allergens, molds, plants or food, among other things. Cats with this condition will often make a wheezing sound when they breath and have difficulty breathing out due to the lower airway obstruction present."
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I hope this helps, and PLEASE get a 2nd opinion. I'm sorry to say that not ALL vets should BE vets!

Tabbi