Cats at rest normally take 30 or less breaths per minute. The breathing should be smooth, with exhales taking longer than inhales. '

To check your cat’s respiratory rate, count the number of times the cat's chest rises (inhales) and falls (exhales). Each rise/fall combination equals one breath.

Count for 30 seconds and then multiply by 2 to get the number of breaths per minute. A normal resting/sleeping respiratory rate for cats is between 15 and 30 breaths per minute.