The method is the same for both: count breaths for 15 seconds while your pet is fully relaxed or asleep, then multiply by four. What counts as "normal" once you have that number is where cats and dogs actually differ.
The general bands
| Species | Normal resting rate |
|---|---|
| Cats | Around 20 to 30 breaths per minute |
| Dogs | Around 10 to 35 breaths per minute (varies more by size) |
Dogs have a much wider normal range, largely because a Chihuahua and a Great Dane are barely comparable animals. Cats are more consistent across breeds, which is part of why a rising trend is such a reliable signal in cats specifically, see how to count it properly if you haven't already.
Why the published range matters less than your own pet's baseline
Angel's own resting rate typically runs 28 to 38 breaths per minute, higher than the general guide, because of her existing heart conditions. On paper that could look like a "watch closely" reading. In practice, it's her normal, and her cardiologist cares far more about whether that number is climbing than whether it matches a chart built for an average cat.
What actually deserves a call to the vet
- A reading consistently above 40 for a cat, or well outside a dog's known normal range
- A steady upward trend over days or weeks, even if each reading looks fine in isolation
- Breathing that looks laboured or effortful alongside the number itself
Track the trend, not the chart
Halo's breathing counter logs every reading with a trend chart colour-coded against Normal, Watch and Call vet bands, so what matters isn't matching a generic number, it's seeing your own pet's own baseline clearly enough to notice when it actually changes.