Hello. This is my cat Moliver. He’s a little over 8 years old. He’s a very sweet little boy, but recently I’ve noticed him breathing heavier more often. I don’t think he’s struggling to breathe — he’s just panting, like he’s out of breath. It’s not like he’s running around or anything beforehand, either. Is this reason to be super concerned, or is it just him getting older? Beyond this, he’s the same affectionate and sleepy boy as he’s always been.

The reason I’m asking here before getting him checked out is because my family is *very* low income, and I worry we may struggle to afford a non-emergency vet visit. I also live in a very small and rural area, so there’s only one clinic nearby (no other options that are more cost-effective). If this is just him being an old man, I’d rather not have to worry about the bill.

**don’t worry about his eye. It’s always been like that. He doesn’t have the best eyesight, but other than that, it doesn’t really alter his quality of life.