Cat Snoring Causes, Breeds and Treatments

Is cat snoring normal or abnormal? This is a common question that many cat owners ask. Do cats snore? Maybe you don’t have a definite answer to that question, fortunately, this article will answer it. All you need to know is that your feline snoring can be a normal occurrence or an indication of a medical problem. Let us explore the issue together.

Comparing to dogs, cats are less likely to snore. As your cat sleeps, you expect it to be silent. Therefore, most pet owners will be left with many questions if they notice their furry friend snoring. Although this condition is treated as a normal occurrence, you should, all the same, understand when it raises alarm.

Whenever you hear your cat snoring while sleeping, it is a sign of obstruction in the upper airway. Just as human snores at times, so do all animals. However, normal snoring is usually low-pitched. Low-pitched one is attributed to fluids obstructing the flow of air. When, therefore, should you get worried?

Which cats breeds snore?

Will some breeds snore more than others? According to Vetstreet.com, some cat breeds are predisposed to this problem. For example, it is believed that flat-faced breeds are the most affected. If you are having a Himalayan or Persian breed, then expect it to snore occasionally.

What does this tell you?  Facial conformation may cause some respiratory compromise. It is believed that flat-faced breeds have narrow nostrils. Additionally, their palates extend outwards, thus causing obstruction. As a result of this obstruction, breathing becomes an issue.

Reasons why cats snore?

There are many reasons why these pets snore. While low-pitched snoring is normal, loud one means a lot. You shouldn’t, therefore, sit and watch as your pet continues to breathe noisily during its sleep.

Breed

If your cat snores, first think of its breed. As noted earlier, breeds with flattened facials always have this issues. It is believed that the shape of the head is much likely to cause this problem.

These felines are known as brachycephalic. The term brachycephalic means that they have short heads and skull. They also have short bones in the nose and face. Their nostrils are also short. As a result, the facial structures restrict breathing.

Apart from short bones, brachycephalic cats have an elongated soft palate. The long soft palate blocks air from going through, especially when they are breathing. Consequently, you will notice heavy snoring in your cat.

Sleeping position

Sleeping position can also be the reason why your feline is snoring. Just like human beings, these pets can sleep in certain positions that block free flow free of air. According to petmd.com, sleeping positions determine how air moves freely as the cat breaths.

Being obese or overweight

Furthermore, obese cats are most likely to snore. When a cat is overweight, it has excess body fat both in the inside and outside. This fat can build up in the inside of its throat, thus causing an obstruction. This obstruction is mostly felt at night, especially when it is sleeping

In addition, it has been noted that obesity also makes the cat’s muscles to be weak. As a result, the throat muscles are not as tight as they ought to be. Loose throat muscles highly contribute to this problem. This is also noted in older cats. As they get older, throat muscles get weaker.

Serious conditions

Snoring can indicate a serious medical condition. Just like human beings, felines can suffer from upper respiratory infections. Feline upper respiratory infection can be because of many bacteria and viruses such as:

• Feline calicivirus
• Feline herpesvirus
• Chlamydophila felis
• Bordetella bronchiseptica

Apart from snoring, feline upper respiratory infection comes along with other symptoms such as coughing, sniffing, sneezing, lethargy, discharge in the eyes and fever among other symptoms. If you note either of these symptoms, you should promptly seek help from a vet.

Nasal cavity obstruction

Finally, any condition that obstructs the cat’s nasal cavity may cause snoring. For example, the existence of tumors or polyps in the nasal cavity may cause an obstruction. In other cases, these pets may have foreign objects stuck in the nasal cavity. All these highly contribute to them snoring.

When should you get worried?

Apart from infections and tumors, most of the causes of snoring in your furry friend are normal.  However, if you notice this problem, be keen to observe if you can see any of the following symptoms:

• If it struggles to breathe
• If it opens the mouth while breathing
• Wheezing while breathing
• Coughing
• Nasal discharge

As a feline owner, you have a duty to keep watching your pet. In case of the above symptoms, just know that your cat’s snoring is not normal.

Can you treat snoring in cats?

After visiting a vet, he can be able to tell the cause. On how to treat snoring in cats, cathealth.com notes that treatment options depend on the cause. If  this issue is caused by facial appearance and formation, then there is nothing you can do.

In case of elongated palates, a surgery can be done to reshape them. However, such surgeries are very expensive. In the case of tumors and polyps, a surgery can also be carried out to remove them or reduce their size.

In case of upper respiratory infection, the vet may prescribe some nasal drops to clear the blockage. Some antibiotics may also be administered. The vet will also advise increasing the humidity of your home. In most cases, feline upper respiratory infections are attributed to cold.

References

1. Catster.com Is Cat Snoring Normal?