Mary Allen
Like a human, a cat can become hoarse if something is preventing its vocal cords from vibrating. The causes for this are manifold; some of them need to be treated by the vet as soon as possible. You can read here how to best react to hoarseness in cats.
Is your cat hoarse and croaking more than meowing? This could just be the beginning! As in humans, the hoarseness can go so far that the house cat no longer has a voice at all and its purr sounds duller than usual.
If your velvet paw seems otherwise alert, eats and drinks normally, and has no fever, you can wait and see whether your cat’s hoarseness will subside on its own. Otherwise, a vet visit is recommended as a precaution, because some of the possible causes are unfortunately not harmless.
Cat Meows Hoarse: Is There an Infection Behind It?
Infections are often behind when your cat is hoarse. She may have a cold and also have trouble swallowing. With a few days of rest, warmth, and an extra dose of vitamins, your pet will usually be able to get back on its paws.
You must go to the vet at the latest if the cold symptoms do not improve significantly within a few days. If your cat is hoarse and coughing, has a high fever, or seems increasingly weak, you should see a veterinarian as soon as possible. Any of the following serious medical conditions could be the cause:
- laryngitis
- cat flu
- feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
In particular, the possible illness of cat flu gives cause for concern: It is triggered by the feline herpes virus and can become chronic or even life-threatening!
Allergies Can Cause Hoarseness in Cats
Allergies can also trigger cold-like symptoms in your furry friend. So unless the vet finds an infection or other medical condition causing your cat’s hoarseness, there’s a good chance she’s allergic to something, like:
- pollen
- molds,
- mites
- or feed ingredients.
The diagnosis is not easy, as the veterinarian must first rule out other possible diseases. Nonetheless, it’s important to determine the causes of your velvet paw’s voicelessness so that it can be treated properly.
Cat is Hoarse: Too Much Meowing?
Hoarseness in people is often triggered simply by overexertion of the voice. Singers and speakers who work with their voices often suffer from hoarseness. In cats, on the other hand, excessive meowing can overstrain the vocal cords and make the furry nose sound hoarse.
In this case, the actual symptom that something is wrong with your cat is not the hoarseness, but the excessive meowing. This is common when a cat is in heat. Otherwise, adult cats usually only mew at people to tell them something. It’s best for a vet to find out what. If he discovers nothing, there may be a mental problem that requires the help of a cat psychologist .
Hyperthyroidism is the Cause If the Cat is Hoarse
An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can also make your cat hoarse. However, the most noticeable symptom is that your house cat loses weight, although it eats normally or even has a bigger appetite than before. Be sure to go to the vet as soon as possible so that he can test whether it is actually hyperthyroidism and treat it accordingly.
Cat is Hoarse: When to Have Surgery
Your husky cat may need surgery. If neither infections nor allergies or hyperthyroidism is the cause of the hoarseness in cats, the following reasons can also be considered:
- Has a foreign body or hairball gotten caught in the velvet paw’s throat? If your cat is hoarse and chokes, the airway could be blocked.
- Is a tumor near the larynx or vocal cords the cause?
- Is there paralysis of the larynx? This occurs extremely rarely in cats, but cannot be ruled out.
In the case of polyps, tumors, and laryngeal paralysis, an operation as early as possible is essential.