Cats are amazing creatures. They are majestic, comical, always changing, and diverse in nature. If you already own a cat, you may be very familiar with its sleeping patterns. They love to sleep and in fact, sleeping is the main activity on their agenda besides chasing, hunting and eating. It may seem like your cat is always sleeping. They will drop off anytime and anywhere they can. Sometimes, you can hear your cat snoring while sleeping, but is this normal for cats?
Most time, cat snoring is normal. If your feline pal is always snoring and has no other symptoms, you shouldn’t worry about your cat’s snoring. But if the snoring is more often and louder than normal, this may indicate a problem. You need to consult your vet if the snoring is louder and comes with symptoms like sneezing, coughing, or behavioral changes.
Snoring is a noise generated during sleep by the vibration of loose tissues in the upper air passage. It occurs when the passages in the upper air passages vibrate audibly when breathing. This is likely to occur when the tissue of the upper airway relaxes during sleep. Cat snoring is normally harmless. Like humans, some people snore and others don’t. And also, just like humans, there may be an underlying condition that causes your cat to snore. In some cases, cat snoring may indicate other medical problems.
When a cat sleeps, the tissues at the back of its gullet relax and may vibrate. The vibration is what produces the snoring sound. Any animal with a soft palate tissue can snore, although it is more common in some animals than others. Any cat can snore; there are many triggers that can increase your cat chance of snoring. The following are some of the most common causes of snoring in cats.
Being Overweight
Almost half of cats ages 5 to 11 are overweight, and about a third of all North American cats are obese. As with overweight people, excess fat can build up around your cat’s neck, this can make it difficult for the animal to breathe and can cause snoring. If your cat gains weight over the years, you may have observed an increased rate of snoring occurrence in your cat. Obesity can cause a lot of health problems in cats that are more dangerous than snoring. So, if your cat is overweight, you should talk to your vet about how to help your feline pal lose weight. This can help extend the life of your cat.
Breed
There are about fifty different breeds of cats, and some of them come with facial features that can make them prone to respiratory problems like snoring. Breeds like the Himalayan, Burmese, Persians, and the British Shorthair have shorter nasal passages and flattened noses. With the whole nasal cavity inside the cat skull, such breeds are prone to have a soft palate and other tissues that block the airways. This can cause some of these cats to snore and breathe loudly while sleeping.
Sleep Position
Your Feline pal may snore as a result of the position in which he sleeps. If your cat is sleeping in an unusual or funny position, this could be the possible cause of its snoring. Chances are they will stop once positions change. It is well-known that cats are like fluids and can work themselves into strange situations. Don’t worry if your cat doesn’t seem uncomfortable. They can sleep in the craziest positions. Occasionally, cats can tilt their heads at the correct angle just to trigger snoring. There is nothing to worry about because once your cat is in the right position, the snoring will stop.
Foreign Object
Your cat may have inhaled a foreign object, such as a blade of grass. If your feline pal inhaled a foreign object, he will likely be coughing or agitated. And if you suspect anything in its nose, don’t try removing it yourself. Visit your vet with your cat, so that you don’t accidentally cause more harm than good.
Respiratory Illnesses
Just like humans are likely to snore when having a cold, your cat case is not different. Fungal infections, asthma, and bacterial infections can all make a cat snore. Take your cat to see the vet if it also shows symptoms like coughing, sneezing, eye or nasal discharge, behavioral or appetite changes.
You Have Dry Air in the House
Having dry air in your house can cause your cat to snore; it can have the same effect on your cat just like it does to humans. A simple solution to this is to put a humidifier next to where your feline pal sleeps.
Other
There are other things that can cause your cat to snore, such as nasal polyps, trauma, allergies. Consult your vet to examine your cat when you are in doubt, to find out the reasons why your cat is snoring now when it hasn’t before.
When Cat Snoring is Normal
You don’t need to worry if your cat has been snoring throughout its life. This is perhaps something that will follow them all through their lives and there may not be any medical problems causing snoring. As we said earlier, there is a chance that they will snore regularly, particularly if your cat breed is short snout like Himalayan or Persian. Snoring is common with this kind of breeds. You may feel like mentioning this to your vet on your next visit just to make sure your furry friend is fine.
Monitor your cat’s weight and make sure he doesn’t eat too much. Your cat snoring may be due to excess weight and this should go away as soon as he shed a few pounds. Keep your furry pal happy and at the right weight to avoid any medical problems. The sudden start of snoring may or may not signify something serious or even a common illness. Constantly monitor any changes in your cat behaviors and eating habits that accompany snoring. And consult your vet if you are concerned about anything.