Why does a kitten snore in his sleep? Why does a cat snore in its sleep: an alarming or normal symptom? Other types of snoring in cats

Why does a cat snore in her sleep, is it harmful for her and what should I do? Like all animals, a cat should feel completely safe when falling asleep. Being at rest, she completely relaxes the body. The chest, head, and neck occupy a completely different position. Therefore, even a tiny kitten can make some sounds in its sleep - cute snoring, and adult, seasoned cats snore heavily, and for more than one year. And in such a way that they disturb their owners’ sleep.

Sometimes snoring can have physiological causes that indicate some kind of health problem in the animal. And therefore such a situation should be investigated by a veterinarian. After all, snoring can be one of the symptoms of a serious illness or injury. The sooner you contact a specialist, the better, since the disease may progress to a more severe stage that will be difficult to treat.

Are cats prone to snoring?

Cats are much less susceptible to this phenomenon than dogs or even humans. However, certain breeds of cats with short, flat faces are prone to snoring. They may snore quite loudly in their sleep. These are Persian, British, Scottish, Himalayan, all kinds of exotics. For these breeds, snoring during sleep is normal and is called brachycephalic syndrome. It occurs due to short sinuses.

In some cases, brachycephalic syndrome can cause surgery when the cat becomes very difficult to breathe and snores. Beauty, as they say, requires sacrifice. Breed characteristics in domestic cats are sometimes too pronounced and prevent them from enjoying a full life.

Cats with a normal muzzle shape are another matter, especially in a situation where snoring appears suddenly. However, you need to know that diseases, one of the symptoms of which is snoring, are highly treatable, so there is no need to panic. However, it is imperative to get rid of this unpleasant phenomenon.

What are the types of cat snoring?

Depending on the type of physiological disorder, there are different types of snoring in cats. Based on the sounds a cat makes in its sleep, an experienced doctor can make a diagnosis. Therefore, you definitely need to listen to exactly how the cat breathes and tell your veterinarian about it in detail. Using these symptoms, a specialist will determine why your cat snores in his sleep..

• Dry snoring - it can only be heard with the naked ear when exhaling. The cat seems to be wheezing. When listening with special equipment, you can hear characteristic wheezing even when you inhale. This type of snoring occurs if the trachea and bronchi are significantly narrowed.
• Wet snoring – veterinarians call it blister snoring. These are sounds with characteristic “overflows”, as if bubbles are rolling and bursting in the animal’s respiratory tract. This sound is heard both during inhalation and exhalation. It can be heard at a fairly large distance from the animal.
• Stridor or inspiratory snoring - resembles a kind of hissing and whistling, just noises that are clearly audible during inhalation and exhalation. It occurs because the upper respiratory tract narrows.
• Crackling snoring – experts call it crepitating snoring. It can only be heard at the moment of exhalation. Accordingly, crackling sounds are heard. It occurs due to the fact that the stuck together alvioli straighten out.

You need to listen carefully to your cat’s snoring and tell a specialist about it in detail.

What diseases can cause a cat to snore?

Cat snoring is not an independent disease, but a symptom of another disease that is completely treatable. Here are the most common reasons:

1. Colds, bronchitis and pneumonia– the cat caught a cold, was in the cold for too long, walked in the cold rain, in the cold in winter, sat in a draft near an open window in cold weather. Snoring can occur not only during sleep, but also during breathing in general. The animal needs urgent treatment. Eliminate the disease and snoring will disappear.
2. Heart failure is a disease that cannot be left to chance; it requires constant attention and monitoring, especially if the cat is elderly. You need to contact a veterinarian and undergo appropriate treatment.
3. Injuries– cats love to play and jump high, so they easily get injured. Snoring can be a symptom of a concussion, broken ribs, damage to cartilage, tissues of the respiratory system. You need to contact a veterinarian immediately, especially when there is lethargy, apathy, refusal to eat, and the animal is in pain when you pick it up or feel its body.
4. Foreign body– a foreign body may get into the throat or nasopharynx, because cats, especially young ones, like to actively play with small objects. A bone or piece of food may get stuck in your cat's throat. It is urgent to get rid of the stuck object. Since it can block the respiratory tract at any moment, and also it can fester and the animal will die.
5. Obesity– this is a serious problem if the owner cannot resist the sweet face of his pet, begging for the next treat. Food from a human table is not always suitable for a cat. Fatty and sugary treats are harmful and cause diabetes and obesity. Excess all provokes a variety of diseases, the cat’s life is significantly shortened.
6. Helminths– they can settle in the respiratory tract. A large number of helminths causes wheezing when breathing, snoring during sleep, and coughing.
7. Laryngeal edema– allergic reactions to pollen, food, strong odors, and some medications.

There are many other diseases that can cause snoring as a symptom. For example, urolithiasis, polyps, paralysis and many other reasons. The reasons why a cat snores in its sleep are varied. The list is very large, so the cat owner simply cannot figure it out on his own, without special veterinary education and experience. Therefore, you must definitely show your cat to a specialist, so as not to later regret the wasted time.

When is urgent veterinary intervention necessary?

Signs that indicate you need to see a doctor immediately:

• The animal suffocates while sleeping.
• Dry and hot nose, apathy, the cat does not eat well, is apathetic, diarrhea, vomiting.
• The cat sneezes and coughs all the time.
• There is mucus or fluid coming out of your cat's nose.
• The voice became hoarse, low or, on the contrary, too high.
• Swelling appeared on the face, especially near the nose.
• The cat tries to breathe through its mouth, stretches its neck as if something is bothering it.

What treatment can a veterinarian prescribe?

First, the veterinarian must conduct a complete examination of the cat, including the throat and nasopharynx. If the reason is not so obvious or it is necessary to clarify in more detail the extent of the damage, an x-ray will be prescribed. In some cases, a blood test will be required. In difficult cases, when special examination is required, the animal may be given anesthesia.

Once the reason why the cat snores in its sleep is determined, then treatment will be prescribed. These are pills and injections, IVs, diet. Sometimes it is necessary to use special ear swabs. They are used at the moment when the cat begins to fall asleep. In some cases, surgery will be required. Treatments and procedures must be supervised by a veterinarian.

Do not delay visiting a specialist if your cat begins to snore in its sleep. The health of a cat means the owner’s peace of mind, his good mood and joy for all family members, especially the little ones. Therefore, you need to take care of the well-being of your family first of all.

Cats, like some other representatives of the animal world, snore in their sleep. The little kitten makes light snoring noises and purrs slightly. An adult cat snores much louder and can even prevent you from falling asleep.

Cat snoring is divided into two categories: normal physiological snoring and snoring that indicates a serious illness.

• Normal snoring.

A sleeping cat, which is sure that nothing threatens it, relaxes all its muscles in its sleep, including the muscles of the chest. In this case, during sleep the chest shifts slightly, it is more difficult to breathe, and the cat makes rumbling sounds similar to snoring.

Difficulty breathing and slight whistling sounds during sleep are common for “exotic” cats (with a shortened muzzle). Representatives of these breeds have narrowed nasal passages, which is why breathing during sleep is always accompanied by slight snoring and purring.. That's why this usually doesn't bother experienced owners.

• Snoring, which indicates a serious illness.

In some cases, such snoring can be caused by “brachycetal syndrome.” If your Persian cat snores louder than usual, breathes heavily and rapidly while sleeping, or snores frequently, consult a doctor.

Danger Symptom

• Allergic reaction.

An allergic reaction and, as a result, swelling of the larynx is caused by a foreign object that could get stuck in the throat. This could be chemicals, plant leaves, or any other substance that the cat accidentally ingested or has in its mouth. Conservative treatment is usually used to treat allergies.

• Foreign object

Harsh, intermittent snoring may be caused by a cat swallowing a foreign object that is lodged in the upper respiratory tract. This is, for example, a large fish bone or small parts of toys. You can see exactly where the object is stuck using a chest x-ray. As a rule, if you contact a veterinarian in a timely manner, your pet can be saved.

Snoring accompanied by a cough may also indicate diseases such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis. If you contact a veterinarian in a timely manner, there is no danger to life.

What chronic diseases are to blame?

We have already mentioned “brachycetal syndrome”, which causes snoring. This syndrome is a consequence of the growth of the curtain of the palate, due to which the nasal passages are greatly narrowed, making it difficult for the animal to breathe during sleep. This disease can be diagnosed both with a routine examination of the oral cavity and with the help of bronchoscopy of the respiratory tract. The syndrome can be cured with surgical treatment, and if you consult a veterinarian in a timely manner, there are no serious consequences for the animal’s health.

Your cat may also snore loudly if she has congestive heart failure or asthma. In this case, snoring is a natural consequence of the disease.

The next reason is urolithiasis disease. It is more common in males. The cat may have difficulty urinating. This is caused by improper nutrition and castration done at the wrong time.

If your cat is obese, snoring is a natural consequence of the disease. In this case, after consulting with a specialist, you should adjust your diet. And put your pet on a strict diet.

If your new kitten snores loudly, it could be due to worms. They can also cause coughing.

As you can see, there are many reasons why your pet may snore in their sleep. The most important thing is to be attentive to your pet’s condition and consult a doctor in a timely manner.

Like most other representatives of the animal world, cats can snore in their sleep. And if a small kitten, seeing sweet dreams, emits only a light and cute snoring, then adult cats can snore much louder, sometimes even preventing their owners from falling asleep. Pets can snore both for physiological reasons and as a result of a serious illness, which must be recognized as early as possible.

Only in a calm environment can cats relax completely.

Cat owners have probably noticed that their pets will never fall asleep if they do not feel completely safe. Only in a calm environment can these animals completely relax, while the chest slightly changes its usual position during rest.

As a result, breathing becomes slightly more difficult, and the cat begins to make sounds somewhat reminiscent of snoring.

"Snoring" breeds

This phenomenon is completely safe for the pet’s health and is not an alarming signal.

In addition, in cats with a shortened muzzle - brachycephals, this phenomenon is generally considered the norm.

In cats with a shortened muzzle, snoring is normal.

Because of specific structure of the nasal passages Difficulty breathing is not a pathology or a symptom of a serious illness. If a cat breathes like this in his sleep from an early age, then there is no need to worry about his health. It should be noted that brachycephalics more often than others suffer from diseases of the respiratory system and. Only when snoring develops into choking should you consult a veterinarian.

Symptoms of “normal” snoring

Many pets, like people, have the habit of snoring.

There is nothing unusual in this behavior of the animal, the main thing is that the sounds produced are not too intense, strained, and the animal does not suffocate.

Don't forget that cats have dreams, during which they can run carefree, hunt for a mouse, or fight with an opponent. If during sleep your pet moves its ears, wags its tail, clenches and unclenches its paws, snores and grunts, most likely it is completely at the mercy of the events occurring in its sleep.

In a dream, a cat can snore, move its ears and paws.

In this case, bouts of snoring do not recur too often, and such violent behavior during sleep indicates that the cat is overexcited, which could be caused by some kind of stress.

It is worth noting that if a pet falls asleep in a noisy room, it will not snore: only in a calm environment, completely relaxed, can it make sounds somewhat similar to snoring. This is due to the complete relaxation of the pectoral muscles, which only occurs when the cat feels completely safe.

Alarming symptoms

You should be wary if your cat begins to snore, although this has not been noticed before.

Difficulty breathing, which turns into suffocation, is considered especially dangerous to a cat’s health.

Alarming symptoms that may accompany sudden snoring include:

• increased body temperature;
• loss of appetite;
• lethargy;
• vomiting;
• loose stool.

An increase in body temperature along with snoring are alarming symptoms.

If one of these signs is detected you need to seek help from a specialist , however, before visiting the veterinarian, you should carefully observe your pet and determine exactly how he snores: on exhalation or inhalation, whistling sounds come from the mouth or nose.

What to pay attention to

And you should also remember the moment when and under what conditions the cat first noticed uncharacteristic snoring, whether paleness of the mucous membranes was noticed, whether difficulty breathing was accompanied by coughing, whistling, etc.

You should pay attention to whether the cat has a cough along with snoring.

Such observations can significantly facilitate the task of a veterinarian when making a diagnosis, who will not be able to see the animal in a sleeping state.

Every owner must remember that it is much easier to identify an incipient disease as early as possible and cure it than to wait for exacerbations and transition to a chronic form with all the ensuing consequences.

It is better to identify the disease as early as possible than to wait for exacerbations.

What diseases in cats are associated with snoring?

If, in addition to snoring, your pet begins to bother you with its atypical behavior or general deterioration in health, then this may be evidence of diseases such as:

• asthma;
• swelling of the larynx;
• helminthic infestation;
• obesity;
• stones in the urinary tract or kidneys;
• heart failure;
• concussion;
• bronchitis or pneumonia.

If alarming symptoms are detected, you should never self-medicate, as this could result in losing valuable time and causing even more harm to the sick animal.

conclusions

By identifying and treating the root cause of snoring, you can rest assured that your cat is breathing in his sleep.

Only experienced veterinarian will be able to make an accurate diagnosis. To do this, he will have to perform a series of studies to exclude possible diseases with similar symptoms. At the same time, directly treating snoring in a cat is fundamentally the wrong decision. Only by eliminating the root cause and curing the cat of the main disease can you be sure that his breathing will also normalize during sleep.

Video about a cat who snores in his sleep

When a kitten, cat or cat sniffles, but does not show signs of pain, behaves naturally, plays, and does not lose appetite, it is worth conducting an accessible examination of the animal:

1. 1. If the pet’s mucous membrane has a healthy pinkish color, the body does not lack oxygen.
2. 2. The absence of nasal discharge excludes colds.
3. 3. Light pressure along the entire length of the back will help determine the presence (absence) of areas of pain.

Hoarse breathing can be caused by a deviated nasal septum or obesity, which is no more dangerous for a cat than for a person.

If your pet is wheezing, scratching, or sneezing, the disorder may be caused by an allergic reaction. This condition develops in pets due to:

• household chemicals;
• synthetic materials (flooring, wall decoration);
• stern;
• mineral toilet filler.

In this case, it is necessary to isolate the animal from the allergen. Antihistamines can be used, but should not be overused.

In short-faced exotic cats, snoring is caused by physical features, that is, a short nose. Exotics and their crossbreeds are also characterized by a heart muscle defect.

Why does a cat snore in its sleep: the main reasons, what breeds of cats snore more often than others, whether it needs treatment.

Cats are famous for... Like people, they can snore. For some cats snoring is normal a phenomenon due to the characteristics of their body, while for others it can become a symptom of the development of an unpleasant or dangerous disease.

Like people, cats go through a stage of REM sleep, when they can be seen twitching their whiskers, opening their eyes slightly, wrinkling their faces and “running” with their paws, and deep sleep stage, during which they completely relax and some of them begin to snore.

What is snoring

Snoring called noisy breathing during sleep. It is caused by something obstructing the movement of air past the uvula and soft palate in the mouth and throat. This obstruction causes vibration of the surrounding soft tissues, which sounds like snoring of varying degrees of volume.

Which cats snore the most?

Snore more often than others cats of those breeds that are distinguished by a short, flattened (brachycephalic) muzzle. For example, many Persian, Himalayan, and even British cats snore with short noses, for which it is considered normal. However, before taking such a kitten home, it is worth taking it to the veterinarian and checking to see if the short muzzle is interfering with normal breathing, or if it is leading to problems that can only be solved with surgery.

Also, sedentary cats often snore. overweight people who are unable to breathe normally because of the fat around their neck. In this case, snoring is not dangerous, however, to make the animal’s life easier, owners should think about restoring its healthy weight.

Cats of all other breeds, sizes and ages can also snore. In most cases, this is simply a characteristic of the animal, but sometimes snoring can be a symptom of a serious illness.

Snoring red cat

Causes

The most common causes of snoring are:
— obesity (see above);
— allergies to pollen, spores, etc.;
- cold (passes without intervention);
- sleeping in an uncomfortable position (in this case, snoring does not recur);
- upper respiratory tract infections (in this case, the cat may sneeze and have visible discharge from the nose and eyes);
- a foreign body stuck in the throat (for example, grass or stuck Christmas tree tinsel). This is the most common cause of sudden onset of snoring;
- a polyp or tumor growing in the nasal passage or throat;
- asthma;
- narrowing of the airways;
- dental disease;
- heart problems.

Is it necessary to treat

It depends on the reason that causes snoring. It is especially important to determine it if your cat snores suddenly, for no apparent reason. Only a veterinarian will be able to understand what happened to her, whether it is necessary and possible to treat.

Normal snoring is considered to be infrequent and light snoring that does not become more frequent or louder, and does not cause problems for the cat (although this can also be a symptom of allergies or asthma).