Cats and Snoring: Is It Possible
Jan 17,2025 | puaintapets
If you’ve ever noticed your cat snoring, you might have been curious about whether it’s normal or if it’s a sign of something more serious. Just like humans, cats can snore, but the causes behind cat snoring vary. In this article, we’ll dive into why cats snore, when you should be concerned, and how to tell if it’s just a harmless quirk or something that needs medical attention.
Is It Normal for Cats to Snore?
Yes, it’s completely normal for cats to snore from time to time. Snoring is simply the sound made when air vibrates the soft tissues in the back of the throat. While snoring is commonly associated with humans, many animals, including cats, can snore as well. In fact, some cats may snore more often than others due to their unique anatomy or sleep habits.
Snoring During Sleep
Like humans, cats go through different stages of sleep, including REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, which is the deepest phase of sleep. During this time, their muscles relax, including the muscles around the throat. This relaxation can cause the airway to become slightly obstructed, leading to the snoring sound. Snoring during REM sleep is generally not a cause for concern and is simply a natural part of your cat's sleep cycle.
What Causes Cats to Snore?
There are several main reasons why cats snore.
1. Physiological structure factors
Special facial structure: some cats are born with special facial structure, such as Persian cats, Garfield and other breeds, with shortened nasal bones and curved internal nasal cavity and upper respiratory tract, resulting in poor breathing and easy snoring during sleep.
Incorrect tongue position: Improper tongue position of cats will obstruct the respiratory tract, resulting in purring.
2. Health factors
Respiratory diseases: Cats suffering from rhinitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, sinusitis, asthma and other diseases will lead to obstruction or inflammation of the respiratory tract, which in turn triggers snoring.
Related: Upper Respiratory Infection in Cats
Oral diseases: oral diseases such as gingivitis and periodontal disease can lead to loose teeth and infected dental beds, affecting the respiratory tract and leading to snoring.
Obesity: excessive obesity in cats, excessive fat will wrap the physiological organs, prompting the pharyngeal wall to hypertrophy, narrowing of the pharynx and trachea, and hypertrophy of the soft palate, leading to poor breathing and snoring.
3. Environmental and behavioral factors
Improper sleeping posture: when the cat's body and neck are twisted at a large angle, breathing will be obstructed by air, resulting in snoring, but it will usually adjust its posture on its own.
Environmental discomfort: cats are sensitive to the environment and may snore due to tension and anxiety in unfamiliar or uncomfortable environments.
Emotional expression: cats will express their emotions by snoring when they are happy, contented and feel safe; they may also snore to comfort themselves when they are in pain, fearful or upset.
Communication needs: young cats will communicate with their companions and mother cats by purring to inform their position; adult cats may purr to indicate peaceful intentions when approaching other cats.
What to Do If Your Cat Snores?
The treatment of cat snoring varies depending on the cause, here are some common solutions:
1. Physiological structure factors
- Special facial structure
For cats born with special facial structure, such as Persian cats and Garfield cats, due to the shortening of the nasal bone, the inside of the nasal cavity and the upper respiratory tract are curved, resulting in poor breathing and snoring. This condition generally requires no special treatment as it is a natural physiological feature. However, owners can improve breathing by adjusting the cat's sleeping position, such as raising its head slightly or using a soft pillow.
- Incorrect tongue position
If the cat's tongue is improperly positioned causing the airway to be obstructed and snoring, the owner can gently adjust the cat's tongue position to return it to normal.
2. Health factors
- Respiratory diseases
If the cat suffers from respiratory diseases such as rhinitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, sinusitis, asthma, etc., it will lead to poor breathing and snoring. This situation requires timely bringing the cat to the pet hospital for examination and treatment, and the doctor will give appropriate medication according to the specific condition, such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs.
Also Read: Can Cats Have Asthma
- Oral disease
Oral diseases such as gingivitis and periodontal disease can affect the respiratory tract and lead to snoring. Owners should pay attention to the oral hygiene of the cat, regularly brush the cat's teeth, clean the mouth, and if necessary, take the cat to the pet hospital for oral treatment.
- Obesity
Excessive obesity will make the cat's pharyngeal wall hypertrophy, narrowing of the pharynx and trachea, and hypertrophy of the soft palate, leading to poor breathing and snoring. Owners should help their cats to lose weight, control diet and increase exercise. You can choose weight loss cat food suitable for cats, reduce the intake of high-calorie food, and increase the cat's activity, such as playing with the cat and letting the cat exercise more.
3. Environmental and behavioral factors
- Improper sleeping position
When the cat's body and neck are twisted at a large angle, it will lead to poor breathing and snoring. Owners can gently adjust the cat's sleeping position to keep its body in a natural and comfortable state.
- Environmental discomfort
Cats are sensitive to the environment and may snore due to tension and anxiety in unfamiliar or uncomfortable environments. Owners should create a quiet, comfortable and warm sleeping environment for their cats to reduce external interference.
- Emotional expression
Cats will express their emotions by snoring when they are happy, satisfied and feel safe, and this situation generally does not need to be dealt with. However, if the cat snores when it is in pain, fear or anxiety, the owner should calm the cat in time and give it enough care and companionship.
- Communication needs
Young cats will communicate with their companions and mother cats through snoring, and adult cats may also express peaceful intentions through snoring when approaching other cats. In this case, the owner does not need to intervene and let the cat communicate naturally.
When to See the Vet?
There are several things you can do to determine if your cat's snoring requires medical attention.
If the snoring is unusually loud and harsh, or accompanied by shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, coughing and sniffling, it may be a sign of respiratory disease and requires prompt medical attention.
If the cat suddenly becomes lethargic, depressed, or overly hyper and anxious, it may be a sign of ill health, including snoring which may be caused by an underlying disease.
If you find that your cat has lost its appetite and interest in its usual favorite foods, or if it is drinking an unusually high or low amount of water, you should pay attention to it, and it may be related to the health problem behind the snoring.
Observe the shape, color and frequency of your cat's feces. Normal feces should be brown, formed and not sticky. If there is constipation, diarrhea, blood in the stool or foreign matter mixed in the feces, it may be related to physical discomfort, and you also need to pay attention to whether snoring is one of the symptoms of related diseases.
FAQs
Is my cat snoring or wheezing when sleeping?
Should I worry if my cat snores?
Can snoring in cats be a sign of illness?
Yes, snoring can sometimes be a sign of a respiratory infection, allergies, or other health issues. If your cat's snoring is accompanied by other symptoms like coughing, sneezing, or labored breathing, it's best to consult your vet.
Conclusion
In conclusion, snoring in cats is usually a normal occurrence, but it’s important to consider the context and any other accompanying symptoms. Most of the time, it’s simply a result of their sleep position or natural anatomy. However, if you notice any concerning signs or if your cat's snoring is persistent, a visit to the vet is recommended. With the right care, your cat can continue to enjoy peaceful, snore-free sleep.