Why Did My Cat Lose His Voice？
Oct 18,2024 | puaintapets
If a kitten suddenly loses its voice, its behavior and symptomatic changes should be closely observed. The causes may be upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngolaryngitis, tracheitis, laryngeal fatigue or injury due to excessive yowling, and a foreign body in the throat. Medications should not be given to cats without a clear diagnosis. Assessing the overall health of the kitten, including age, weight and duration of symptoms, as well as observing its mental state and daily behavioral changes, are important diagnostic steps. If the kitten shows signs of fever, the temperature should be measured accurately. Management of suspected colds and pharyngitis usually involves the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and purgatives. The development of an individualized treatment plan, attention to dietary and environmental modifications in the kitten, and possible barf feeding are all important aspects of the recovery period.
What Disease is Cat Getting if He Loses His Voice?
Loss of voice in cats can be a sign of a number of diseases, some of the common ones include:
Throat infections: bacterial or viral infections can cause your cat's vocal cords to become affected, which in turn can lead to loss of voice. Common infections include upper respiratory tract infections and laryngitis.
Injury to the vocal cords: Excessive yowling, coughing or other irritation may lead to damage to your cat's vocal cords, which in turn affects the voice. Injury to the vocal cords may lead to hoarseness, loss of voice and other symptoms.
Neurological loss of voice: Certain neurological conditions, such as laryngeal nerve palsy, can also cause your cat to lose its voice. In this condition, the movement of the vocal cords is restricted, resulting in an abnormal voice.
Respiratory problems: respiratory diseases such as colds and bronchitis can also be a cause of voice loss in cats. These diseases can affect the health of the larynx, which in turn affects voice production.
Laryngitis: Laryngitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx and is one of the common causes of voice loss in cats.
Loss of voice in cats may suggest the presence of a disease, so when a cat is found to have loss of voice, it is recommended to observe the symptoms promptly and if they persist or worsen, it is best to bring the cat to the veterinarian for examination to clarify the cause of the disease and to obtain the appropriate treatment measures. Meanwhile, in order to prevent the occurrence of diseases, it is also important to pay attention to providing the cat with a suitable environment, diet and regular veterinary check-ups.
How to Treat?
When your cat loses its voice, you first need to assess its overall health. Possible causes include upper respiratory infections, laryngitis, tracheitis, laryngeal fatigue or injury due to excessive yowling, and foreign objects in the throat. It is not advisable to give your cat medication arbitrarily without a clear diagnosis.
1.Observe the kitten's mental state and appetite.
You need to pay attention to your cat's mental state, appetite, body temperature and any symptoms such as coughing.
2.Measure the kitten's temperature and check for coughing.
Use a mercury thermometer to measure temperature through the anus to obtain accurate data.
3.Appropriate use of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.
If the cat refuses oral medication, consider using an anti-inflammatory medication available in the home, such as doxycycline, given orally at a dose of 10 mg per kilogram of body weight once daily.
4. Provide sufficient water and suitable environment.
Provide a safe, clean living environment that reduces the risk of injury or illness
Barf (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) feeding is a feeding method that mimics a cat's natural diet, emphasizing the provision of high-quality meats, organs, and bones, as well as a moderate amount of plant-based ingredients. This diet helps to enhance the overall health of the cat, including the strengthening of the immune system, thus potentially preventing upper respiratory tract infections due to immunocompromise.
How Long Does It Take for a Cat to Return to Normal After Losing Its Voice?
Whether a cat can regain a normal voice after losing its voice depends on the specific cause of the loss. According to information, the causes of voice loss in cats may include colds, bronchitis, damaged vocal cords, neurological diseases and many other factors. For different causes of voice loss, the treatment method and recovery time will be different.
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Loss of voice caused by cold or bronchitis
In general, if the loss of voice is caused by colds or bronchitis, after appropriate treatment, warmth and rest, the cat will gradually recover its normal voice within a few days to a week in most cases.
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Loss of Voice Due to Vocal Cord Damage
When a cat's vocal cords are damaged, therapeutic measures such as vocal cord repair surgery may be required to return the voice to normal. With surgery and subsequent rehabilitation, it may take a longer time to fully recover.
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Neurological Voice Loss
Neurological dysarthria may take longer to treat and recover from, and the exact recovery time will depend on the cat's neuropathy and the effectiveness of the treatment.
In general, for loss of voice caused by minor reasons such as colds, cats usually recover gradually within a few days to a week; in more serious cases such as vocal cord damage or neurological loss of voice, recovery may take longer. It is important to give the cat adequate treatment and care to facilitate the recovery of its voice function. In all cases, it is recommended to seek prompt medical attention and follow your veterinarian's advice and treatment plan for optimal recovery.
How to Adjust Cat's Diet After Losing Voice
Dietary Adjustment Suggestions
Easy-to-digest liquid food: During the period of voice loss in cats, it is recommended not to feed your cat dry and hard cat food to avoid irritating the throat. You can choose some easy-to-digest fluids, such as meat porridge, pumpkin paste, canned cat food, etc., to reduce the discomfort of the throat.
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Maintain water intake
Ensure your cat has plenty of fresh water available at all times. Maintaining water intake helps to keep the throat moist and facilitates throat recovery.
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Supplementary Nutrition
Give your cat proper nutrition, such as vitamin B and other supplements, to help the body recover and strengthen the immune system.
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Cleaning the mouth
In terms of diet, you can use some mild oral cleanser or mouthwash to help keep the mouth clean and promote the recovery of stomatitis.
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Avoid stimulating food
During the recovery period, try to avoid feeding your cat spicy, too hot or too hard food to avoid irritating the throat.
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Regular eating schedule
Establish a regular eating schedule, don't starve or overfill your cat and maintain a healthy diet.
Overall, providing cats with voice loss with an easily digestible liquid diet, adequate hydration, sufficient nutrition and a clean mouth are important dietary modification strategies. At the same time, avoiding irritating foods and maintaining a regular eating schedule will help promote the recovery of your cat's larynx. If the condition persists or other uncomfortable symptoms appear, prompt medical attention is recommended to determine an appropriate dietary modification programme.
Appropriate amount of exercise
Moderate exercise for cats is essential to maintain their health and reduce hoarseness. The right amount of exercise can help cats keep their muscles strong and reduce health problems caused by obesity or lack of energy, as well as improve the function of their immune system and reduce the risk of disease.
1.Developing an Exercise Program
Toys such as cat scratching boards, feather sticks, and laser pointers can be used to engage in interactive play with cats to stimulate their hunting instincts and interest in exercise. Cats do have a high sensitivity to odors and they may react to certain strong smells. Therefore it is important to avoid possible irritants or odors in the home, and use some sprays to remove odors from the home or new toys as appropriate.
2.Managing the intensity and duration of your cat's exercise
Adjust the intensity and duration of exercise according to your cat's age, breed and health. Younger and more active cats may need more exercise, while older cats or those with health problems will need more gentle activities. Schedule at least 15 to 30 minutes of active, interactive play each day, as well as free time to explore and play throughout the day.
3.Rest and Recovery
After exercise, make sure the cat has enough rest time and a quiet environment to recover its strength. Avoid forcing cats to perform strenuous exercise when they are fatigued or sick, so as not to cause additional physical burden.
By doing the above, you can help your cat establish a regular exercise routine that will reduce the risk of hoarseness and promote his overall health. Remember to always observe your cat's reaction when implementing an exercise program to ensure that it is both safe and fun.
Protective Measure
To prevent kittens from losing their voices, provide a quiet, comfortable environment that reduces stress and anxiety. Regular health checks with the kitten can prevent some potential health problems. At the same time, keeping the environment warm and comfortable, minimizing direct air blowing and excessive cold and heat will help maintain the health of the kitten's throat.
- Helps cats relieve stress by providing a safe haven and reducing external stimuli.
- Reducing noise and stress helps cats stay calm and avoid purring due to environmental changes.
- Help cats manage their emotions through your companionship and positive interactions to avoid purring out of anger or loneliness.
- Try to give your cat plenty of rest to avoid vocalization being affected by fatigue.
Through the above measures, you can effectively prevent your cat from losing its voice and maintain its physical and mental health. If your cat develops voice loss or other abnormal symptoms, you should consult your veterinarian for professional diagnosis and treatment.
When to See the Vet?
Loss of voice in cats can be a sign of illness and in some cases may require emergency hospitalisation. The following are emergency situations in case of loss of voice in cats:
Difficulty in breathing: If the cat loses its voice and at the same time shows signs of difficulty in breathing such as shortness of breath and wheezing, it may be a sign of a serious illness, such as bronchitis and airway blockage. Emergency hospitalisation is required in this case.
Stuck foreign object in the throat: If the cat's loss of voice occurs suddenly, accompanied by breathing difficulties and swallowing difficulties, it may be caused by a foreign object stuck in the throat. Stuck foreign objects may lead to choking and other dangerous situations and need to be sent to the hospital immediately.
Serious infection: Loss of voice in cats may be caused by infection, if accompanied by fever, loss of appetite, poor mental state and other symptoms, it may be a sign of serious infection, and need to seek medical attention.
Serious injury to the larynx: If the loss of voice is accompanied by obvious bleeding, mouth ulcers, etc., it may be caused by serious injury to the larynx. This situation requires emergency treatment by a veterinary professional.
Neurological problems: Loss of voice may be caused by neurological problems, such as damage to the laryngeal nerve. If the cat's loss of voice is accompanied by other neurological symptoms, such as muscle weakness and abnormal movement, urgent medical attention is required.
Overall, if the cat's loss of voice appears in any of the above emergencies, especially if there is difficulty in breathing, a foreign object stuck in the throat, a serious infection, severe laryngeal damage or symptoms of neurological problems, the cat should be taken to the hospital immediately. In these emergencies, professional veterinarians are able to provide timely diagnosis and treatment to ensure the health and safety of your cat.
Conclusion
When cats show symptoms of loss of voice, owners do not need to be overly worried, first you need to determine the cause of the loss of voice, then closely monitor the overall health of the cat, pay attention to whether there are other symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, etc., and flexibly adjust the way of caring for the cat according to the cat's specific response, adjusting the diet, providing a comfortable environment, taking the cat for regular health checkups, and consulting with a veterinarian if necessary, these behaviors will help the cat to recover health more quickly.
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