Cats can make all sorts of sounds to communicate, such as meowing, purring, and yowling. As a cat owner, it’s important to be aware of how vocal your cat can be. When your cat becomes uncharacteristically quiet or has a hoarse meow, it’s important to pay close attention. He might have developed a health condition that needs examining.
Here are some causes and remedies for why your cat isn’t vocalizing as much as usual.
6 Reasons Cats Lose Their Voices
1. Overuse
Sometimes, your cat may have simply overused its voice. Similar to how humans can lose their voice from excessive use or yelling, cats can also get a hoarse voice. The best way to determine if your cat lost his voice due to overuse is if you can recall any recent occurrences of him yowling loudly.
2. Rabies
One of the symptoms of rabies is a hoarse voice. So, if your cat recently escaped the house or is an outdoor cat and returns with any wounds, there’s a possibility that he encountered a rabid animal. If your cat has rabies, he’ll also exhibit other symptoms:
3. Hyperthyroidism
Older cats can develop hyperthyroidism. When the thyroid glands become overactive, they can cause your cat to have a hoarse meow. Here are other symptoms of hyperthyroidism:
4. Laryngitis in Cats
Upper respiratory infections (URI) can often lead to laryngitis. Laryngitis in cats occurs when the larynx gets inflamed, making it painful for your cat to make a vocal sound. Along with a muted meow, cats with laryngitis can experience other symptoms:
5. Laryngeal Paralysis
Sometimes, nerve damage can occur in your cat’s larynx. Laryngeal paralysis can occur when the cartilages of the larynx don’t function normally while breathing. Along with losing his voice, your cat can also show these symptoms:
6. Growths Near Vocal Cords
Sometimes, polyps or tumors can grow in the throat and cause cats to have a difficult time using their voices. Many symptoms that cats will show are caused by obstructions in their throats:
How To Soothe a Cat’s Throat
Laryngitis in cats can be painful for cats. Fortunately, there are some things that you can do at home to make your cat feel more comfortable.
First, you can use a humidifier to increase the moisture levels in a room. The humidity will help soothe a cat’s dry and itchy throat.
You can also temporarily feed your cat wet food so that he has an easier time eating. If your cat refuses to eat, you can try warming up the food. You can also try feeding your cat chicken broth or beef broth made specifically for pets.
Do Cats Become Quiet When They’re Depressed?
Cats can become depressed if they experience a loss or aren’t having their needs met. However, rather than becoming quieter, they tend to become more vocal. So, if your cat’s more chatty than usual, see if he’s also showing other signs of depression:
Overall, if your cat has become quiet, it’s not very likely that it’s because he’s depressed.
Conclusion
Cats can lose their voice for several reasons, and it’s often because of an underlying condition. Therefore, if your cat loses its voice, make sure to closely monitor how he’s doing for the next several days. If his voice slowly returns, you have nothing to worry about.
Read more Will My Cat Keep Mice Away?
However, if you notice any additional symptoms or behavioral changes, make sure to work with your veterinarian to diagnose the cause and give helpful treatment to your cat as soon as possible.
Featured Image Credit: Svetlbel, Pixabay
— Update: 11-02-2023 — cohaitungchi.com found an additional article Laryngitis in Cats – How to Help Your Cat When They Lose Their Meow from the website www.aecmemphis.com for the keyword my cat lost her voice.
Can cats get laryngitis?
Your cat’s larynx performs a number of tasks including letting your cat vocalize, this is why the larynx is also known as your cat’s voicebox. If your cat has an underlying health condition that affects its larynx it will also impact your cat’s ability to meow.
If your cat is diagnosed with laryngitis it means your kitty’s larynx is inflamed as a result of irritation, illness, or a blockage in their throat.
What causes cat laryngitis?
Cat laryngitis usually develops as a result of an infectious disease such as rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, or upper respiratory infections (cat cold or URI), but there is a handful of other conditions that can lead to your cat losing their voice including:
- Hyperthyroidism
- Object lodged in the throat
- Inhaled irritants, such as smoke or dust
- Blockage in the larynx
- Eosinophilic granuloma complex
- Growth in the throat (benign, cancerous)
- Throat cancer
- Paralysis of laryngeal nerve
What are the most common cat laryngitis symptoms?
The types of laryngitis symptoms your cat develops will depend on the root cause but could include:
- Bad breath
- Changes in your cat’s vocalizations
- Noisy breathing
- Dry, harsh cough that may be painful
- Increased effort to breathe
- High-pitched breathing
- Lowered head while standing
- Open mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
If your cat’s laryngitis is being caused by a virus or cat cold you may also notice symptoms of a common cold such as:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Discharge from eyes
- Lack of energy
- Loss of appetite
If you notice your cat exhibiting any of the above symptoms, you will need to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Sometimes when laryngitis is caused by a viral infection it can clear up on its own in a couple of days, but the underlying cause may be serious and might require veterinary attention.
It’s important for you to know that cats can get sore throats, which could also cause difficulty breathing and an inability to eat. Both of these symptoms have to be addressed by a veterinarian immediately.
What is the typical cat laryngitis treatment?
The treatments used to treat your kitty’s laryngitis will depend on the underlying cause.
If your vet finds a buildup of fluid in the larynx they may prescribe a diuretic. If your cat is showing signs of pain your vet might provide them with e a mild painkiller to help make them feel better.
In cases where a foreign body is lodged in your cat’s throat, they might or might not require surgery to have the object removed, however, once the object is removed your feline companion will be able to meow again.
If your cat’s loss of vocalizations has been caused by eosinophilic granuloma your kitty might be treated for parasites because this condition is often an exaggerated immune response to insect bites. Steroids or corticosteroids might also be prescribed for this condition.
A good way you can help your kitty feel more comfortable as they recover from laryngitis is to run a humidifier at home and gently clean away any eye or nasal discharge from their face with a soft damp cloth. Boosting your cat’s immune system through improved diet and supplements may also be recommended.
Read more Cat Diarrhea — When Should I Call the Vet?
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet’s condition, please make an appointment with your vet.
— Update: 11-02-2023 — cohaitungchi.com found an additional article Causes Of Laryngitis in Cats & What to Do from the website www.mooresvilleanimalhospital.com for the keyword my cat lost her voice.
Laryngitis in Cats
Your cat’s larynx has various jobs including letting your cat vocalize, which is why the larynx can also be called your cat’s voicebox. If there is an underlying health condition affecting your feline’s larynx their ability to meow will be impacted.
If your cat is diagnosed with laryngitis, it means their larynx has become inflamed as a result of irritation, illness, or a blockage within the throat.
The Causes of Cat Laryngitis
Cat laryngitis is often the result of infectious diseases such as upper respiratory infections (cat cold or URI), calicivirus, or rhinotracheitis, however, there are also various other conditions that can make your cat lose their voice including:
- Hyperthyroidism
- Blockage in the larynx
- Inhaled irritants, such as smoke or dust
- Object lodged in the throat
- Eosinophilic granuloma complex
- Paralysis of laryngeal nerve
- Growth in the throat (benign, cancerous
- Throat cancer
Signs & Symptoms of Laryngitis in Cats
The laryngitis symptoms your cat displays will depend on the underlying cause, but could include:
- Dry, harsh cough that may be painful
- Bad breath
- High-pitched breathing
- Changes in your cat’s vocalizations
- Noisy breathing
- Open mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
- Lowered head while standing
- Increased effort to breathe
If your cat’s laryngitis is being caused by a virus or cat cold they may also exhibit common cold symptoms such as:
- Lack of energy
- Discharge from eyes
- Watery eyes
- Loss of appetite
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
If your kitty is displaying any of the symptoms detailed above you should bring them to the vet. In some cases where laryngitis is caused by a viral illness it might clear up on its own within a couple of days, but the underlying cause could be serious and may require veterinary attention.
It’s important to remember that a sore throat can also cause breathing difficulties and an inability to eat, both of which are symptoms that deserve immediate veterinarian care.
Treating Cats With Laryngitis
The treatments used for your cat’s laryngitis will depend upon the underlying cause.
If your vet detects a buildup of fluid in the larynx, they may prescribe a diuretic. If your kitty is showing signs of pain, your vet might provide them with a mild painkiller.
In cases where a foreign body is lodged in your cat’s throat, surgery may or may not be needed to remove the object, but once the object is removed your feline friend should be able to meow again.
If your cat’s loss of vocalizations has been caused by eosinophilic granuloma, your kitty might be treated for parasites since this condition is often an exaggerated immune response to insect bites. Corticosteroids or steroids could also be prescribed for this condition.
A good way to help your cat feel more comfortable as they recover from laryngitis is to run a humidifier at home and gently clean away any eye or nasal discharge from your cat’s face using a soft damp cloth. Your vet might also recommend boosting your cat’s immune system with an improved diet and supplements.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet’s condition, please make an appointment with your vet.
— Update: 11-02-2023 — cohaitungchi.com found an additional article What To Do If Your Cat Loses Their Voice from the website www.winston-salem.carolinavet.com for the keyword my cat lost her voice.
Has your kitty’s purr-fect meow turned raspy, hoarse, or even silent? If so, your cat may be suffering from laryngitis. Today, our Winston-Salem vets explain the symptoms and causes of cat laryngitis as well as available treatments.
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About Cat Laryngitis
Can a cat get laryngitis? Yes! Your cat’s larynx has a number of jobs including allowing your cat to vocalize, which is why the larynx is also referred to as your cat’s voicebox. If there is an underlying health condition affecting your kitty’s larynx your cat’s ability to meow will be affected.
If your kitty is diagnosed with laryngitis it means that your cat’s larynx has become inflamed due to irritation, illness or a blockage within the throat.
Common Causes of Laryngitis in Cats
Cat laryngitis is often the result of infectious diseases such as upper respiratory infections (cat cold or URI), calicivirus, or rhinotracheitis however there are a number of other conditions that can cause your cat to lose their voice including:
- Inhaled irritants, such as smoke or dust
- Blockage in the larynx
- Object lodged in the throat
- Paralysis of laryngeal nerve
- Hyperthyroidism
- Growth in the throat (benign, cancerous
- Eosinophilic granuloma complex
- Throat cancer
Signs That My Cat Has Laryngitis
Cat laryngitis symptoms of laryngitis that your cat displays will depend upon the underlying cause but may include:
- Changes in your cat’s vocalizations
- Dry, harsh cough that may be painful
- Noisy breathing
- Lowered head while standing
- Open mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
- High-pitched breathing
- Increased effort to breathe
- Bad breath
If your cat’s laryngitis is being caused by a virus or cat cold you may also notice symptoms of a common cold such as:
- Watery eyes
- Discharge from eyes
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Loss of appetite
- Lack of energy
If your cat is showing any of the symptoms listed above a trip to the vet is in order. While in some cases laryngitis caused by a viral illness may clear up on its own within a couple of days, the underlying cause could be serious and may require veterinary care.
It’s important to keep in mind that a sore throat could also lead to difficulties breathing and an inability to eat, both of which are symptoms that deserve immediate veterinarian care.
Best Treatment for My Cat’s Laryngitis
The cat laryngitis treatment that is best for your feline friend will depend upon the underlying cause.
If your vet detects a buildup of fluid in the larynx a diuretic may be prescribed. If your kitty is showing signs of pain your vet may prescribe a mild painkiller to help your cat to feel better.
In cases where a foreign body is lodged in your cat’s throat surgery may or may not be required to remove the object, but once the object is removed your feline friend will be able to meow again.
If your cat’s loss of vocalizations has been caused by eosinophilic granuloma your kitty may be treated for parasites since this condition is often an exaggerated immune response to insect bites. Corticosteroids or steroids may also be prescribed for this condition.
A good way to help your cat feel more comfortable as they recover from laryngitis is to run a humidifier at home and gently clean away any eye or nasal discharge from your cat’s face using a soft damp cloth. Boosting your cat’s immune system through improved diet and supplements may also be recommended.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet’s condition, please make an appointment with your vet.
