Cats and humans may be more alike than you think. You've probably heard (or even suffered) a person snoring in their sleep, but did you know that cats can also snore? That's how it is!
Snoring occurs in the airways during deep sleep, caused by a vibration that involves the organs from the nose to the throat. When your cat snores from a young age, it probably doesn't mean anything and is his way of sleeping; on the contrary, if the snoring is sudden indicates one of the problems that we will detail below, so it is a sign that you should not ignore. Find out if it is normal for your cat to snore in this article on our site. Keep reading!
Common in obese cats
A plump and chubby cat usually seems more adorable to us, but in the long run obesity will bring him multiple he alth problems, exposing him to suffering diseases that put your quality of life at risk and can even be fatal.
Among the common problems in obese cats is that many of them snore when they sleep. The reason? The same excess weight, translated into fat that surrounds your vital organs, prevents the air from passing correctly through the respiratory tract, causing you to snore.
Tips for an overweight cat
Any overweight feline needs a veterinary follow-up, since it will be necessary to administer a diet for obese cats that allows it to reach its ideal weight. Also, combining it with exercise for overweight cats will help improve their condition.
Common in branchycephalic cat breeds
Brachycephalic breeds are those that have slightly larger heads than other breeds of the same species. In the case of cats, Persians and Himalayans are an example of branchycephalians. These felines also have a flattened nose, which is accompanied by a much longer palate than that of other cats.
All this, in principle, does not constitute any inconvenience to your cat's he alth, so if you have one of these at home it is completely normal for it to snore.
The most common respiratory diseases
If your cat has never snored before and suddenly you begin to notice it, and it even increases in intensity, it is possible that it could be a pathology that compromises the respiratory system. The most common causes are usually:
- Asthma: Some cats are prone to asthma. It is a dangerous condition as it can cause an attack that leaves your cat without air, killing him quickly.
- Bronchitis and pneumonia: they can be confused with flu or cough, but as days go by they get worse, so they should be attended to immediately.
- Cat cough: cough is extremely dangerous for cats, becoming an infection that seriously affects the respiratory system.
Besides these examples, there are other viral or fungal infections that are capable of affecting your cat's breathing and causing it to snore, so you should be aware if this phenomenon occurs suddenly.
The cat has an allergy
Just like humans, some cats are sensitive to certain substances found in the environment, such as pollen of the flowers that spread when spring arrives. These types of allergies are called seasonal.
In the same way, it is possible that the allergy is caused by a cleaning product that is being used in the home, or by the presence of dust or grit. In any case, only the veterinarian will be able to determine if this is the origin of the snoring and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
The presence of a tumor
Nasal tumors, also called paranasal polyps, obstruct the airways causing the vibration that is responsible for snoring. If this causes your cat to snore, the vet will say if it is necessary to remove the tumor.
Your cat has always snored
Some cats just snore when they sleep and this does not imply any problem with their breathing. If your kitty has always snored and shows no other signs that something is wrong, you have nothing to worry about.
