If the cat makes noise when it breathes, there are several possible causes, more or less serious for its health: find out why it does so and when to worry.
Have you noticed that your cat makes noise when it breathes? In this case it is natural to worry and ask why it happens and what to do to fix it. The truth is, there are many possible causes for cat noisy breathing, which can indicate more or less serious health problems.
In this article, we will list the most common causes for which cats are breathing noisily and find out when it is essential to take your cat to the vet.
The cat makes noise when it breathes: the possible causes
CAT WITH BRACHYCEPHALIA
Some cat breeds, such as the Persian cat, have a particular shape of the head with a flattened nose that often leads them to breathe in a labored and noisy way.
The sound of the breath increases when the cat sleeps, but in this case there is no need to worry as the reason lies in the natural anatomy of the animal and not in a pathology.
RHINOTRACHEITE IN CATS
Rhinotracheitis is a disease that often occurs in conjunction with bacterial infections and is caused by calcivirosis and herpes virus. If your cat is breathing noisily due to this problem, they may also have other symptoms including: discharge from the eyes and nose, fever, sneezing, lack of appetite, mouth ulcers, pain when swallowing.
If you notice one or more of these symptoms, take your cat to the vet who can prescribe the most suitable treatment, usually based on antibiotics.
To relieve your four-legged friend, offer him warm and appetizing foods to help him eat more willingly.
CAT WITH ASTHMA
Particularly frequent pathology in Siamese breed specimens, asthma is one of the diseases that cause the problem of the cat making noise when it breathes. It is a chronic inflammation of the lower respiratory tract that forces the cat to breathe heavily and cough often.
If your cat suffers from asthma, it should be treated according to the veterinarian’s instructions for life with the help of inhalers. Furthermore, it is essential to check the quality of the air in its environment, paying attention to dust, smoke and other similar agents.
PLEURIC TRANSFER IN THE CAT
Pleural effusion, also called pleural effusion, is a buildup of fluid in the space between the lungs and the chest walls. It is usually caused by other health problems, such as heart failure, peritonitis, neoplasm, accumulation of pus in the pleural cavity.
In these cases, the lungs cannot expand sufficiently and the cat will have trouble breathing. If we notice that the cat is becoming cyanotic and breathing in a labored and noisy way, it is necessary to take him urgently to the vet who will be able to drain the excess fluid from the chest cavity.
OTHER FELINE PATHOLOGIES
There are other possible causes of noisy breathing in cats, such as the presence of polyps or tumors in the pharyngeal area, or obstructions in the larynx due to accidentally ingested foreign bodies.
To find out precisely the cause of the cat’s breathing difficulties, it is necessary to subject the animal to an x-ray, or an ultrasound or biopsy to allow the veterinarian to formulate the right diagnosis.
