My cat snores in its sleep: is it normal and what should I do?

When noticing that a kitten or adult cat snores, many owners worry whether this is normal or a symptom of a serious illness. In this article, we'll explore the possible causes of snoring in animals and explain what to do to ensure your pet is healthy or to detect health problems early.

Content

1 Ronchopathy in cats and its types
2 Dangerous symptoms
3 Causes of harmless snoring
4 Medical reasons
5 Conclusion

Ronchopathy in cats and its types

Snoring can occur in both adult cats and kittens. If you notice your pet making unusual breathing sounds during sleep, it's worth taking a closer look at how the cat sleeps and breathes when relaxed.

Cats typically sleep 12-16 hours a day, and kittens up to 20 hours, so analyzing your cat's snoring patterns is easy. It's a good idea to listen to your pet's breathing while sleeping on different surfaces (on a soft pillow, on a bed, on a windowsill, or on a table). You should also determine whether the problem arises when the animal sleeps in different positions, or whether the cat snores loudly in a certain position.

Tip! If possible, record a short video of your cat snoring while sleeping. This will help your veterinarian assess whether your pet is breathing normally or whether there are any other signs that indicate underlying health issues.

Analyzing the pattern of snoring can help you understand why your cat snores or snores while sleeping. Veterinarians distinguish between "harmless snoring" and several types of pathological snoring in animals:

Dry snoring

It manifests as wheezing or wheezing at the entrance and may indicate inflammatory processes in the upper or lower respiratory tract. This type of respiratory distress is not always clearly audible in the early stages of the disease. Most often, a doctor uses a stethoscope to hear it.

Wet snoring (bubble snoring)

Wet snoring is audible both on inhalation and exhalation. It resembles the simultaneous bursting of numerous small bubbles. This condition occurs when mucus accumulates in the airways, which is typical not only of viral and bacterial infections but also of heart failure and some other cardiac conditions.

Inspiratory snoring (stridor)

A hissing or whistling sound is produced by a narrowing of the airway in the nasal passages, larynx, or pharynx. Inspiratory snoring can be quite harmless (typical of brachycephalic cats). However, in some cases, stridor can indicate a number of serious problems, such as trauma, mucosal swelling, or tumors, leading to oxygen deprivation in the lungs, which is very dangerous for cats.

Crepitant snoring

This type of snoring is described as a characteristic crackling sound and also occurs as a result of obstruction in the upper respiratory tract.

Dangerous symptoms

When trying to figure out why your cat snores at home, it's important not to waste time if your pet truly needs medical attention. Therefore, if your cat suddenly starts snoring loudly, which wasn't previously observed, and exhibits any of the additional symptoms described below, it's essential to take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Dangerous symptoms in animals with impaired nocturnal breathing include:

lethargy, general depression;
poor appetite or refusal to eat;
dry hot nose (increased body temperature);
change in voice tone;
cough;
shortness of breath with minor physical exertion;
cessation of breathing during sleep;
swelling (especially in the eye or nose area);
heavy breathing (attempts to breathe through the mouth).

Causes of harmless snoring

Quite a few healthy cats snore during sleep. This is partly why you often see moms posting about snoring pets online.

But it's important to remember that it's only possible to say that a cat snores in its sleep and that this is normal for it after a full examination of the animal and the exclusion of possible pathologies.

Among the “harmless” causes of snoring in animals, the following are distinguished:

Anatomical features

It is considered normal for brachycephalic breeds to snore or breathe noisily during sleep (without the presence of dangerous symptoms).

The following breeds are considered brachycephalic:

Persian;
Himalayan;
Exotics;
British;
Scotsman;
Pallas's cat.

It is worth noting that British and Scottish cats suffer from the typical problems of brachycephalics, regardless of whether the individual is fold-eared or standard.

Important! Sometimes brachycephalic syndrome in this category of animals becomes aggravated and requires medical intervention.

Individual characteristics can also manifest from birth in other breeds. A Sphynx, a Maine Coon, or any other breed can snore constantly.

Dry indoor air

Dry air during the heating season and in hot summer months is another common reason why a cat snores in its sleep.

Age-related changes

As in humans, cats experience a decrease in the tone of the nasopharyngeal tissues with age, which leads to the development of nocturnal snoring.

Overweight

This reason can be considered relatively "harmless", since obesity in animals leads to the development of a number of diseases, including:

cardiovascular pathologies;
disorders of the musculoskeletal system;
diabetes mellitus.

Medical reasons

Important! To understand why your cat snores and what exactly is causing this respiratory dysfunction, your veterinarian may recommend a series of tests (general and specialized).

Among the most common medical problems of snoring during sleep in cats are:

injuries;
congenital pathologies (including brachycephalic syndrome);
entry of a foreign body into the respiratory tract;
infectious diseases (viral, bacterial, fungal);
allergic reactions causing rhinitis and swelling of the airways;
parasitic infestations;
heart disease;
tumors and growths (benign or malignant)
neurological disorders affecting the vocal cords.

Conclusion

Since snoring can be caused by a variety of reasons, a veterinarian should determine why a cat snores in its sleep and whether it is normal!

Actions of the owner who discovered the problem:

If there are any threatening symptoms, take your pet to the clinic as soon as possible. When transporting your pet, it's best to transport it on a level surface, such as a carrier or a stable base, rather than on its legs.
If there are no threatening symptoms, make an appointment with a veterinarian and observe the animal, collecting anamnesis for a more accurate diagnosis (record a video).
Provide cool, humidified air in the room (without drafts).
You should not give your cat any medications until a diagnosis has been made.

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