The cat snorts when he sleeps. The cat snores when he breathes

Varieties

Veterinarians note that the cat may experience wheezing, whistling, dry or wet. At the same time, different types of noise are associated with different reasons and require special treatment.

The reason why a cat snores loudly when breathing

The respiratory system of cats is similar in structure to that of humans. They, just like humans, can sigh, grunt and even snore. If a cat sniffles not only in his sleep, this may be a symptom of an illness.

The animal begins to sniffle as a result of inflammation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. This happens due to hypothermia or a cold.

The respiratory system of cats is similar to humans

A pet's runny nose often occurs as a result of exposure to chemicals. Rhinitis can be a consequence of any past illness.

If a cat sniffles, you need to monitor it; the sick pet constantly rubs its nose with its paws, often sneezes, and has difficulty breathing.

In addition, the pet looks apathetic, there is exhaustion, and the development of conjunctivitis.

In case of a cold or rhinitis, treatment must be carried out to avoid negative consequences.

What can cause a cat to become hoarse?

In most cases, various infectious diseases of the respiratory system are responsible for the loss of “singing abilities”. For example, bronchitis may well lead to this result. Most often it appears as a result of severe hypothermia of the cat's body, which leads to the rapid activation of pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microflora. There are also contagious varieties that are instantly transmitted from animal to animal, especially if the latter are in a crowded state. This often happens in animal shelters. Since their “guests” are, as a rule, already severely weakened, infections quickly spread to the entire population. Remember this if you decide to adopt a kitten from a shelter! What other reasons are there?

In addition, the cat may become completely hoarse due to the “planting” of the voice. This happens if the animal screams loudly and for a long time (for example, in the month of March, during “disputes” with its competitors). After mating, pets can also become hoarse, as they express their feelings too loudly during the process itself. It happens that hoarseness is one of the indirect signs of the presence of foreign bodies in the pharynx. The cat wheezes and coughs loudly, eventually losing its “original” voice.

A cat can also become hoarse from a cough, which does not appear on its own, but is always a sign of some kind of respiratory disease. It appears with bronchitis, and with pneumonia... and with some helminthic diseases. The fact is that roundworm larvae, having hatched from eggs in the animal’s intestines, immediately pierce the wall of the organ, enter the bloodstream and go on a “tour” with its current. The end point is the lungs. There, small parasites grow and develop for about two weeks. During this time, the lungs are seriously affected, inflammation occurs, which can easily develop into severe bronchitis or even pneumonia.

So, if your pet coughs forcefully and then wheezes, draw conclusions. Perhaps the real cause is not diseases of the respiratory system, but parasitic worms in the intestines. What else can cause a cat to become hoarse? For example, a cat cannot meow due to severe stress. There are many cases when animals lost their voice and could only squeak pitifully due to separation from their owners, when moving, or during large and lengthy repairs.

Why is there a problem?

Cough is one of the main symptoms of rhinotracheitis in an animal.

If the kitten does not meow and its respiratory rhythm has changed, then in most cases the problem is associated with pathologies of the respiratory system. Many pulmonary diseases are characterized by copious secretion of saliva and mucus, which the pet often swallows. If a cat is breathing heavily and wheezing constantly, then this indicates a number of pathologies presented in the table.

The animal may experience difficulty breathing due to the triplication of the skull.

• foreign body entering the throat;
• brachycephalic syndrome;
• pulmonary edema;
• congenital anomalies;
• tracheal collapse.

When a cat has hoarse breathing accompanied by a loud sound, this does not always signal a pathology in the respiratory system. Often a cat grunts and breathes through his mouth due to the following disorders:

• Protrusion of the diaphragmatic hernia. The symptoms are reminiscent of bronchial asthma, with the pet constantly being in one position and breathing heavily.
• Heart diseases. In case of heart failure, the animal rarely develops a cough, and the cat often wheezes and breathes through his mouth. Arrhythmia, myocardosis and myocarditis can affect impaired breathing.
• Severe renal failure. The pathology often provokes pulmonary edema, as a result of which the pet refuses to eat, is constantly in a semi-sitting position and coughs.

Helminthiasis

An animal carrying parasitic worms can make unusual grunting sounds.

Toxocara. The development cycle of the Toxocara nematode begins with the cat swallowing food infested with larvae or eating the intermediate host of the parasite, which is:

• mouse;
• rat;
• bird;
• insect.

Development in the body. In the intestine, the larva actively invades the blood vessel through the epithelial wall in order to enter the lungs with the bloodstream. Young parasites feed on the blood and tissues of the airways, causing severe irritation, difficult wheezing breathing and a reflex cough.

The damaging effect leads to the attachment of pathogenic bacteria that increase inflammation. With a cough, some of the larvae enter the oral cavity and are swallowed again, growing in the intestines into a mature worm. During the period of migration of larvae into the digestive tract, the cat may experience the urge to vomit.

Hookworm. Hookworm larvae cause hookworm disease by entering the cat’s body in several ways:

• simultaneously with food and water;
• when self-licking;
• through the skin with subsequent penetration into the bloodstream;
• when eating infected rodents.

Development. The path of larvae that have penetrated through the skin into the blood lies in the respiratory tract, and then, when coughing, into the oral cavity.

Clinical picture of helminthic infestation. Infection with helminths in a cat is indicated by:

• poor appetite and weight loss;
• apathetic behavior;
• disruptions in the gastrointestinal tract;
• increase in abdominal volume;
• the appearance of mucus and blood in feces;
• unkempt appearance, poor coat;
• constant discharge from the eyes;
• pallor of the mucous membranes in the mouth.

Diagnosis and treatment. The diagnosis is based on laboratory tests of blood and feces. Having determined the type of helminth, anthelmintic drugs are prescribed in the required dose and, possibly, with repeated use.

Also watch the video of a cat breathing with wheezing:

Normal cat condition

If your feline pet sniffles, but does not express any pain, his behavior has not changed, he plays, eats well, you need to examine the animal:

• if the nasal mucosa is pink, then the body receives enough oxygen;
• there is no discharge from the nose, which means a cold is excluded;
• Light pressure over the entire back will help determine whether there are or are no areas of pain.

Breathing with wheezing may be caused by a deviated nasal septum or obesity, which is not life-threatening.

When your cat sniffles, she also scratches her nose with her paws and sneezes; perhaps she just has an allergy, which will disappear after the allergen is eliminated.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the TOP 17 reasons why a cat constantly meows

Periodic snoring is normal for humans and animals.

Video

It’s nice to communicate and play with cats: they are affectionate, fluffy, they like to bask in a person’s arms, purring... But sometimes our pets disturb us by making sounds that are not entirely “understandable”. Sometimes animals cough, sneeze, and sniffle. But all this is understandable. The cat could have caught a cold, or there might have been debris in his nose. But what if the cat grunts when breathing? Agree, it’s much more common to hear such sounds from a piglet, but not at all from your favorite furry “beast.”

If you are the owner of an “Englishman” or a cat of nature, then you will most likely have to come to terms with his “oddities”. The fact is that animals of these breeds belong to the so-called brachycephalic varieties. This is the “scientific” name for mammals that have a shortened head with a characteristic “flat” muzzle.

In the process of breeding such animals, breeders encountered a lot of difficulties. So, the same Persians have a lot of genetic anomalies, many of which are tied to the genome, which provides these animals with a shortened full face of the skull. Whatever one may say, from a natural point of view such a structure is nonsense. In particular, all cats of these varieties are extremely unstable to the effects of very high and low temperatures:

the air simply does not have time to warm up or, on the contrary, cool down in their nasal cavity.

In winter, Persians and cats similar to them constantly catch colds (they should not be allowed outside at all when the ambient temperature drops below 10° Celsius). In the summer, it’s hard and difficult for them to breathe in the heat - hence the “grunting”. Because of this, your pet regularly sneezes when he gets into a dusty room: his respiratory organs simply do not have time to filter everything. But there may be more to it than that.

The problem also lies in the structure of the soft tissues of their palate. Over time, especially in old pets, it can simply “sag,” thereby blocking the normal flow of air. Because of this, the animal becomes even more like a pig. In principle, there is no particular problem here, but... if the grunting becomes incessant, and your cat cannot sleep normally due to “heroic” snoring, we strongly advise you to take him to the veterinarian. It is quite possible that he will need surgery to correct the structure of the soft palate. During the intervention, the surgeon will cut off the “extra” parts that interfere with the normal passage of air. Another sign that “transparently hints” at the need for such a procedure is that which occurs with particularly strong “grunting.” But there are other causes of grunting breathing, many of which are not so “harmless”.

What to do and how to treat?

If the animal refuses to drink, you need to use a syringe without a needle to inject water.

• Provide the cat with constant access to drinking water. If the animal refuses, then try to inject the liquid with a syringe.
• Constant air humidification and ventilation in the place where the sick pet lives.
• Taking medications that provide symptomatic treatment.

Veterinarians warn that if a cat has a hoarse voice due to respiratory failure or asthma, then forceful watering is strictly prohibited. In this case, excess fluid is removed from the lungs, and in severe cases, surgery is performed.

Medications should be given to a sick animal for wheezing only on the recommendation of a veterinarian, since many of them have contraindications and can cause complications. If wheezing is associated with diseases of an infectious nature, then therapy must be supplemented with antibiotics. If the symptoms are accompanied by foamy nasal discharge with bloody impurities, then emergency hospitalization of the animal is required, since the risk of death is high.

Possible diseases and pathologies

When your pet snores constantly, or very often, it may be a symptom of one of the following conditions:

• swelling of the larynx; may be caused by allergies, or the presence of foreign objects in the respiratory system;
• urolithiasis disease; snoring is sometimes accompanied by wheezing;
• the presence of worms, which may even be present in the respiratory system;
• asthma;
• rhinitis;
• pneumonia and bronchitis;
• heart failure; along with wheezing, a cough and blue discoloration of the mucous membranes can be observed;
• respiratory tract infections;
• obesity.

A veterinarian will help the owner determine the cause of wheezing when breathing in a cat.

Diseases associated with snoring

Despite the fact that the range of pathologies that lead to snoring is wide - from thickening of the soft palate to polyps in the lungs, there is a list of the most relevant diseases that owners of snoring pets face.

Laryngeal edema

Edema is difficult to attribute to pathologies; rather, it is a consequence of an allergic reaction that was not recognized in time by the owner. An allergen can be a product or some object that once entered the pet’s larynx and caused inflammation. To protect the sleep of an allergic cat, it is advisable to remove the allergen from the house that has a constant impact.

If the swelling was caused by autoimmune diseases, the veterinarian selects stabilizing therapy that strengthens the pet’s body’s resistance.

Asthma

It is difficult to talk about the causes of asthma because they remain largely unclear. Genetic and breed factors influence. For example, bronchocephalic breeds already familiar there are more predisposed to this disease. In addition to snoring, asthma is accompanied by suffocating coughing attacks, which are sometimes mistaken by owners for a manifestation of the gag reflex; later shortness of breath, apathy, and lack of appetite join the cough.

Asthma comes in several forms:

• Moderate - this type of asthma usually goes unnoticed by the owners. The cat sometimes coughs and wheezes, but shows no other signs of illness and appears healthy;
• Moderate-severe – coughing attacks torment the pet several times a day, sometimes leading to suffocation;
• Acute-severe - this form is accompanied by respiratory failure and narrowing of the animal’s bronchi, threatening its life. In case of acute-severe asthma, the animal is hospitalized as soon as possible.

Owners of animals prone to asthma and chronic bronchitis will sooner or later need to inhale their animals at home. You can read about the inhalation itself and how it is carried out below.

Urolithiasis disease

Despite the fact that urolithiasis does not affect the lungs and extends its influence to the kidneys and genitourinary system, wheezing often accompanies advanced stages of the disease. With intoxication and periodic pain, the occurrence of extraneous sounds during breathing is not uncommon. Diagnosing urolithiasis as the primary source of wheezing is not difficult - unsuccessful trips to the toilet and blood in the urine are an unambiguous signal to begin serious treatment.

KSD is more common among males due to the structural features of their genitourinary system. Moreover, young individuals are susceptible to the disease, while in animals after six years of age this pathology is diagnosed relatively rarely. At risk are castrated cats that have had their gonads removed.

• Enlarged abdomen, pain when trying to palpate;
• Loss of clumps of hair, regardless of shedding;
• Yellowing of the mucous membranes due to liver enlargement;
• Repeated attempts by the cat to lick the anus due to increasing itching.

Bronchitis

It is quite difficult to notice snoring while missing other symptoms of bronchitis, so, as a rule, owners have no doubts about the pathology of the respiratory system when they come to the veterinarian. The only difficulty is that in cats, coughing, sneezing and vomiting are very similar to each other and it can be difficult for a person uninitiated in feline diseases to distinguish all these painful manifestations.

One of the sure signs of a lack of oxygen that occurs during bronchitis is the blueness of the mucous membranes, which is also characteristic of asthma. To check the shade of the mucous membranes, just lift the animal’s upper lip and look at the gums.

With bronchitis, a dry cough is most often observed, sometimes accompanied by sputum production. Bronchitis can also be accompanied by non-specific symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting (due to severe coughing).

Heart failure

A number of factors lead to heart failure, including:

Symptoms of heart failure can in some cases be confused with pneumonia, bronchitis or asthma. This disease is also characterized by shortness of breath, blue discoloration of the mucous membranes due to oxygen starvation of organs and tissues, and moist rales. In severe cases, heart failure leads to fainting and even paralysis of the hind limbs (due to a blood clot).

Obesity

Excess weight can form both as a result of an unbalanced diet and as a result of hormonal disorders in the pet’s body. Some breeds (for example, the British cat) are predisposed to rapid weight gain, so the diet of such animals requires a particularly careful approach. Due to lack of physical activity, all pets are equally at risk, especially those that have been sterilized.

The consequences of obesity can be global - from joint problems to heart failure. The appearance of snoring just indicates an increase in the load on the cardiovascular system, which cannot cope with the animal’s body weight.

Diagnosis and treatment

Periodic snoring is normal for humans and animals. If this happens rarely, it should not be a cause for concern. But if it's a cat sniffling while breathing all the time, or even breathing with its mouth open, it should be a cause for concern. Persistent breathing problems can lead to more serious health problems.

Most likely, you will need a veterinarian's consultation and treatment, because... It is difficult or even impossible to independently determine the disease. But before contacting a doctor, it is necessary to observe an animal that is sniffling and breathing heavily. To make a diagnosis, exclude various diseases and prescribe the correct treatment, the doctor will need detailed information.

The veterinarian may ask for the following information about a cat who wheezes when he breathes:

• the age of the animal and its lifestyle;
• weight and its relationship with the norm for a given breed;
• how long ago did the wheezing occur?
• Are there other sounds heard when the cat breathes?
• changes in the color of mucous membranes;
• the presence of various injuries (torso, nose, mouth, larynx);
• changes in behavior (low activity, weakness, excitability);
• other symptoms (digestive problems, vomiting, other breathing problems, cough, runny nose, sneezing).

If your cat is breathing poorly through his nose and sniffling, you should not wait for this to go away on its own. Such signs may indicate a serious illness in a cat or kitten that requires immediate treatment.

If a lethargic cat does not eat or drink, what should I do?

Often, a pet's refusal to eat can frighten the owner. When a cat is lethargic and spends most of its time in one position, this is certainly not a good sign. If the cat does not eat or drink and only sleeps, it is necessary to understand the reasons for this behavior, because it is quite possible that your cat is sick and needs to be treated.

What does it mean for a pet to refuse food and drink?

There are situations when a cat does not eat or drink for several days, but only sleeps for no reason. If a cat does not eat and therefore loses its appetite, this can be called anorexia. However, an animal's appetite is determined by psychological factors, unlike hunger, which is a physiological phenomenon.

There can be many reasons why a cat does not eat for several days and only sleeps. Often, a kitten does not eat because some harmful processes have begun in its body, that is, a disease is emerging. As a rule, if a cat is lethargic, does not even drink water for a long time and lies in one place for most of the day, then this indicates diseases of the stomach or other main organs. After all, when experiencing severe pain, the animal will not have time to eat.

Note that if the pet is very lethargic during the day and does not even drink water, this may indicate the first heat. Owners think their pet is sick, but this is not the case. In this case, the animal begins to get acquainted with new natural urges, and this can lead it to confusion. This behavior and refusal of water and food may subside within a few days and then return to normal.

If the kitten does not eat anything for a long time and does not even drink water during the day, he is lethargic and does not want to do anything, then your pet is probably sick. Often infectious diseases such as worms are the cause of lack of appetite. To prevent your pet from losing weight and being lethargic, it is necessary

Source

When to take your cat to the vet

If your cat sniffles frequently, or breathes with her mouth open, this should alert you and cause a visit to the veterinarian. Before you see a doctor, you need to observe the animal for a couple of days in order to correctly answer questions in the veterinary hospital to make the correct diagnosis. The veterinarian may be interested in the following information:

• how long ago did the snoring begin?
• are there any accompanying sounds along with wheezing during breathing;
• whether the pet was injured;
• whether the animal’s usual behavior has changed;
• was there a change in the color of the mucous membranes;
• other symptoms (vomiting, runny nose, cough).

Persistent breathing problems can cause more serious health problems.
By the nature of snoring and additional sounds, you can determine the source of the disease:

• wheezing, coughing and blue mucous membranes signal heart failure;
• wheezing and wheezing indicate the presence of urolithiasis;
• wet rales may indicate phlegm in the respiratory system;
• crackling indicates problems in the alveoli;
• dry wheezing indicates the presence of edema in the bronchi or larynx;
• sniffling plus whistling may indicate swelling in the airway area.

A correct diagnosis and timely initiation of treatment will ensure a speedy recovery for the cat. There is no need to rely on the advice of other cat owners or information on websites. Each case is individual, even if the symptoms are similar.

Why is the cat puffing?

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Why can a cat sniff and grunt when breathing?

Quite often, a cat's breathing is accompanied by wheezing. As a rule, physiological factors act as the causes of this phenomenon. Such snoring should not cause concern to the pet owner.

When an animal is breathing heavily, grunting, sniffling and whistling through its nose, you should immediately show it to a veterinarian. Ignoring these symptoms caused by pathological factors can lead to serious consequences, including the death of the cat.

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The respiratory system of these animals is similar in structure to humans. They, just like people, can sigh, sniffle, grunt, and snore. In most cases, this occurs due to natural causes and should not be a cause for concern. Your pet's wheezing may appear against the background of:

• Excessive physical activity. In healthy individuals, the respiratory rate depends on the degree of load. A cat breathes most calmly during sleep.
• Nervous shock. Experiencing excitement, fear, rage and excitement, the cat begins to breathe noisily. Breathing may be accompanied by wheezing. This is a short-term condition. It goes away after the source of stress disappears.
• Bearing offspring, feeding young and sexual desire. In all these situations, the cat's breathing quickens.
• Overheating. An overheated pet inhales air not through its nose, but through its mouth. He does it hard, with a whistle. The cat instinctively tries to spread out his whole body on the floor in the coolest room, usually on the tiles in the bathroom.

Among the pathological reasons that a pet is breathing loudly are:

• Swelling of the larynx. This pathological phenomenon most often occurs against the background of an allergic reaction or foreign objects entering the respiratory system.
• Asthma. The symptoms of this disease are difficult to ignore. It is characterized by attacks of suffocation not only at night, but also during the daytime.
• Formation of stones in the organs of the urinary system. In the presence of stones, breathing is often accompanied by wheezing.
• Helminthic infestations. Worms can affect any organs, including the respiratory organs, leading to disruption of their functioning as a result of blockage.
• Inflammation of the lungs and bronchi.
• Inflammatory process in the mucous membranes of the nose.

• Respiratory diseases.
• Heart failure. In this state, the animal not only breathes poorly, but also coughs. Blueness of the mucous membranes is also noted.
• Obesity. Excess body weight leads to increased stress on all organs, including the heart muscle. The chain of pathological reactions gradually results in such phenomena as heavy breathing and snoring.
• Injuries to the chest, spine, ribs. If the animal sticks out its tongue, it is breathing shallowly, it is trying to inhale more air, as if it is suffocating, most likely, breathing is causing it pain.

Reasons for changes in respiratory rate in cats

1. Physiological reasons - a natural reaction of the body, which is the norm. It can be caused by:

- physical activity. In healthy animals, respiratory rate depends mainly on the level of physical activity. The calmest breathing in cats is during sleep;

- stress. When nervous, angry, or excited, the cat's breathing quickens. For example, while traveling in a car, when moving to a new place, during various medical procedures. This is a short-term phenomenon and goes away as soon as the source of stress disappears. In pregnant, giving birth, lactating and estrus cats, breathing also often noticeably increases, but this is not a cause for concern, since this is a normal reaction of the body to additional stress;

- overheating or hypothermia. When overheated, a cat breathes through its mouth, often and heavily. He tries to spread out his whole body on the coolest surface in the house - tiles, linoleum or under the bathtub. If the temperature in the room is too high, wet a towel with cold water and wrap it around your pet, or simply wet his ears and underbelly, and make sure he drinks enough. When hypothermia occurs, on the contrary, breathing is barely noticeable, the pet curls up into a ball, and the fur stands on end for better thermal insulation. In this case, wrap him in a warm blanket.

2. Pathological causes - caused by various diseases or abnormalities. Among them:

- injuries to the chest, spine and ribs. If your cat sticks out his tongue and breathes frequently, taking small, shallow breaths, then breathing may be causing him pain. He may try to hide away from everyone, walk carefully, as if his movements are constrained, and eat poorly. In this case, the animal must be carefully examined. If there are wounds, torn hair, or some areas of the body are extremely painful when touched, take him to the vet immediately;

- foreign body in the throat or nose. Look into the cat's throat. If you notice an object stuck in your larynx and making it difficult to breathe, try to remove it. If it doesn’t work the first time, go to the clinic immediately, otherwise repeated attempts can only push it deeper. If the cat wheezes when breathing through the nose, or a whistle is heard, then it seems that a foreign body is stuck in the nasal passage;

- deterioration of health due to the development of various diseases and pathologies. In such cases, a change in breathing rate is accompanied by other alarming symptoms - an increase or decrease in the cat’s body temperature, signs of dehydration, vomiting, coughing, discharge from the eyes and nose. Wheezing in the chest is a symptom of stagnation of fluid or mucus, which occurs with pneumonia or heart disease. When a cat breathes with his tongue hanging out, it is possible that the nasopharyngeal mucosa is so inflamed that breathing through the nose is almost impossible.

Diagnostic methods

Treatment is prescribed only after identifying the underlying disease that led to the appearance of these symptoms. To determine the root cause, the veterinarian prescribes a series of diagnostic procedures for the four-legged patient.

To make a preliminary diagnosis and select diagnostic methods, the doctor resorts to the following methods:

• examination of the animal’s upper respiratory tract, mucous membranes, eyes;
• auscultation (listening) of the trachea, bronchi and lungs;
• analysis of data on the conditions of keeping and nutrition of a four-legged patient, information about previous diseases suffered by him, features of the onset of the present pathological process;
• comparison of the animal’s weight with the norm for a given breed and age.

After carrying out the initial diagnostic procedures, the veterinarian prescribes the following types of laboratory and instrumental studies to the four-legged patient:

• clinical, biochemical, virological and bacteriological blood analysis;
• stool examination;
• Ultrasound and electrocardiogram of the heart;
• rhinoscopy;
• bronchoscopy;
• X-ray of the chest organs.

You may also need to consult with specialists. If necessary, the animal is prescribed a dental, oncological and surgical examination. The listed diagnostic procedures are standard. Such procedures are prescribed depending on the clinical picture.

How to help your pet depending on the cause of sniffling and grunting?

After identifying the cause of these symptoms and making an accurate diagnosis, the veterinarian will develop a treatment plan. It requires an integrated approach. Therapy is aimed at improving the animal’s condition and relieving signs of the underlying disease. If a four-legged patient has a cough, antitussive drugs (Sinekod, Bronholitin) are used to eliminate it.

For dry cough, expectorant medications (ammonium chloride, Salbutamol) are indicated. When nasal congestion occurs, the nasal passages are washed with saline solution. To relieve inflammation, they resort to rinsing with chamomile decoction. When the listed remedies are powerless, it is recommended to instill any children's drops (Nazivin, Otrivin, Vibrocil).

The main treatment depends on the diagnosis:

• For helminthic infestations, a course of antihelminthic drugs (Milbemax, Stronghold) is indicated.
• When an allergy is diagnosed, its symptoms are relieved with antiallergic drugs (Suprastin, Tavegil). It is important to identify and eliminate the source of the allergic reaction, otherwise treatment will be useless, and attacks of this disease will appear again and again.
• For infectious diseases, antibiotics or antiviral agents are prescribed.
• Symptoms of heart failure are eliminated with the help of glycosides and potassium-containing medications.
• For injuries of the chest, spine, and ribs, immobilization, antibiotic therapy, and painkillers are indicated.

• For obesity, a diet is prescribed.
• Inflammatory diseases are treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and broad-spectrum antibiotics (Streptomycin, Erythromycin).
• When diagnosing asthma, glucocorticosteroids and bronchodilators are indicated.

Owners sometimes notice that their pet snores in his sleep, and when awake, his breathing seems labored, with hoarseness or wheezing. There are many reasons for this phenomenon, from the most harmless to the potentially fatal.

The structure of a cat's respiratory system is similar to that of a human. Between the nose and the lungs are the nasopharynx, bronchi and trachea. Breathing provides the entire body with oxygen and ventilation of the lungs from waste gases. If atypical sounds are observed during this process, it is necessary to show the animal to a veterinarian.

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Impaired respiratory functions can be caused by causes that are not directly related to diseases that have pulmonary pathogenesis (edema, fibrosis, pneumonia), but are no less dangerous for the pet’s life. Failure of gas exchange in the body can be caused by:

• brain and spinal cord injuries;
• an inflammatory process affecting the central nervous system;
• heart failure;
• foreign objects caught in the nasopharynx.

Associated symptoms of a serious illness will be changes in the animal’s behavior:

• passivity;
• loss of appetite;
• purulent or foamy discharge from the nose and mouth when breathing;
• pale blueness of the mucous membrane.

Contacting a veterinarian is mandatory and urgent.

Other reasons

When a kitten, cat or cat sniffles, but does not show signs of pain, behaves naturally, plays, and does not lose appetite, it is worth conducting an accessible examination of the animal:

1. 1. If the pet’s mucous membrane has a healthy pinkish color, the body does not lack oxygen.
2. 2. The absence of nasal discharge excludes colds.
3. 3. Light pressure along the entire length of the back will help determine the presence (absence) of areas of pain.

Hoarse breathing can be caused by a deviated nasal septum or obesity, which is no more dangerous for a cat than for a person.

If your pet is wheezing, scratching, or sneezing, the disorder may be caused by an allergic reaction. This condition develops in pets due to:

• household chemicals;
• synthetic materials (flooring, wall decoration);
• stern;
• mineral toilet filler.

In this case, it is necessary to isolate the animal from the allergen. Antihistamines can be used, but should not be overused.

In addition to the well-known sneezing, cats sometimes begin to snort, wrinkling their noses, and rubbing their faces with their paws. Of course, such uncharacteristic behavior often worries owners: why does the cat sneeze and snort through its nose? Is this normal, or should I still see a doctor? Let's try to answer these questions.

If the cat rarely performs such actions and generally feels well, then most likely nothing needs to be done. Perhaps the cat simply inhaled the dust and successfully got rid of it on her own. But if the condition worsens and becomes painful for the animal, action must be taken.

We wrote about the technique of rinsing the nose in the article “What to do at home if your cat sneezes?” - This is the only thing that can be done before being examined by a veterinarian. The procedure will help get rid of foreign particles in the nose.

If the reason lies in deeper inflammatory processes, serious examination and treatment cannot be avoided, which is why it is so important to see a doctor.

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From time to time, cats can catch a cold and experience quite serious respiratory (breathing) problems. If you notice breathing problems in your pet, it is very important to promptly contact your veterinarian so that he can find out the exact cause of the airway congestion and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Causes of sneezing in small pets

1. Simple, mild tickling or irritation of the nasal mucosa.
   This may be the most
   obvious cause of sneezing in domestic cats.
   A simple irritation in a cat's nose, such as dust or a mild chemical irritant, can cause a reflex sneeze. Remember the animated cat Tom, who sneezes whenever he inhales some pepper. This type of sneezing is not much different from scratching, tickling or itching. In such a situation, there is no need to worry.
2. Respiratory infections.
   Another common cause of sneezing is due to a respiratory infection, most often a viral or bacterial infection. It's true, our pets can catch colds too! Possible infections include: Herpes virus Calicivirus Chlamydial infections Bacterial infections such as mycoplasma Less common are fungal infections that can also cause frontal sinus disease, which often leads to a sore nose. Viral respiratory infections may be accompanied by a cough and, more often, excessive inflammation, redness, or discharge that accumulates in the eyes. In this case, the respiratory disease is complicated by conjunctivitis.
3. Chemical irritants to the nasal cavity.
   Sometimes toxic substances or chemical fumes associated with various solvents can cause inflammation of the linings of the nose and sinuses. Sneezing is the body's way of ridding itself of this irritation. Some cats may also be sensitive to inhaled tobacco smoke, perfumes, and various chemicals. Small pets are also susceptible to secondhand smoke.
4. Foreign bodies.
   Foreign objects in the nasal cavity, such as blades of grass or spiky spikelets, can penetrate the nasal cavity. Firstly, it is an irritation, and if the object is not removed from the nasal cavity during the sneezing process, there is a possibility of infection.
5. Dental diseases.
   Dental disease can also cause sneezing, especially when an infection develops in the area of ​​the roots of the teeth. Dental infections in cats can allow bacteria to colonize the sinuses, resulting in inflammation of the nasal cavity and subsequent sneezing by the animal.
6. Allergy to pollen.
   Allergies to pollen are much less common in cats than in people, but are not uncommon.
7. Intranasal vaccines.
   Vaccines that are designed to fight respiratory infections are given intranasally and often cause sneezing for several days after they are given. The sneezing usually lasts only a few days and goes away on its own without requiring any treatment.

If your cat sneezes only occasionally, treatment is usually not required. However, if your cat has other symptoms, such as nasal or eye discharge, blood or mucus in the nose, decreased activity, or loss of appetite, have your veterinarian examine your cat.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian—they are your best resource for ensuring the health and well-being of your pets.

Preventive actions

To prevent the listed diseases, one of the symptoms of which is sniffling and grunting in a pet, the following safety measures must be observed:

• Carry out vaccinations and deworming in a timely manner. Such measures will help avoid the development of infectious diseases and the appearance of parasites.
• If your pet has an allergy, eliminate its sources in the apartment and avoid the cat’s contact with allergens outside the home.
• Avoid overeating. Do not leave uneaten food in the bowl. If you gain excess weight, it is recommended to switch your pet to a low-calorie diet. Sterilized cats and neutered cats must be fed special food.
• Avoid hypothermia and overheating of the pet and drafts.
• Increase the animal’s immunity through the regular use of vitamin and mineral complexes, agreed with the veterinarian.
• Conduct regular preventive veterinary examinations to promptly identify existing diseases.
• Start eliminating signs of pathologies immediately after they are identified.