Believe It Or Not – Cats Snore Too

A lot of people who have pets gladly allow them to sleep not only in their rooms but on their beds too. Interestingly, more cat owners are likely to allow their pets on the bed. At least seven percent of these cats are going to snore. Snoring cats normally have one of a very few reasons for their melodious nighttime sounds. One likely reason is the shape of the cat’s head. If the animal is one of the short faced breed, also called pushed in or flat faced, then snoring is almost guaranteed. Those beautiful  longhaired Persian cats with the pushed in faces, are definitely snorers. They suffer with the constriction problem because their nostrils are very small and the tissue vibrates when they breathe out. The Exotics is another breed with this same problem. They look like the Persians but they have short hair.

Another reason that can cause snoring for your cat is the possibility of allergies. There may be something in its surrounding that it is reacting to and so the nasal passages constrict and make breathing difficult. Obstructions of the nasal passages can be usually caused by an odd assortment of things. It is a known fact that animals love to dig at things when they are outside romping around the yard. At times, something can get into their noses and obstruct the nasal passage. This blockage could certainly cause a snoring sound. Normally, animals will dislodge these things themselves, perhaps even sneeze it out, but if they don’t, you should take the cat to the vet who will gently eliminate whatever is blocking the passageway.

In older cats, snoring can be caused by a more serious problem like tumors or nasal polyps, which will alter the airway. Often, the problem is just in one nostril. If it is not serious, a polyp can be removed. However, tumors are another story. A tumor in the nose is very difficult to cure. The nose is of intricate construction and surgery to try to rid a tumor is all but impossible. Radiation therapy is worth a try to slow the continuing tumor growth. Unfortunately, nasal tumors in cats do not respond positively to anti-cancer medications. This may be the one time that a snoring cat is an indication of something to worry about.

In a more positive note, most often, if your cat is lying at the end of your bed, or snuggling up nearer your pillow, snoring is actually a sign that the animal is completely relaxed. A cat will only allow itself to be in that condition if they have complete trust in the person they are with. So you see, that noise can, in fact, be a compliment.

Don’t know if it will make you feel better or not, but you should know that if even if your cat is snoring, and you find the sound somewhat disturbing, it likely does not bother them at all. They will be quite contented to sleep the night away completely oblivious to having woken you up.

Filed under: Snoring