The cat snores heavily and grunts through its nose when breathing: causes, diagnosis and treatment

It can be concerning if your cat snores loudly or grunts while breathing through its nose. While some cats may snore on occasion without any problems, persistently loud breathing could indicate a problem.

There are a number of potential causes for your cat’s quiet breathing issues. It might be the result of something straightforward, like how they sleep, or it might point to an underlying health issue that requires care.

This post will discuss the most typical reasons for cats to snore loudly and grunt from their noses, how to make an accurate diagnosis, and the available treatments to make your pet’s breathing easier.

An underlying health problem may be indicated if your cat grunts while breathing and snores loudly. Allergies, respiratory infections, and even structural issues with the nasal passages are common causes. A comprehensive examination by a veterinarian can identify the issue, and treatment options may include medication, lifestyle changes, or, in certain situations, surgery. To protect your cat’s health, it’s critical to notice any changes in its breathing and to get medical assistance.

Why a cat can snore and grunt through its nose when breathing?

Cats frequently snort in addition to breathing. Physiological variables are typically the root causes of this phenomenon. The owner of the pet shouldn’t be concerned about such snorting.

You have to show the veterinarian the animal right away if it is grunting, breathing heavily, and snorting or whistling through its nose. Ignoring these pathologically-caused symptoms can have major repercussions, including the cat’s death.

Natural causes

These animals’ respiratory systems resemble human respiratory systems in structure. They can sigh, sniffle, grunt, and snore just like people do. This is usually the result of natural causes and shouldn’t raise any red flags. The snoring of a pet could be heard against the backdrop of:

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

See also: Reasons a cat, cat, or kitten breathes heavily or frequently, eats poorly, and has trouble walking

Pathological factors

The following are some pathological causes of a pet’s loud breathing:

• Laryngeal edema. This pathological phenomenon most often occurs against the background of an allergic reaction or the ingress of foreign objects into the respiratory system.
• Asthma. The symptoms of this disease are difficult to miss. It is characterized by attacks of suffocation not only at night, but also during the day.
• Formation of stones in the organs of the urinary system. In the presence of stones, breathing is often accompanied by wheezing.
• Helminthic invasions. Worms can affect any organs, including the respiratory system, 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 condition, the animal not only breathes poorly, but also coughs. Cyanosis of the mucous membranes is also noted.
• Obesity. Excess body weight leads to an increase in the load on all organs, including the heart muscle. A chain of pathological reactions gradually results in such a phenomenon as heavy breathing and snoring.
• Injuries to the organs of the chest, spine, ribs. If the animal sticks out its tongue, has shallow breathing, tries to inhale more air, as if suffocating, most likely, breathing causes it pain.

Symptoms that should alert you

Certain symptoms call for quick attention. In the event that a kitten or adult animal exhibits any of the following symptoms, you should show it right away:

• stuffy nose;
• constant sneezing;
• high body temperature;
• lethargy and apathy;
• ignoring food and drink;
• dry cough;
• itching and redness of the nose;
• enlarged lymph nodes;
• fetid discharge from the nasal sinuses of yellow, green or brown color;
• conjunctivitis;
• shortness of breath;
• cyanosis of the mucous membranes.

Diagnostic methods

Only after determining the underlying illness that caused these symptoms to manifest is a course of treatment recommended. The veterinarian gives the four-legged patient several diagnostic procedures to find the underlying cause.

The doctor uses the following techniques to determine diagnostic methods and reach a preliminary diagnosis:

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

Also read: Cat constipation: causes, symptoms, and home remedies for your furry friend.

The veterinarian recommends the following kinds of laboratory and instrumental studies for the patient with four legs after completing the initial diagnostic procedures:

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

It might also be necessary for you to speak with experts. The animal is prescribed to have a surgical, oncological, and dental examination, if needed. The diagnostic techniques on this list are common. These treatments are recommended based on the clinical picture.

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

The vet determines the cause of these symptoms, makes an accurate diagnosis, and then creates a plan of care. It calls for an all-encompassing strategy. The goals of therapy are to improve the animal’s health and halt the disease’s symptoms. Antitussive medications (Sinekod, Bronholitin) are used to treat a cough in the four-legged patient.

Salbutamol and ammonium chloride, two expectorant medications, are recommended for a dry cough. Saline is used to clean the nasal passages when there is congestion. Rinse with chamomile infusion to reduce inflammation. If none of the remedies on this list work, you can use any baby drops (Nazivin, Otrivin, Vibrocil).

The diagnosis determines the main course of treatment:

• In case of helminthic invasions, a course of antihelminthic drugs is indicated (Milbemax, Stronghold).
• 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 the treatment will be useless, and attacks of this disease will appear again and again.
• In case of infectious diseases, antibiotics or antiviral drugs are prescribed.
• Symptoms of heart failure are eliminated with the help of glycosides and potassium-containing drugs.
• For injuries to the chest, spine, and ribs, immobilization, antibiotic therapy, and painkillers are indicated.

• In case of obesity, a diet is prescribed.
• Inflammatory diseases are treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and broad-spectrum antibiotics (Streptomycin, Erythromycin).
• Glucocorticosteroids and bronchodilators are indicated when diagnosing asthma.

It is important to pay attention to your cat’s breathing patterns if it grunts or snores loudly. While some cats will always make noises while they sleep, loud or persistent snoring and grunting may indicate underlying medical problems.

Obesity, respiratory infections, and nasal obstructions are common causes, but more serious illnesses like asthma or even heart disease could be involved. It’s critical to keep a close eye on your cat and seek veterinary assistance for a proper diagnosis if the problem continues.

Many of these issues can be effectively managed with prompt diagnosis and treatment, allowing your cat to breathe easier and maintain good health. Keeping your pet in a healthy environment and taking regular trips to the vet can stop these problems from getting worse.

Video on the topic

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