Cat Snoring: Is It Normal?

It is certainly not a secret to anyone that cats like to sleep. Most owners will be accustomed to the sound of a cat softly snoring at the same time as cuddling up beside you on the couch. But then is it truly normal for your cat to snore? Read on to uncover the reasons why you cats might snore, and some of the cat health problems connected to snoring.

Cats Love to Sleep

Cats might be nature’s most energetic hunters, nonetheless, that will not stop them from sleeping on the couch all day long. Cats are able to catnap for as much as 20 hours every day, particularly when they are kittens. Adults cats doze all of the time too, especially when you are not around, and they can sleep for up to 16 hours every day. Even though your cat can sleep for hours, this does not suggest that their sleeping is out of the ordinary – cats just love to nap.

Often though cats are very active as they are sleeping too. It is believed that cats can dream although we cannot ask them about them. They can also snooze and yet still be ready and alert to the things going on around them. Cats are also able to fall into a tremendously deep sleep in the most painful-looking positions. Also, some cats will even snore as they sleep.

What is Cat Snoring?

Just like us, it has been recognized that cats have a sleep cycle and snoring will transpire in the deepest stage of the sleep cycle when their body is totally relaxed. When totally relaxed, a cat’s airways narrow triggering the neighboring soft tissues to begin to vibrate. These vibrations happen in the passageways sandwiched between the nose and throat, producing audible breathing or snoring. Snoring is perfectly normal in many cats and very common in specific breeds of cats. When a cat has a short-nose or a flat face like a Persian cat, then it is more usual that these cats will snore.

If a cat’s airways become blocked in any way this will also result in the vibrations that cause snoring. Light snoring is also of course normal for cats that are not flat-faced too. But, if the noises are increasing or they go together with disturbed breathing, then there might be larger problems at hand and your cat might have an undiagnosed health complaint.

You may also like our article on Cat Hammocks.

Explanations For Why Your Cat is Snoring

There are many reasons why your cat might be snoring, whether or not this is a new behavior or if it is a permanent norm, it is important for owners to consider the reasons behind why your cat snores and take action accordingly.

• Weight

At the same time as obesity is one of the most common causes for human snoring, this is also true for cats. When your cat is weighty, it will have a build-up of fatty tissues neighbouring the airways, which will generate snoring. Obesity will cause snoring in your cat, irrespective of their breed or even their age. These additional pounds add lots of stress on a cats’ nasal passageways. Consequently, their breathing as they sleep becomes so disturbed that air cannot flow appropriately through your cat’s delicate respiratory system. Overweight cats will obviously also have breathing difficulties when they are totally awake too affecting their ability to fully participate in fun daily activities. Put an overweight cat on a diet to stop the snoring.

• Cold

Even a simple cold or cough will cause your cat to have heavier than usual snores, but usually the accompanying snoring should only last as long as the sickness does. A good sign that your cat is ailing from a cold is a loss of appetite, lots of sneezing and they will probably be wanting to sleep more resulting in all that snoring. Just like people, the best thing to do is make them as comfortable as possible and simply wait it out.

• Obstructions

Cats are inquisitive and frequently impulsive by nature. When even small things that they pick up lodge themselves in your cat’s airway, they will probably begin to snore. When you suspect that this might have happened, consult a vet as they will need to get rid of the object. Surgery might even be compulsory to remove an object from the respiratory tract in your cat, but it is a fairly regular procedure in cats.  Regrettably, you cannot look after your cat 24 hours a day making it conceivable for your cat to be suffering from problems without you knowing if a foreign object gets stuck. Irrespective of how fussy your cat is about its food; it may have swallowed any other number of small objects during the course of the day. Foreign bodies put extra pressure on the nasal passageways and regularly result in snoring.

• Asthma

Asthma is a common source of snoring in cats as they clearly will already have issues with their breathing, and this continues as they sleep. If breathing is wheezy then it is best to get your cat a check-up at the vet. Often it is the only cause of your cats snoring and it will require medication to sort out the problem. Asthma is a condition that needs monitoring so keep a listen out for changes in your cats’ snores if they ae diagnosed with this condition

• Allergies

If snoring is a new thing, the cause could be related to your cat developing an allergy to something in their environment. The low-pitched snoring sound typically results from fluid build-up due to allergies interfering with the air flow through the nose.

• Infections

Symptoms of an infection consist of runny eyes or nose’s, breathlessness, coughing, wheezing, panting and snoring. Snoring happens because of congestion in your cats’ sinuses, yet this will be very remediable with antibiotics from your vet. Viral and bacterial infections easily cause most respiratory problems. If your cat is in misery due to some sort of infection, then there will certainly be additional tell-tale indications apart from just the sudden onset of snoring. When your cat has further respiratory difficulties when they are awake, then you must instantly check with a vet.

• Strange sleeping position

As is the case with us humans, cats will every so often snore when they are sleeping in a strange position or on a scratchy pillow. In spite of your cat’s bed being all cosy, the way in which your cat is lying in it may be the cause of hitches with their breathing which is leading to the snoring. Your cat’s body is desirably supple, and cats repeatedly sleep in some of the most implausible positions. If your cats positioning is the real reason for the snoring, then you will see it directly, as the snoring will not carry on as they shift position.

• Polyps and Growths

An alternative kind of health-related issue that may result in your cat snoring are growths. These can be equally both benign or, something more serious. Polyps and tumors along with other categories of growths can occur in your cat’s respiratory system and this can start to block their airflow. Accordingly, your cat will certainly have trouble breathing as they sleep.

Action to Take When a Cat Snores

If your cat’s snoring is slight and only happens now and then, there is really no reason to be alarmed. Though, if your cat has started snoring suddenly or it sounds raw, then you should see your vet. When your cat is suffering other problems then these are clear indicators that there could be something wide of the mark happening with your cat’s health.

Where you have a short-nosed cat, ensure that you get them regularly inspected by a vet who will need to make certain that the structure of their head as they grow is not troubling usual breathing.

Where your cat’s snoring is a new change, but it does not appear to be getting as worse, then it is more than possible that the cause of the snoring is only minor, like a newly emerging allergy to their surrounding environment. Have a look round to check if anything that you have recently bought into your home could be responsible for your cats snoring. Also try using air conditioning or a humidifier next to your cat’s bed which will clean and dampen the air that they breathe as they sleep. For more options, check out our detailed reviews of cat beds and heated cat beds.

Clearly, you must act quickly and must be very alert if your cat seems to be in pain when snoring, is finding it impossible to breath, if your cat is gasping for air, or is when they are simple breathing more quickly than normal. When this happens, turn to your vet immediately.

As soon as your vet has ruled out a health complaint, then you should simply love all of the cuteness that your cat brings into your life. When your cat gets carried away as they sleep and participates in the odd gentle snore, enjoy the sound of having them around. Calm snores can be one of the paybacks of owning a devoted a cat.