Voiceless Cat: Why Is My Cat Losing Its Voice?

A cat can be suddenly deprived of its voice so that its meows are inaudible. The cat becomes voiceless for various reasons requiring a consultation with the veterinarian. On the one hand, it is pointless to let this loss of voice and on the other hand the kitty must be treated as quickly as possible because, let’s face it, a cancer is sometimes the cause of this problem. Spotlight on the main causes of loss of voice in cats.

The Stress

The cat is an animal very sensitive to stress. The slightest disturbance in his environment is enough to cause him great anxiety. Gold, a stressed cat meows a lot and louder than in a normal situation, which ends up making him voiceless. You must avoid generating stress in the cat because it can also alter its immune system considerably and therefore make the animal much more vulnerable in terms of health.

It’s important to reassure the stressed cat, to take the time to play with him to relax him but also to cuddle him and to arrange a quiet corner for him that we spray with pheromones in spray, especially if we have just moved. This will help the kitty acclimatize to its new location. That way, he should get his voice back pretty quickly.

Inflammation Of The Larynx

We also talk about laryngitis. It may be due to one of the following situations:

• Cold,
• Smoke inhalation, and the causes are various: garden fire, barbecue, immediate proximity to smokers, use of an incense stick next to the cat…
• excess dust,
• An environmental allergen (pollen),
• The use of an aerosol by the master (dusting product, deodorant, insecticide spray, etc.).

The vocal cords of the cat are affected by these various phenomena.

Viral or bacterial infection

It is common for the cat to become speechless when it is caught a cold or if he develops the coryza (cat flu). In some cases, a bacterium is also involved. The larynx is then altered. Generally, depending on the viral or bacterial disease, the animal presents other symptoms in addition to the loss of voice, namely:

• • A rise in body temperature,

• • lethargy,

• • Canker sores,

• • A mouth ulcer,

• • keratitis,

• • conjunctivitis,

• • runny nose,

• • A bronchopulmonary disease,

• • cough,

• • breathing difficulties,

• • A loss of appetite that can even go as far as anorexia.

It is necessary to note the various symptoms observed, their age and their intensity, in order to share them with the veterinarian during the consultation which should not wait.

Non-Inflammatory Laryngeal Disease

A pathology sometimes at the origin of a simple hoarseness can also lead to aphonia in the cat unable then to produce the slightest sound. This type of localized damage is therefore a sign that should alert the cat’s owner because the cause may be seriousto know :

• • Paralysis in the larynx (laryngeal paralysis): most often, it is of traumatic origin. This can follow the wearing of a too tight collar, a bite by a congener or another animal, a neurological disease, a cervical problem. Sometimes laryngeal paralysis is seen after surgery.

• • There abnormal cell proliferation having no coordination with the surrounding tissue: we then speak of neoplasia. This is the case when the cat develops a lymphoma feline or even a thyroid cancer (carcinoma). These very serious pathologies can affect the larynx directly. The symptomatology varies according to the type of cancer and its location. But some signs are common to almost all malignant tumors, such as:
    • • loss of appetite,

     

    • • weight loss,

     

    • • Fever,

     

    • • apathy,

     

    • • Sometimes pain

     

    • • Vomitings,

     

    • • Diarrhea,

     

    • • An increase in lymph nodes,

     

    • • A mass noticeable on palpation…

     

These clinical signs must put the master of the cat on the way. Lymphoma and carcinoma are diseases that justify an emergency consultation. If they are not identified early enough by the veterinarian, the vital prognosis of the animal can be engaged.

I’ aphonia which designates the total absence of sounds must be distinguished from dysphonia, the latter designating any modification in the emission of sounds as in the case of hoarseness for example. But in either case, if things are not back to normal after 24 hours, it is absolutely necessary to take your cat to the veterinarian all the more if the kitty has other symptoms some of them leaving little room for doubt as to the pathology to be feared.