Why Does My Cat Snore?

You’ve probably heard a small snore from your cats while they sleep. Let’s face it, while it is pretty cute, you may wonder why it happens.

 

Is it normal for cats to snore? The answer is both yes and no.

 

Here, we will dive into this, and you’ll have an answer to the question of why my cat snores. Sometimes it’s important to stop snoring in cats, and other times, it’s just how they are.

 

But, we’ll tell you of any warning signs as well, and when you should be worried so that you can take your cat to the vet.

 

 

Why does it Happen?

There are a few reasons why cats snore. Some are not worrisome, and some might be.

 

The top reasons why cats snore include the following:

• The way that their noses are shaped

• Restricted breathing

• Genetics

• Their weight

• Medical conditions

• Upper respiratory and inflammation of the nasal passages

• Polyps and tumors

As you can see, some of these are concerning, others not so much. What you should be worried about is if there are other signs that follow this, and we’ll tap into some of those other signs below.

 

 

Some Breeds Snore More than Others

Now, some breeds actually snore more than others, and that’s because of the following:

• They have flattened features

• Their bones in the face and nose are shorter

• They have an elongated soft palate that blocks the windpipe entrance

• Their upper airways become convoluted when they snore

 

If you have a Persian cat, for example, chances are you’ll hear them snore. That’s because the vibration and snoring sound is common in this breed.

 

They have shorter features and it can make an audible sound even when awake.

 

This is kind of like in bulldogs, which make a bit of a raspy, vibrating sound, but it’s definitely not as pronounced, and not as common in cats.

 

However, if you do have this breed, you should make sure that they are seeing the vet regularly so that they don’t have any further respiratory issues that can be a problem.

 

 

Sleeping Funny

Some cats sleep funny, just like humans. If you notice your cat snoring while sleeping awkwardly, chances are that’s not something that should be concerning, and they’ll figure out the best way to fix it themselves.

 

Some Symptoms of a cat snoring because they sleep funny are as follows:

• You hear it once or twice

• They typically only do it for a moment as they adjust themselves

• Sometimes they may twitch a little bit, or jerk their feet and facial muscles

• They are relaxed, but will suddenly pull themselves awake if they’re in an awkward position

• It is always a light sound, and it doesn’t actually get progressively louder at the time

So yes, cat snoring is often normal if they sleep funny. Just like with humans, cats can sleep in strange positions, so it’s definitely worth it to make sure you rule out this possibility.

 

If you see it, you may be tempted to move them to the rightful position. Unless it’s creating a health hazard, you usually don’t have to do that, and typically they’ll figure out how to get back to their normal sleeping position after a moment.

 

 

Your Cat is Fat

 

 

Usually, they snore because the following happens: Your cat might just be fat. Fat cats tend to have more weight on their body which can cause them to snore.

• If they sleep funny, it puts more pressure on the nasal passages

• They could temporarily be blocked

• They could then make a snoring sound

Fat cats may be cute, but a cat being overweight isn’t usually a healthy sign. It can also be a sign of other issues that can come, such as the following:

• Heart trouble

• Breathing trouble

• Feline Diabetes

You don’t want to subject your cat to that. If your cat has a few extra pounds here and there, but is not necessarily drastically overweight, you can work with them to slowly get the weight off.

 

But, if they are vastly overweight, you need to take it upon yourself to take care of them and help them lose weight. How you do that involves the following:

• Get them more exercise

• Limit their food

• Stop any food stealing they might be doing

• Don’t give them as many treats

• Don’t feel them as much human food

• Give them kitty food which is healthier for them

 

Being overweight, just like in humans, can cause snoring in cats. While it is cute, you should probably make sure that they are losing that weight over time, since it can be an issue.

 

 

When You Should be worried

There are a few instances where you should be worried, and it’s important that as an owner, you watch for these.

 

You should see the vet if you notice your cat exhibiting the following along with snoring:

• A lack of appetite

• A lethargic feeling

• Your cat’s behavior drastically changing, maybe being meaner all of a sudden

• Snorting air, coughing, or breathing with their mouth open, creating a panting sound

• Discharge from the eyes, nose, or sores on the nose, often a sign of a respiratory infection

• Sitting with the neck extended and breathing rapidly, a sign of labored breathing

If you notice any of these, it can range from small infections to major issues, so you should always check with your vet if you see strange behavior.

 

Often, if you see the vet right away, they can help determine the cause behind what is going on, so that you can prevent the worst from happening.

 

 

Medical conditions

There are a few medical conditions that you should worry about when it comes to snoring. The two most major ones are as follows:

• Upper respiratory infections

• Chronic nasal inflammation often called rhinitis

 

Often, these have the symptoms of wheezing, sputtering, or it is hard for them to breathe.

If you notice any discharges, you should definitely make sure you take them to the vet.

 

There are also a couple of symptoms that, if you notice your cat snoring and they show this, you need to see the vet right away.

They are:

• Painful breathing

• Swollen areas of the face, especially the mouth

That is a sign of a dental abscess, which is very painful, and typically happens in the tooth root. If you do notice this, bring your cat to the vet right away, and it needs medical intervention immediately.

 

However, even with all of this, I do suggest seeing the vet at least once a year for cats, so that they can help with the following:

• Checking the cat’s health

• Checking their weight, and any other health issues

• Looking for any predisposing conditions

• Handling any health issues

• Preventative care so that the cat doesn’t suffer from anything worse

Seeing your vet is very important, and often, it can prevent many of these different medical conditions.

 

 

Polyps and Tumors

This is another reason why your cat might be snoring. They may have a tumor that is blocking the nasal passages.

 

Cancers that can cause this include the following:

• Lymphoma

• Fibrosarcoma

• Adenocarcinoma

• Benign polyps

Obviously, this is a very serious health concern, so you should always bring your cat to the vet, and chances are they may need to go to the animal hospital if it’s severe.

 

In the case of benign tumors, these can block the nasal passages, and cause them to snore. Again, it won’t kill them, but it can make breathing very hard, and they may end up snoring as a result of this, so it is best if you make sure that if they have this, they get help.

 

 

Sometimes it’s Foreign Objects

Yes, sometimes cats will get foreign objects stuck in their nasal passages. There are a couple of particles that in particular get stuck, and they are the following:

• Dust Particles

• blades of grass

• Pollen

 

This, when it gets in a cat’s nose, can actually make them snore. But, there are a couple of other things that can happen as well, and they are:

• Coughing

• Agitation

• Occasionally sinus infections if they can’t get it out

If you notice your cat is struggling to get the particle out of its nose, help them out. If they go outside, make sure that they aren’t sleeping or pushing their head into places where they can get a blade of grass up their nose.

 

That just doesn’t sound fun, and chances are, if you don’t like that, your little feline friend won’t be too keen on having this happen to them either.

 

 

How to Stop Snoring

So there are a few ways that you can stop snoring in cats, and it’s important that you do take the time to alleviate the issue for your cat.

 

When it comes to polyps a tumor, or foreign objects, you do the following:

• See if you can help remove the foreign object if it’s just a blade of grass stuck in the nose

• If you can’t, see the vet

• If it’s tumors or a polyp, your vet may refer you to a specialist to help with treatment

• If it is cancer, you may need to take further steps

 

If your cat is fat, usually just losing weight is the solution. Getting them the right amount of exercise, and not overeating can be helpful.

 

Some ways you can help your cat get exercise are as follows:

• Take them outside supervised and on a leash

• Get them a laser pointer and use that to get them to run around

• Get them catnip toys if that’s what they like

• If they’re stressed out and need to release energy, get them a scratching post

Finally, if you have your cat snoring for non-medical reasons, there are a few things that you can do to help them out. They are the following:

• Give them ample places to sleep

• Make sure they see the vet get any help

• If the air is dry, get them a humidifier

• Don’t let them sleep in very dry surroundings that can irritate the nasal passages

• Give them a good place for them to sleep that isn’t constricting

• If you do sleep with the kitty, always make sure you’re not pushing your weight on them, for it could stifle them and make it hard to breathe

 

These are all pretty simple solutions, and you should make sure that you use them.

 

Really, there is nothing to be concerned about if you hear a snore or two and the following is there:

• Your cat is playful

• Your cat is happy

• Your cat is at least somewhat nice to you

• They have a healthy appetite

 

If you notice any of these, then chances are, snoring isn’t something to be concerned with. If anything, if you notice that and your cat is fine, consider it a quirk more than anything else.

 

 

Some Snore Like Us!

 

Cats indeed do snore like us sometimes, and usually, if there aren’t any serious medical concerns or changes in behavior, then don’t worry about it. Cats are pretty strange, so if they do something strange and nothing is wrong then it isn’t anything to worry about.

 

Cats sleep a lot, and they sleep in many different places. If you notice that they are snoring from time to time, it’s really nothing to be concerned with.

 

However, if you ever notice that cats are acting funny for some reason, and you notice them snoring on occasion, or maybe a lot more, then it’s time to step in and get them help.