Believe it or Not Cats Snore Too
Many of the people who have pets gladly allow them to sleep not only in their rooms but on their beds as well. Interestingly, more cat owners are likely to permit their pets on the bed. Of these cats at least seven percent of them are going to snore. Snoring cats usually have one of a very few reasons for their melodious nighttime sounds. One possible reason is the shape of the cat’s head. If the animal is one of the short faced, also called pushed in or flat faced, breeds then snoring is almost guaranteed. Persians, those beautiful longhaired cats with the pushed in faces, are definitely snorers, they suffer with the constriction problem because their nostrils are very tiny and the tissue vibrates when they breathe out. Another breed with this problem are called Exotics. They look the Persians but have short hair.
Another thing that can cause snoring for your cat is the possibility of allergies. There may be something in its environment that it is reacting to and so the nasal passages constrict and make breathing difficult. Obstructions of the nasal passages can be caused by an odd assortment of things. We all know how animals love to dig at things when they are outside romping around the yard. Sometimes something can get into their noses and block the nasal passage. This blockage could cause a snoring sound. Usually 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 remove whatever is blocking the passageway.
In older cats snoring can be caused by a more serious problem like nasal polyps or tumors, which will alter the airway. Often the problem is only in one nostril. If its not serious a polyp can be removed. But tumors are another story. A tumor in the nose is very difficult to treat. The nose is of intricate construction and surgery to try to remove a tumor is all but impossible. Radiation therapy is worth a try to slow the continuing growth. Unfortunately, nasal tumors in cats do not respond to anti-cancer medications. This may be the one time that a snoring cat is a sign 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 away it is actually a sign that the animal is completely relaxed. A cat will only allow itself to be in that state if they have complete trust in the person they are with. So you see, that noise can actually 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 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.
