My Cat Is A Little Hoarse

[Patsy33]

My cat , who is 13 going on 14, has been squeaking, instead of meowing, the last couple of weeks. Sometimes, he opens his mouth to communicate and nothing comes out. He's also been drinking lots of water. Have any of you that own a cat, experienced this with yours? I've got a appointment at Vets tomorrow.

[Hopkirk]

If it were a human I would say give it time, the body will deal with the problem itself.

[Sqad]

This is a vocal cord porblem.
Commonest cause is a virus......acute laryngitis.
Next comes a vocal cord paralysid which is usually no big deal, but occasionally may be.
Someone neesds to look at it's vocal cords......i.e the Vet tomorrow.

[Buenchico]

https://allaboutcats.com/laryngitis-in-cats

[Sqad]

Damn it...I forgot to insert a link.

[Meaghan27]

It may be Laryngitis caused by something caught in the throat or something that has scratched the throat and its hurting. Your Vet will thoroughly examine the throat and can make a tentative diagnosis based on the clinical signs and physical examination of your cat. A definitive diagnosis requires examination of the larynx with an endoscope; in cats, anesthesia is usually required during this procedure. Don't worry, if your cat is eating normally and acting normally it may be something minor.

[Patsy33]

Thank you all.
Will see what Vet says tomorrow.

[mjwman]

At 14 your cat is getting on a bit. Ours and previous ones have had similar symptoms coupled with lost weight and poor coat. Older cats very often suffer from an overactive thyroid gland.
it is now easily stabilised by a blood test and twice a day Thyronorm liquid squirted onto his food.
I am not saying it is that but it is very possible.

[Patsy33]

He is eating but not as much.
I wondered if it might be thyroid problems, he is a very large cat!

[Meaghan27]

If there are no signs of laryngitis the vet will do all appropriate tests so don't worry.

[Patsy33]

Thank you. :-)

[Hopkirk]

I'm surprised Sqad didn't advise ibuprofen.

[jno]

you may have to pony up a bit of money to fix this

[Hopkirk]

Hopefully it will be stable soon

[Canary42]

Perhaps he's lost the contract :-)

[Canary42]

^^^^^ was to Hopkirk

[Hopkirk]

I think he has shares, Canary.

[Patsy33]

Update:
Took my cat to Vet earlier. Couldn't see any obvious signs when he looked at his throat. Not even red/ sore looking. He was wheezy though. Didn't have a temperature, either. Vet gave him ( injected) steroid. Said it would last about 10 days. If there is no change, there will have to be further investigations, i.e. anesthetising him and looking down inside the throat. Hopefully, steroid will sort it out.
£63 for that little visit! Oh well, he's worth it. :-)

[Sqad]

Update appreciated.

[Barsel]

Hope that does the trick Patsy.

[Patsy33]

Yes, fingers crossed, Barsel :-)