Did you think you saw that your cat had hiccups, but you thought it was impossible? Well it is not: your cat may have hiccups. And yes, dogs also have hiccups.
As in humans, hiccups are caused by sharp contraction of the diaphragm, which causes it to force the lungs to expel the air at regular intervals.
As you well know, it is a involuntary movement and when it happens we just have to wait for it to happen to us. In the case of animals it is exactly the same!
What causes hiccups in cats?
There is usually several common causes that cause your cat to have hiccups.
- One of the most common is drink or eat food very quickly. In the same way, consume a lot of food at once It can also cause hiccups.
- The anxiety or the feline stress They can also make your cat hiccup.
- When a cat passes too cold It may happen that your diaphragm contracts involuntarily, which will cause you to hiccup. Remember to protect your pussy from the cold!
- When the hairballs They accumulate in the intestinal tract, they can also cause hiccups.
- Some diseases like hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism they can have as a secondary consequence the hiccups.
- The allergic reactions, depending on what causes them, they also cause hiccups sometimes.
Why does my cat have hiccups?
The inspiratory sound and the characteristic sensation of hiccups are the result of two natural organic phenomena that occur involuntarily. The basis of the hiccup (or its first part) happens from a involuntary movement of the diaphragm, which consists of a sharp and intermittent contraction. This involuntary contraction generates a temporary and very rapid closure of the epiglottis, which produces the characteristic sound “hip”.
Although the attacks of hiccups appear abruptly, without being able to identify a specific cause, the truth is that some behaviors can favor their development. In cats, the most frequent causes of hiccups They are:
- Eat or drink very quickly.
- Binge eating or excessive food consumption.
- Formation of hairballs in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Allergic reactions.
- Hyperactivity, anxiety, stress or excessive excitement.
- Metabolic disorders (such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism) that can lead to overexcitation, hyperactivity or increased stress.
- Exposure to cold can favor involuntary contraction of the diaphragm, causing hiccups in cats.
The first two causes cause the cat to have hiccups after eating, so if this is your case do not hesitate to observe it during mealtime to see if it effectively eats the food too quickly.
Prevent hiccups in cats
Yes, it's complicated, but knowing the causes, don't you think we can do something to avoid that little bit of discomfort to our felines?
If the cause is to eat or drink a lot and very fast, first, check that the amount of food of your pet is appropriate. Yes it is, you can ration it So you learn to eat slower.
Protect it from the cold, as we have said, it will be fundamental. Not only for avoiding hiccups, but for many other diseases!
And the hairballs? There are many tricks to help prevent them. Brush your cat To remove loose fur, give it some kind of food that helps your non-training wave catnip, it will make things much easier for you.
If you know what causes feline stress, help your cat live peacefully! Avoid loud noises, do not force him to leave his hiding place if he does not want to, inform visitors about how he should treat your cat, etc.
And if you notice that your cat has any allergies, Go immediately to the vet! This will prevent evils greater than hiccups.
What to do if my cat has hiccups?
As we mentioned, hiccups in cats are usually harmless and lasts a few seconds, since the body is prepared to naturally recover. Thus, normally it is best not to intervene and observe carefully to ensure that the pussy is recovering satisfactorily.
If we find that you have any difficulty recovering, or see that the cat always has hiccups, the ideal is go to the veterinary clinic. Occasionally, tutors may have difficulty differentiating the hiccups from the noise that the cat can produce when they have a foreign body stuck in their throat, so before using any homemade method, it is better to have the specialized attention of a vet.
However, it is essential that all guardians take some preventive measures to prevent their cats from experiencing a hiccups attack. Below, we summarize some basic tips to prevent your pussy from having hiccups.
What can I do if my cat has hiccups?
There is no treatment to remove hiccups at once. The only thing you can do when the hiccups in cats is wait for it to pass, being aware that no complications arise.
If you notice that the cat cannot breathe well, vomits or other serious symptoms, go to the veterinarian.
Also, if your cat has hiccups very often, although in the end it happens after a few seconds, it is better than consult with a professional, since it can be an allergy.
In the same way, it can happen that you confuse the sound of the hiccup with another that your cat produces if it stays something choked. If in doubt, you should also go to the veterinarian.
And don't you think that A good fright It can end your cat's hiccups! The only one that you will get scaring it is run away and get worse. Take care of your kitty!
Tips to prevent hiccups in cats
- Prevent water and food from being ingested very quickly: While the bad habit of eating very quickly is more common in dogs, cats can also hiccup for this reason. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to offer your food and water in higher containers, which reduce the risk of a binge by requiring more effort to reach the content inside. It is also important to establish a regular routine in feeding your cat, avoiding exposure to periods of prolonged fasting.
- Prevent the accumulation of hairballs in your gastrointestinal tract: although the hiccups are usually harmless, if it is associated with the difficulty of removing hairballs, it deserves special attention. The accumulation of hairballs in the cat's gastrointestinal tract can cause vomiting, constipation and other digestive discomfort. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the cat manages to expel the hairballs from its organism. In this sense, the catnip it usually helps him to purge himself, in addition to regularly brushing the cat's mantle to avoid excessive hair intake.
- Discard possible allergies: If you notice that your cat always has very intense hiccups or hiccups, it is advisable to consult your trusted veterinarian about cat allergy tests. In many cats, hiccups can be a symptom of allergies, so it is important to confirm if your cat has any allergies and identify which agent causes this hypersensitive reaction to establish a specific treatment or a hypoallergenic diet.
- Take care of the cold: cats are sensitive to cold and low temperatures can seriously harm their health, in addition to causing box ofhypothermia. If we want to avoid hiccups and take care of the health of our pussy, it is important not to expose it to the cold and pay close attention to the conditioning of our home.
- Provide a positive environment: Stress and negative feelings are very harmful to the health of our cats. Therefore, healthy breeding should include a positive environment in which the cat feels safe and finds the optimal conditions for its development.
- Offer adequate preventive medicine: Allergies and metabolic disorders can affect behavior and cause unfavorable moods in our pussy. To diagnose them early and prevent the worsening of their symptoms, it is essential to provide adequate preventive medicine to our cats, making visits to the veterinarian every 6 months and respecting their vaccination letter and periodic deworming.
Hypo in small or newborn cats>
As with adult cats, when baby cats have hiccups, in general, it is an involuntary response of the diaphragm after excessive intake of milk or after ingesting the milk with very intense and very fast. Thus, it is common to see newborn cats with hiccups, or small cats that begin to start in solid food or orphaned cats that must be bottle fed. However, if this cause has been ruled out and it is unknown why a small cat has hiccups, due to its young age, it is imperative to go to the veterinarian as soon as possible to find the reason.
This article is purely informative, at ExpertAnimal.com we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case he presents any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to hiccup my cat?, we recommend you go to our Other health problems section.
Why do cats have hiccups?
Unfortunately, to date, scientific researchers do not fully understand what causes hiccups, regardless of the species that suffers.
To be clear, researchers do understand the mechanism by which a hiccup occurs. When the diaphragm contracts sharply, the result is a hiccup.
But what scientists still do not understand is precisely what causes the diaphragm to contract.
Reasons for hiccups in cats
In both dogs and cats, veterinarians say there may be different causes of hiccups:
Immobilizing medications such as anesthesia.
Alteration of the central nervous system (neurological spasms, seizures, diaphragmatic flutter).
Anxiety or stress in cats.
Eat or chew fast.
Until science provides an accurate explanation, what we do know is that a setback occurs when the diaphragm contracts and the glottis (opening between the vocal cords) closes.
This sudden force of the contraction of the diaphragm pushes the air towards the closed vocal cords, which is what produces the sound of hiccups.
How does hiccups sound in cats?
Cat hiccups don't always sound like human hiccups. Some cat owners lor describe more as a "screech" sound than a hiccup sound.
It is important to listen carefully when your cat emits an unusual sound, If necessary, you can describe it as accurately as possible to your veterinarian.
If possible, try to get a video or audio recording of your cat making the hiccup sound for your veterinarian.
Hiccups in cats after eating
Sometimes, a kitten or an adult cat may begin to hiccup after eating.
The most likely cause is to swallow air along with the food. This is more common with kittens, especially when they are still breastfeeding, since the effort to breastfeed can sometimes attract extra air.
Another explanation could be that what your cat is eating causes a gas formation in the stomach. The presence of this gas is causing hiccups as the air tries to escape and exit through the mouth.
If your cat's hiccups become commonplace after eating, and changing the diet doesn't solve it, it's time to look for a deeper cause.
Your veterinarian may want to perform tests to rule out hairballs, allergies, respiratory problems, parasites, infections, etc.
Hippo in your cat when it purrs
It can be easy to assume that if your cat has hiccups while purring, the hiccups have been caused by purring. But in reality, purring and hiccups arise from different areas of the body.
Contrary to what is believed, Purring is not always a sound that cats make when they are happy. Sometimes nerves or fear can make them purr.
Be sure to write down anything that seems unusual that may be related to purring and hiccups. Even problems with the litter box, food or water.
Hypo in elderly cats
The aging process is generally not more comfortable for cats than for people. Your cat's immune system may become more susceptible to allergens and diseases.
In general, the reasons for hiccups in older cats do not differ from the reasons for hiccups in younger cats.
But because your cat is at a later stage of life, it is doubly important that your veterinarian Check the underlying potential causes that cause hiccups.
How to remove hiccups in a cat
As with all feline ailments, discovering how to get rid of hiccups in a cat depends on identifying the cause that causes it.
Try to write down the events that occurred before the hiccups began. Your notes can help your veterinarian solve the mystery so that your cat feels better.
For example, if your cat eats too fast and swallows too much air, invest in a slow feeding container to help reduce speed at mealtime.
Similarly, if the food you feed it with may be causing gas, it may be helpful to talk with your veterinarian about trying a diet with limited ingredients.
If your cat has hiccups while purring occasionally, remember that this may be indicative of stress or discomfort.. When in doubt, go to the veterinarian.
Hiccup in cats, what can we do to solve this situation in our pet.
First of all let's start knowing that it is actually hiccups in cats, this is an inspiratory sound that occurs due to sudden contraction, intermittent and involuntary of the diaphragm, this situation generates that the epiglottis is closed, which ends up producing the characteristic sound that is known as hiccups.
This usually starts without apparent reason and disappears after a few minutes, it affects the mininos of all ages, even newborns. Cats can present this situation thanks to eating or drinking too fast, which are usually one of the most common causes for the presence of hiccups in cats.
This does not imply in itself a problem, you can solve it with certain tips or tricks that we will share in this interesting article, so take note and solutions that annoying hiccup in cats, of your beloved pussycat.
2.- Food and drinks.
One of the main reasons why a cat can present a hiccup is due to the rapid intake of liquids and food, to prevent this type of situation, what you can do is place slightly elevated bowlsIn this way our little feline friend will have to make some effort to get his food and water, which will help to slow down the feeding process, reducing the possibility of presenting hiccups much more.
3.- The hairballs.
One of the reasons why hiccups can occur in cats is because of the hairballs they can eat. But as we mentioned earlier this not usually something serious In our pet, however, we can minimize the consumption of these balls, in this way it will not present hiccups.
4.- What to do in severe cases of hiccups in cats.
We must clarify that in some cases the hiccups in cats are due to an allergic reaction that the animal has suffered. The best when in doubt is to take the animal to the veterinarian immediately, in the same way if you consider that the noise it is producing, although it resembles or confuses with the hiccups, in many cases it can be produced by some foreign object stuck in its throat , or that he may be sick, so before a continued hiccup In the presence of pain, it is best to go to the specialist.
The health of our macota must be a priority for us for this reason it is important in the presence of some unusual symptoms or strange behavior in our pet go to the doctor immediately, remember that this is part of our responsibility.
Recommendations.
Many may not consider it important, but simply taking our cat or dog to the vet at least twice a year, not only saves us an amount considerable in medical treatments, but it helps us to keep our partner in a good state of health and in optimal conditions, although your pet does not like the idea of visiting the doctor, I assure you that this simple fact will be making him the best of the goods .
Remember that pets are part of our family, we must take care of them and love them, respect them and above all have them under a lot of responsibility, since they depend on us for many things, responsible ownership is extremely important. Adopt don't buy!
I hope you liked this article, I invite you to leave your comment and / or suggestion below and we will gladly take it into account, see you until a next post!
The causes of hiccups
Hiccups in dogs and cats may be due to different causes:
- The cold can cause hiccups, especially when animals are puppies, and even more so if they are small breeds in the case of dogs.
- If our dog or cat eats their food or drinks water quickly>
Home treatment of a puppy's hiccups
The trick of scaring a puppy with hiccups is not advisable. Remember that you may be in a moment of tension, nerves or stress and, in that situation, a scare would only aggravate your condition. The best way to remove a puppy's hiccups is to distract, pet and relax him.That way, you will relax and your breathing will be normal again.
What will happen to your puppy's hiccups? It is normal to stop having episodes of hiccups as your body develops and grows.
Does hiccups have advantages in dogs and cats?
The main advantage of hiccups in our pets is the release of gas in your stomach, along with the release of irritations, With the hiccups, our partner will return to his normal situation.
Another benefit of hiccups for dogs and cats is that a loss of temporary coordination between the nerves of the diaphragm is solved with it.
The reverse hiccup
When our pet has series of inhalations through your nose, continued, with noise and even difficulty, there may be reverse hiccups. The animal will try to free itself of mucus in its nose.
Although the cause of reverse hiccups in animals is not proven, it is most likely associated with respiratory disorders, sinusitis, etc. In any case, the visit to the veterinarian is mandatory.
Degree in Law by Castilla-La Mancha university. Master in Business, Investment and Finance (UNED). Freelance Writer and Writer. Specialist in Marketing. Degree in Nutrition. Degree in SEO and digital positioning.
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