Like us, cats can have hiccups. But if you have a cat that has hiccups, you might be concerned because it’s not a common thing among felines. In this article, I tell you all about this feline hiccup and how to react to it.
Cat with hiccups: Understanding hiccups
Most mammals can hiccup, which is a reflex from breathing and cannot be controlled. It is caused by the diaphragm and rib muscles contracting too quickly. This leads to spasms and hiccups appear during the vibration of the vocal cords that follows. Chat is more common in young cats
The causes and what to do
The causes of feline hiccups are multiple, here they are with the means to recognize them and above all how to react to them so that they stop having them, because it is not always a good sign, and sometimes it is quite the opposite. .
He rushes on the food
Cats love to eat, but some more than others, and cats that rush at the food and gobble it all up in seconds will end up hiccuping. This is the classic cause of hiccups, which will pass on its own.
However, do not allow your cat to gulp too quickly because eventually it will get fat and develop health problems. The best solution is to offer him a food puzzle that will force him to eat more slowly while stimulating himself.
Separate the bowls well if you have several animals because your cat may be afraid that there is nothing left and thus eat too quickly.
Finally, don’t forget that the cat must be fed regularly so that it does not have to eat in large quantities.
He drinks too fast
There too, the consequence is the hiccups but there is not much to do here because the water is not harmful if swallowed too quickly, and when he understands that it is useless to throw himself on it .
The only exception is if the cat is afraid there will be none left. There too, he must be the only one to drink from his bowl. The water must also be in a calm corner where he feels safe so that he is not afraid to take his water gently and calmly.
He has intestinal worms
These parasites will absorb all its nutrients and reproduce until they kill your cat. If your cat loses weight even after eating a lot and there are small white dots in his stool, go to the vet, there is no other way to get rid of them. One cat worm solution will sometimes be enough to eliminate them all.
You will also need to have him dewormed to avoid a recurrence, especially if he has access to the outside and has a fragile organism, very old or very young for example.
A hairball or foreign object
If your cat has ingested a hairball or has something stuck, hiccups are normal. If your cat is trying to vomit, he probably has something bothering him that he’s trying to expel, especially if he’s coughing or trying to vomit.
You can help him get better by giving him some catnip to purge himself. But if that’s not enough, take him to the vet because the hairball or object is probably stuck. Malt butter can help lubricate the area to help the hairball pass.
Avoid pulling on it if the ball is too attached because you could cause severe damage if it is attached to an organ, hence the interest of calling a veterinarian.
He is sick
In rare cases, it’s a sign of a cat’s illness and you’ll still need to have your cat taken to the vet if the hiccups happen all the time for no reason. Admittedly, this problem only affects very few cats, but old cats can be at risk. The problems are often neurological and mainly affect those over the age of 12.
Special cases
There are several special cases of cat hiccups, here are the main ones, how to recognize them and especially how to react if your cat has hiccups.
Cat that often has hiccups
If the hiccups are really persistent all day, it’s probably a problem with his body, a hairball or something stuck is often the cause. If the cat hiccups often but at the same times, he probably drank or ate too quickly.
Cat hiccups after eating
The answer is clear, he eats too quickly and will have to better manage his food intake, the food puzzle will be of great help here. Young cats sometimes binge a lot, especially after exerting themselves.
Cat hiccuping and coughing
In this case, it can be worms, a hairball or something stuck, try to see if there is something in his throat and act as said before.
When to see the vet?
The veterinarian should be consulted if absolutely nothing helps, your cat has frequent hiccups and there is no visible cause, especially if your cat has health problems or is over 12 years old, because a pathology could hide under there, like a neurological disease.
The veterinarian will be able to examine him and he will carry out additional examinations if necessary before providing you with an appropriate treatment.
Cat with hiccups: The final word
If your cat has hiccups, you can easily pinpoint the cause and take the right steps based on what is causing the problem. It’s usually something benign, but be careful all the same.