My Cats Meow Is Weak And Raspy. When a cat meows in a very low and raspy voice it can be distressing. In some cases, it simply means they’ve been using their voice too much.
However, sometimes meowing in this manner can signify that the cat has laryngitis. Laryngitis is when the larynx or voice box becomes irritated or inflamed due to various causes like infection, blockage, or paralysis of the laryngeal nerve.
My Cats Meow Is Weak And Raspy
When your cat has a weak, raspy meow it’s not unheard of! Depending on why your cat is straining to vocalize its meows can mean different things. If you describe the situation as “my cat struggles to meow, and it does with a strained sound and raspiness that could be noticed in its voice,” then it’s time to figure out what might be going on. Maybe your cat’s vocalizing recently got out of hand and now they are hoarse.
Or maybe they have been dealing with an upper respiratory infection that is blocking their throat.
Overuse
The meow of a cat can sound rather raspy or tired due to overuse. When meowing at high volumes repeatedly, an animal’s vocal cords will become weakened and have trouble producing the same call-outs at terminally loud levels.
Such distress signals are typically only made when a feline is feeling in high need of attention and/or there is something seriously wrong with their surroundings.
Most pet owners know cats will only ‘meow’ to get the attention of people, so this activity can go on for a long time unless someone decides to listen.
Respiratory Infection
In some cases, cats may develop a hoarse voice. It is not uncommon for kittens to get a cold or an upper respiratory infection.
Remember that when it comes to these problems in people, many times it’s because of the common cold or another virus which can also be the case with kitten colds.
The most common cause of hoarse voice in your cat is due to an upper respiratory infection such as herpesvirus and calicivirus.
Nasopharyngeal Polyps
Although your cat may sound like he’s gargling water or has a bad cold, your cat might actually have nasopharyngeal polyps.
As his nasal passages swell, your cat’s voice goes hoarse as he attempts to expel this excess fluid. These polyps occur in the middle ear and are usually benign.
As your cat’s voice changes from difficult to understand to raspy, it will also change the tone and become lower in pitch.
This needs to be checked out by a vet because although they’re often seen through a normal oral exam, sometimes an x-ray is needed for a proper diagnosis of the cause of this symptom.
Foreign Body
Nasopharyngeal polyps are certainly not the only thing that can block up a cat’s throat. Cats just happen to be curious creatures that love exploring the world, and they often do so with their sense of smell and taste.
This means that occasionally a foreign body gets inhaled or swallowed whether it is a toy or otherwise, and gets lodged in the throat.
Some of the most common items that cats accidentally swallow are bits of string or other small items from your cat’s toys, which get stuck inside their throats as well as food items from dinners eaten too quickly and end up getting caught inside.
Final Thoughts
A cat’s hoarse voice, commonly known as laryngitis, can be caused by a variety of factors. A viral upper respiratory tract infection is one of them. You can provide canned kitten food to ensure that your kitten continues to eat properly; however, keep an eye out for any symptoms so that you can arrange an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible so that they can determine the definitive diagnosis and treatment plan.