TL;DR: If your cat is choking or pawing at their mouth, it is a high-urgency emergency requiring immediate veterinary care. Avoid putting your hands in their mouth to prevent injury, and if safe, capture a brief video to help the vet diagnose the cause.
What causes a cat to make choking sounds while pawing at their mouth?
- Acute distress often indicates a physical object is stuck in the oral cavity, the back of the throat, or caught on the tongue.
- Common culprits include string, sewing needles, small toy parts, or bone fragments.
- It may also be caused by a severe dental injury or an allergic reaction causing the throat to swell.
Is it an emergency if my cat is choking and pawing at their mouth?
- Yes, this is a High Urgency situation requiring immediate transport to the nearest emergency veterinary clinic.
- Immediate intervention is needed if your cat is struggling to breathe, has blue or purple gums, or is losing consciousness.
- Do not attempt to reach into the cat's mouth if they are panicking, as you may be bitten or accidentally push the object deeper into the airway.
How can a photo or video help the vet triage my choking cat?
- If safe, record a 5-10 second video to help the vet differentiate between respiratory issues (like feline asthma) and a physical obstruction.
- A clear photo of any visible object in the mouth helps the surgical team prepare for immediate removal before you arrive.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
If a cat is cyanotic and collapsed, especially with a history of pawing at the face, suspect an upper airway obstruction. Instruct the owner to perform a Heimlich maneuver or sudden chest compression to relieve the obstruction and then manually clear the airway. If the animal is unconscious and not breathing, instruct the owner to close the animal's mouth, place their lips over the animal's nostrils, and initially give 3-4 strong breaths, then continue at a rate of 10 breaths/min if spontaneous breathing does not resume.
Chapter: Emergency, General Principles
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 1659)