TL;DR: Stridor is a high-pitched breathing sound indicating a partially blocked airway and is a high-priority medical emergency. If your cat displays this symptom, seek immediate veterinary care to prevent life-threatening respiratory arrest.
What exactly is stridor in cats and why does it occur?
Stridor is a loud, high-pitched, harsh sound produced during inhalation. It occurs when the upper airway—specifically the larynx (voice box) or trachea (windpipe)—is partially obstructed or narrowed. This is distinct from a purr or a common cough and indicates that air is struggling to pass through a restricted space.
Should I treat stridor in my cat as a medical emergency?
- The urgency level for stridor is High; any sound indicating difficulty breathing is an immediate medical emergency.
- Stridor indicates a compromised airway that can lead to a total inability to breathe (respiratory arrest) very quickly.
- If you notice this sound, especially if accompanied by open-mouth breathing or blue-tinted gums, proceed to the nearest emergency veterinary clinic immediately.
How can taking a video of my cat’s breathing help with the triage process?
- Capturing a short video allows the veterinary team to observe the "respiratory effort"—how hard the chest and abdomen are working—and hear the specific pitch of the sound.
- This visual and auditory data helps the vet differentiate between upper and lower airway issues before they even touch your pet.
- Providing this information in advance allows the clinic to prepare life-saving oxygen or sedation treatments before your arrival.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
In cats presenting with a high-pitched inhaling noise (stridor), potential causes of large airway pathology include foreign bodies, edema, laryngeal paralysis or paresis, tracheal collapse, elongated soft palate, aspiration of stomach contents, neoplasia, and pharyngeal hematomas. A tentative diagnosis can be made based on clinical signs, auscultation of the laryngeal region, and exacerbation of stridor by palpation of the larynx, though definitive diagnosis requires laryngoscopy, typically under anesthesia or analgesia. If laryngeal obstruction is present, immediate intervention such as placement of a tracheotomy tube or passage of a pliable tube through the glottis is warranted. Corticosteroids may be administered to reduce obstructive inflammation.
Chapter: Respiratory, Emergency
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 1420)