TL;DR: Reverse sneezing is a common, harmless muscle spasm in a cat's throat that sounds like honking or choking. While usually not an emergency, recording a video of the event helps your vet rule out serious respiratory issues like asthma.
What is reverse sneezing in cats and what does it look like?
- Reverse sneezing, or paroxysmal respiration, occurs when a cat experiences a muscle spasm in the throat and soft palate.
- The cat rapidly pulls air in through the nose, resulting in a series of loud, rhythmic snorting or honking sounds.
- The behavior often involves an extended neck and tensed posture, which can look like the cat is gasping for air or choking.
Is reverse sneezing a medical emergency for my cat?
- Urgency Level: Low. In most cases, reverse sneezing is not a medical emergency and does not cause harm to the cat.
- Most cats return to their normal behavior immediately after the self-limiting episode ends.
- When to call a vet: Contact a professional if your cat has blue-tinged gums, difficulty breathing between episodes, or if the frequency of attacks increases.
How can recording a video of my cat's sneezing help with a diagnosis?
- Because episodes are intermittent, your cat is unlikely to perform the behavior during a physical exam at the clinic.
- Recording a video on your phone is the most effective tool for accurate veterinary triage.
- Seeing the posture and hearing the specific sounds allows a vet to differentiate harmless spasms from feline asthma, nasal polyps, or foreign objects in the airway.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
In cats, an aspiration reflex, also known as a reverse sneeze, is a short, paroxysmal episode of inspiratory effort aimed at clearing the nasopharynx of obstructing material. While sneezing is most frequent in acute rhinitis, reverse sneezing may also be observed. Acute rhinitis can present with nasal discharge, sneezing, pawing at the face, respiratory stertor, open-mouth breathing, and/or inspiratory dyspnea. Lacrimation and conjunctivitis often accompany inflammation of the upper respiratory passages. Veterinary care should be sought if the cat exhibits signs of respiratory distress, such as open-mouth breathing or inspiratory dyspnea, or if the reverse sneezing is frequent or accompanied by other clinical signs such as fever, depression, or anorexia.
Chapter: Respiratory
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 1489)