TL;DR: Increasing cat snoring is typically not an emergency if your cat is breathing normally while awake, but it should be evaluated by a vet to rule out airway obstructions. Recording a video of your cat snoring can help your veterinarian accurately diagnose the underlying cause.
What causes loud snoring in cats and what does it mean?
Snoring in cats occurs when the tissues in the upper airway—such as the nose, back of the throat, or soft palate—vibrate as the cat breathes during sleep. While some cats have always snored, a change where the snoring becomes progressively louder often indicates an narrowing or obstruction in the airway. This can be caused by various factors including weight gain, nasal polyps, allergies, or even feline respiratory infections.
Is my cat's loud snoring a medical emergency?
The urgency level for a cat whose snoring has slowly increased in volume is generally Low if they are behaving normally. You should manage the situation based on the following symptoms:
- Non-emergency: If your cat is eating well and breathing comfortably while awake, schedule a routine appointment to identify the underlying cause.
- Emergency: Seek immediate care if the snoring is accompanied by gasping, open-mouth breathing, or blue-tinged gums.
Why should I record a video of my cat snoring for the veterinarian?
Because cats often behave differently at the vet's office than they do at home, providing a video of the snoring episode is one of the most helpful tools you can offer. A video helps in the following ways:
- Allows the veterinarian to hear the specific pitch of the snore.
- Enables the observation of your cat's sleeping posture and chest wall movement.
- Provides visual and auditory evidence to help the vet differentiate between simple snoring and more serious obstructive sleep apnea or upper respiratory distress.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Respiratory stertor, indicative of narrowed nasal passages due to inflamed mucosa, glandular elements, or secretions, may manifest as loud snoring. An acute unilateral nasal discharge, potentially accompanied by pawing at the face, can suggest a foreign body. Chronic nasal discharge, initially unilateral but becoming bilateral or changing from mucopurulent to serosanguineous or hemorrhagic, may indicate neoplastic or mycotic disease. Cats presenting with loud snoring should be evaluated for nasal obstruction via physical examination, radiographic findings (especially CT), rhinoscopy, nasal biopsy, and deep nasal tissue culture to determine the underlying etiology.
Chapter: Respiratory, Infectious Diseases, Neoplasia, Fungal
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 1489)