Cat Hiccups and Leg Thrashing: Disease Signs?
Part 1: Is a Hissing Cat a Sign of Illness?
Answer: No. In most cases, a cat's purring is a completely normal behavior. This sound is actually a form of communication among felines and can even have healing properties for them. However, there are instances where a cat's purring might be a result of respiratory issues. But how does this happen? Let's first understand how cats produce their purring sounds:
Cats have a unique respiratory structure, consisting of the thyroid and cricoid cartilages in their throat. The throat cavity is divided into three parts: the upper part, known as the laryngeal vestibule, which has false vocal cords; the space between the false and true vocal cords; and the narrow cavity between the vocal cords and the cartilage rings. The purring sound is produced when the false vocal cords vibrate, creating a resonant sound as air passes through the throat cavity.
However, sometimes a cat's snoring might be due to a blockage in the nose, throat, jaw, or root of the tongue, restricting the free flow of air through the airways and causing the soft tissue in the throat to vibrate.
If you notice your cat breathing heavily with a rough sound, it's time to take notice. This could be a sign of respiratory diseases like a runny nose or nasal congestion, and you should take your pet to the vet promptly.
How to Distinguish:
1. Normal Purring Sounds:
When a cat is in a good mood or softly purring while asking for food, these sounds are normal. They are slightly different from snoring sounds, but they are all safe and healthy for the cat.
2. Purring Sounds That Require Attention:
If a cat continuously purrs with the sound sometimes starting and stopping, accompanied by coughing or sneezing, it's a sign for you to take action. This could indicate a respiratory disease in the cat, possibly caused by a runny nose or nasal congestion.
Part 2: Why Does My Cat Kick Its Legs While Sleeping?
Most cat owners are aware that cats may dream while sleeping and can suddenly twitch or kick their legs. Generally, these are normal behaviors. However, other factors, such as epilepsy, cannot be ruled out as causes of kicking. Feline epilepsy often occurs when the cat's brain's excitability threshold is lowest, which is why it is more likely to occur when the cat is calm, asleep, or just waking up. If the kicking is due to epilepsy, it is usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as loss of consciousness or vomiting. With careful observation, these symptoms are relatively easy to distinguish.
Dr. Oxygen Pet has introduced the behaviors of cats' purring and kicking, hoping to deepen pet owners' understanding of these behaviors, allowing for better differentiation in real life and the protection of your cat's health!
