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- Why does my cat have the hiccups?
- Cat with a hiccup - what to do?
- How to prevent hiccups in cats
- Hiccups in kittens
Possibly we all know how irritating a hiccup spell can be. Just like humans, our kitten can also be affected by these sudden and involuntary movements. although the hiccup in cats don't be so often, they don't feel a good feeling either.
In general, cats tend to recover quickly from hiccups, so in principle it is advisable not to intervene and let the body recover in a natural way. However, if we notice that the hiccups become very intense or the animal shows symptoms of discomfort or difficulty breathing, it may be important to help them to control this situation. We advise you to consult your trusted veterinarian if you notice that your cat has hiccups too often or too intensely. However, in this article by PeritoAnimal, we teach how to remove a cat's hiccups and, still, we give some tips to avoid this uncomfortable situation.
Why does my cat have the hiccups?
The inspiratory sound and characteristic hiccup feel are the result of two natural organic phenomena that occur involuntarily. The base of the hiccup (or its first part) happens from a involuntary movement of the diaphragm, which consists of a sudden and intermittent contraction. This involuntary contraction causes a temporary and very rapid closure of the epiglottis, which produces the characteristic sound of "hip’.
Although hiccups appear abruptly, without being able to identify a specific cause, the truth is that some behaviors can favor their development. in cats, the most frequent causes of hiccups are:
- Eating or drinking too fast.
- Binge or excessive consumption of food.
- Hairball formation in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Allergic reactions.
- Hyperactivity, anxiety, stress or excessive excitement.
- Metabolic disorders (such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism) that can lead to hyperexcitation, hyperactivity, or increased stress.
- Exposure to cold can promote involuntary contraction of the diaphragm, causing hiccups in cats.
The first two causes cause the cat to hiccup after eating, so if this is the case, don't hesitate to watch it during meals to see if it takes the food too quickly.
Cat with a hiccup - what to do?
As we've already mentioned, hiccups in cats are generally harmless and last for a few seconds, as the body is prepared to repair itself naturally. Therefore, it's usually better not to intervene and watch carefully to ensure the feline recovers satisfactorily.
If we notice that he has some difficulty recovering, or we see that the cat has hiccups very often, the ideal is go to the veterinary clinic. Occasionally, owners may have some difficulty distinguishing hiccups from the noises the cat can make from having a foreign body stuck in its throat, so before using any home methods, it's best to have the expert attention of a veterinarian.
However, it is essential that all owners take some preventative measures to prevent their cats from suffering a hiccup attack. Below, we've summarized some basic tips to keep your kitten from hiccup.
How to prevent hiccups in cats
- Prevent water and food from being swallowed quickly: although eating too fast is a more frequent bad habit in dogs, cats can also get hiccups for this reason. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to offer your food and water in larger containers, which reduces the risk of binge eating, requiring more effort to reach the internal contents. It is also important to establish a regular feeding routine for the cat, saving it from prolonged fasting periods.
- Prevent the accumulation of hairballs in your gastrointestinal tract: Despite being generally harmless, if hiccups are associated with difficulty removing hair, it deserves special attention. The accumulation of hairballs in the cat's gastrointestinal tract can cause vomiting, constipation, and other digestive discomforts. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the cat is able to expel the hairballs from its body. In this sense, catnip helps to purge, in addition to maintaining regular brushing of the cat's fur to prevent excessive ingestion of fur.
- Rule out possible allergies: If you notice that your cat has always had hiccups or has very intense hiccups, it is advisable to consult your trusted veterinarian about allergy testing for cats. In many kittens, hiccups can be a symptom of allergy, it is important to confirm that the cat has allergies and to identify which agent causes this sensitive reaction to establish a specific treatment or a hypoallergenic diet.
- take care of the cold: cats are sensitive to cold and low temperatures can seriously harm their health, in addition to causing hypothermia. If we want to avoid hiccups and take care of our furry friend's health, it's important not to expose to the cold and pay close attention to the conditioning of the house.
- Provide a positive environment: stress and negative feelings are very harmful to our little companion's health. Therefore, a healthy breeding must include a positive environment in which the cat feels safe and finds the ideal conditions for its development.
- Provide an appropriate preventive medicine: allergies and metabolic disturbances can affect behavior and cause unfavorable moods in our feline. To be diagnosed early and avoid worsening symptoms, it is essential to provide adequate preventive medicine to our little companion, visits to the veterinarian every 6 months and respect the periodic vaccination protocol, in addition to taking care of his deworming.
Hiccups in kittens
As with adult cats, in general, when kittens have hiccups it is due to an involuntary diaphragm response after excessive milk intake or after nursing very quickly and intensely. Therefore, it is common to see hiccups in newborn cats, or in small cats that start to eat solid food, or even in orphaned felines that must be bottle-fed. However, if these cases have been ruled out and it is not known why the small cat has hiccups due to its young age, it is imperative to go to the vet as soon as possible to find the cause.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.