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Sore Throat In Cats - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

María Besteiros
By María Besteiros, Expert veterinary assistant and canine/feline hairdresser.. Updated: February 18, 2019
Sore Throat In Cats - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
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There are several causes of sore throat in cats and it is a caregiver’s responsibility to be able to identify if their cat has a sore throat and how to treat it correctly. But what are the common causes, symptoms and treatment of sore throat in cats? You may also be wondering how to tell if a cat has a sore throat? Is it cat flu or something else?

Sore throats in cats can be difficult to detect as changes are subtle. For more about identifying sore throat in cats and itscauses, symptoms and treatment, keep reading here at AnimalWised.

Contents
  1. Sore throat in cats: symptoms
  2. Sore throat in cats: causes
  3. Sore throat in cats: Rhinotracheitis (Cat flu)
  4. Sore throat in cats: throat cancer
  5. My cat has something stuck in its throat
  6. Sore throat in cats: irritation

Sore throat in cats: symptoms

When it comes to sore throat in cats, the most important thing is that you are able to identify it! Symptoms of sore throat in cats include:

  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Heaving
  • Choking
  • Constant swallowing
  • Hypersalivation
  • Neck extension
  • Aphony
  • Loss of appetite
  • Difficulty or pain when swallowing
  • Neglected mantle
  • Weight-loss
  • Visible lumps in the throat
  • Swollen neck

It’s also important to understand that cats suffering from sore throats often lose appetite due to the fact that swallowing causes them pain, therefore, they choose to avoid it completely.

For more, we recommend reading our article where we look at why my cat keeps making choking noises.

Sore throat in cats: causes

There are several pathologies which can be responsible for sore throat in cats. Sore throats in cats can be caused by:

  • Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis.
  • Tumors in cats.
  • Foreign body in cat’s throat.
  • Throat irritation or allergy in cats.

For more about each and sore throat in cats treatment, keep reading below.

Sore throat in cats: Rhinotracheitis (Cat flu)

Rhinotracheitis in cats is an upper respiratory and pulmonary infection which commonly targets kittens. Resulting in throat inflammation in cats, feline viral rhinotracheitis (Cat flu) is a common infection caused by the herpesviruses and caliciviruses. Rhinotracheitis consists of an inflammation of the trachea and the nasal cavity, resulting in symptoms such as ocular and nasal discharge, sneezing or sore throats in cats. This infection prevents cats from eating, causes a loss in sense of smell and results in pain when swallowing.

Rhinotracheitis requires immediate veterinary attention. If your cat stops eating, it can become dehydrated and as a consequence, die. In addition, if left untreated, eye damage caused by this infection can progress to ulceration and blindness. Cat throat infections caused by bacteria may appear secondarily to Rhinotracheitis.

Sore throat in cats treatment: cat flu

Rhinotracheitis treatment includes antibiotic and fluid therapy,specifically if the cat is already dehydrated. In addition, getting a cat to eat is the main goal. Therefore, we recommended that you offer your cat easy-to-swallow foods such as wet foods. Warming up this food a little can also help stimulate your cat’s sense of smell and its appetite. If this doesn’t work, your cat may need to be hospitalized. In addition, wipe away any evident mucus on your cat’s nose and eyes gently, helping to open these airways.

Rhinotracheitis is incredibly contagious and needs to be treated as soon as possible. For more, we recommend reading our article where we discuss everything you need to know about feline rhinotracheitis.

Sore throat in cats: throat cancer

Sore throat in cats can also appear due to tumors. Generally speaking, tumors are masses that grow rapidly and, if not treated, can result in death.

Throat cancer in cats can be treated but it needs to be diagnosed by a professional through a biopsy. A professional will be able to identify whether the tumor is benign or malignant, which is necessary information needed when coming to a correct prognosis.

Throat cancer in cats treatment

Unfortunately, pharyngeal tumors in cats are usually malignant. Surgery may be performed in order to remove the mass with the addition of radiotherapy or chemotherapy. For more, we recommend reading our article where we discuss cancer in cats.

Sore Throat In Cats - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment - Sore throat in cats: throat cancer

My cat has something stuck in its throat

Does your cat have something stuck in its throat? Another common cause of sore throat in cats is throat obstruction as a result of a foreign body stuck a cat’s throat. Although more common in dogs, cats can also ingest objects such as plant fragments, bone, splinters, threads, etc., that can get stuck in the throat.

If your cat seems uncomfortable, uneasy, coughs a lot, open or scratches its mouth, makes choking noises or shows difficulty breathing, you can suspect that it has swallowed a foreign body.

If you think your cat has something stuck in its throat, go to your veterinarian immediately! If there is a complete occlusion of air flow, your cat could die by asphyxia. Only a professional can remove the object with an endoscopy or surgery.

Sore throat in cats: irritation

Finally, there are some substances that can cause irritation in your cat’s throat. In some cases this irritation can be more severe than others. In general, eliminating this source of the irritation is sufficient. However, if your cat is suffering from throat irritation, it will be a veterinarian who will diagnose it accordingly and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Allergic reactions in cats can be avoided. Make sure your remove all toxic substances such as cleaning products or bleach, out of your cat’s reach. For more about allergies in cats, we recommend reading our following articles:

Sore Throat In Cats - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment - Sore throat in cats: irritation

This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to Sore Throat In Cats - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment, we recommend you visit our Other health problems category.

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Tom
Hi, helpful thank you. do you have any cat flu home remedies i could try use
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Sore Throat In Cats - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment