Can a heathy cat be a heavy breather/snorer?

xangela

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 20, 2010
Messages
4
Purraise
1
My newest cat is a fatty fatty fat fat, but otherwise healthy (according to his last check up, August 2009). He's 20+ lbs, and snores loudly. I've had cats who snore before, but never like this. He breathes really loudly too, not all the time, but enough that it causes me to worry.

Should I be worrying? Can a healthy cat just be a heavy breather? Could it be on account of his weight? I'd take him back to the vet, but I'd like to make sure it isn't a stupid question..

Thanks
 

luvmyparker

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 19, 2010
Messages
1,312
Purraise
64
Location
Nova Scotia
We have a snorer. However its not all the time and its not overly loud. It happens, but I don't think its overly common. Sounds like his weight might be contributing to it. If he is breathing really loudly, even when awake, I'd say take him to the vet and have him looked over...and consider putting your big boy on a diet. Being that overweight can cause more problems.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

xangela

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 20, 2010
Messages
4
Purraise
1
Thanks for the reply! We're working on the diet, but he's so finicky. He's lost weight since we adopted him, just taking longer than I'd hoped. My next stop on this forum was to read the nutrition questions and hopefully get some new information.
 

rad65

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 2, 2010
Messages
1,547
Purraise
52
My older cat Memphis is a louder breather, I used to worry as well. It mostly in the morning when it's loudest, with a nice whistle when he breathes in. He also snores sometimes. Since your cat is so fat, he has to exert a lot of energy to breathe, especially when sleeping, so snoring is to be expected. Snoring is also more common in heavier people, for the same reason.
 

kailie

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 20, 2010
Messages
9,025
Purraise
25
Location
New Brunswick, Canada
Osiris is a snorer, and he is also overweight, although not terribly so. He seems healthy otherwise, but yeah, we can hear him a mile away when he's sleeping.
 

luvmyparker

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 19, 2010
Messages
1,312
Purraise
64
Location
Nova Scotia
Originally Posted by xangela

Thanks for the reply! We're working on the diet, but he's so finicky. He's lost weight since we adopted him, just taking longer than I'd hoped. My next stop on this forum was to read the nutrition questions and hopefully get some new information.
Well you've come to the right place for all your kitty questions.

It is funny to hear cats snoring though! It definitely threw me off the first time I heard Sami do it.
 

my4llma

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 23, 2010
Messages
9,556
Purraise
247
If you notice he's breathing heavy you should call the vet, just to make sure it's not something like asthma.
 

kluchetta

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 5, 2005
Messages
11,023
Purraise
30
Location
Golden, Colorado
I have a snorer, and he's slightly heavy at 13.5 pounds, but he's also deaf. So I just don't think he knows, LOL.
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
This is likely normal... my proper wt little girl does ... But I do suggest discussing it with a vet... Breeds like persians are more likely ..
 

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
Originally Posted by kluchetta

I have a snorer, and he's slightly heavy at 13.5 pounds, but he's also deaf. So I just don't think he knows, LOL.
I don't think anyone, animal or human, knows that they're snoring when they're sound asleep.


When Sho was close to 4lbs overweight he snored. He sounded like a coffee pot peculating and was quite loud. That gradually went away as we got his weight down.

Do talk to the vet about the snoring, ask them to check out his heart too (and no, I don't mean just listen to it with a stethoscope) in case it's enlarged any from his weight and possible breathing issues that can go along with snoring.
 
Top