Cat has lost it's ability to meow

My friend told me tonight that their cat can no longer meow. The cat had a definite pronounced meow and then seemingly overnight it happened. The cat lost it's voice. She opens her mouth but nothing comes out. Does anyone have any ideas about why this would happen.
The cat eats well and is not sick. Feel free to express opinions.

How odd. How old is the cat? I wonder if cats can get a form of laryngitis? I lost my voice once from a really bad cold. But if she's not sick at all, I have no idea what could be causing it. I would think trauma to the throat area would manifest in other ways, like not eating or drinking if swallowing is painful.

The cat is eleven or twelve, maybe more. I thought it odd too. As long as I have been a member here, I have never read anything on the forums here regarding this issue.

This so intrigued me I had to see what I could find HERE and elsewhere...

http://www.terrificpets.com/forum/51673.asp

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/184067/my-cat-lost-her-voice

Quite a range of reasons.