My Cat Breathes Weird When He Purrs?

Mamanyt1953

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This is a great thread @weezercat  and @Mamanyt1953.

I just had a thought about his being afraid of the tv and smell-tasting it.  You say your previous cat only died just recently, well, his scent markings may still be noticeable to Calvin's super sensitive nose.  Cats can become jealous about the tv, computers, and whatever else is drawing our attention away from them so they rub around them to claim them as their own.  Was your old cat neutered?  If he wasn't he might have sprayed on the tv for the same reason.  Even if he was neutered, he may have still sprayed because some cats can continue to spray sometimes.  Try cleaning your tv to see if wee Calvin becomes a bit braver.   In fact, your whole house will smell of your old cat to Calvin's nose, and it will take him a while to get used to it and over-scent it with his own unique smell. 
GOOD CATCH!  I hadn't even thought about that, but you may have just sussed out the issue.  It will take a bit before his scent takes over the space and it is totally "HIS."  
 
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weezercat

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It does make sense!! He has been spraying IN his litter even though he is neutered... no where else. I can't help but think it's because he smelled my ok cat! I need a new litter box for the guy.

Sometimes he purrs with his mouth a TINY bit open. Not the smell thingy. But when he gets in a play mood I feel like he "smells"?! Does that make sense!
 

Mamanyt1953

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Sounds like he's taking it all in, so to speak!  ALL cats have something quirky going on, and  you will get used to him and his quirks!  Meanwhile we're here to "talk you off the ledge," as it were!
 
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weezercat

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Bahahaha!!! I think I am always on the ledge :) My family and friends are beyond "annoyed" with me because I've been constantly obsessing!!!

Thank GOD for this website!!!!
 

Mamanyt1953

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That's what we're here for!  Nobody gets cat people like a buncha OTHER cat people!
 
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weezercat

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Guys! I think I figured at least ONE thing out.... he opens his mouth while purring and swallows because he has too much spit! He was SOOO happy after I came home from being away for 3 days that the little guy drooled. Then it all clicked in. That's why he swallows so much while purring and opens his mouth!!! :)

As for his gagging, burping, tummy rumbles and farting... I'm going to start giving him pumpkin! I bought some at the pet store... if it doesn't work I'll be switching him to science diet for sensitive stomach :)
 

IndyJones

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A word of caution Hills who makes science diet has a notoriously bad reputation for quality. I'm sure some of the others on here can tell you more about it. It actually was my vet who told me it was so bad.

Anyways from the sound of it your cat just has a bit of "engine knock" my Indy has a knock as well she sounds like a motorcycle or reving chainsaw when she really gets going.
 
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Brian007

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He might be "mouth-breathing" when he purrs instead of "nose-breathing", which would result in him swallowing air down his throat and into his tummy, instead of being breathed down his windpipe and into his lungs.  The air would then contribute to his stomach gases causing farting, tummy rumbles, and burping.  The gaging would be from too much saliva in his mouth when he purrs, which he swallows at the same time as he breathes, so that the saliva would go down his windpipe.

I think we're getting somewhere here! 

Pumpkin is a very good idea.

I'm happy you're home 
 
 

IndyJones

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He might be "mouth-breathing" when he purrs instead of "nose-breathing", which would result in him swallowing air down his throat and into his tummy, instead of being breathed down his windpipe and into his lungs.  The air would then contribute to his stomach gases causing farting, tummy rumbles, and burping.  The gaging would be from too much saliva in his mouth when he purrs, which he swallows at the same time as he breathes, so that the saliva would go down his windpipe.

I think we're getting somewhere here! 

Pumpkin is a very good idea.

I'm happy you're home :rub:  
Actually this explains a lot about Indy's revving two stroke sound I noticed she kind of keeps her mouth open to purr. Sometimes she does get a bit of air in her. She also gets herpes flare ups (vet checked) so she gets snotty when she's excited.
 
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Just when I thought I was back to normal!!!! [emoji]128546[/emoji][emoji]128546[/emoji] having ANOTHER PANIC over his purr!! He has been almost making his weird purr like this:


:(
 

IndyJones

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I didn't mean to panic you. Herpes isn't necessarily your cats problem. My vet says it's basically the feline equivalent of the common cold. I can't say if your cat has it or not.
 

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@IndyJones   Oh good, two birds with one stone.

I don't, of course, mean it's good that Indy might be breathing in her herpes snot.  I wonder if either cat has bad breath as too much mouth-breathing can cause that?

@weezercat   mouth-breathing and saliva build-up can result from allergies.  If he's allergic to something, then no matter how much you change his diet, it's not likely to cure his symptoms; unless he were allergic to his food, that is.  I say this as I have a post-nasal drip myself, caused by an acute allergy to life, either that, or dust and pollution.  It causes me to cough and I can also feel myself swallowing gunk.  I don't necessarily mouth-breath, however.  But, occasionally I suffer from bad breath, which I control through taking probiotics, as they help for some reason.  I'm painting such a pleasant picture of myself.  In any case, antihistamines and steroids allegedly treat the allergy, thus reducing the post-nasal drip, though they have failed to work for me (I am forced to take a cough suppressant when my nighttime coughing disturbs the neighbours).   Maybe at his next vet check you should mention all this to them.  And, perhaps add some probiotics to Calvin's food. 

 

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Mouth-breathing can also lead to sleep apnoea, which is when you stop breathing temporarily when you sleep.  This sounds way more dangerous than it actually is, so please don't panic.  Sleep apnoea is usually the worry of a partner or parent.  However, if normal breathing doesn't resume, then.....   I reckon that you should talk to a vet about all this   
  Calvin might just need some antihistamines, which are cheap and easy to administer.
 
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IndyJones

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Indy gets what I'd call morning breath after sleeping but it goes away after she's been awake for a while. She is only a kitten though.
 
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weezercat

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It's so weird how he purrs. It's like his mouth opens and closes. But he is acting fine. Playing. Running around. I'm so confused.
 
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weezercat

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I have noticed a LOT of videos of these cats with weird purrs... maybe it's just a weird thing some of them do?! :/
 

IndyJones

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I have noticed a LOT of videos of these cats with weird purrs... maybe it's just a weird thing some of them do?! :/
Yup it's just a quirk. Some just sound like a low speed fan and others like an airplane taking off. It's just part of them. My Indy sounds like a revving chainsaw and my Kabby despite his size sounds like desk fan.
 
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weezercat

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I have noticed him do it more often... could it be because he is more happy? It is a lot like this video.


I did a bit of a test to see if he would be able to breath without opening his mouth... I lightly held it closed and he had no issues. When he lays his head down on me he keeps his mouth closed. This is only when purring.
 

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Mayhap.  I don't watch much stuff, so haven't seen how common it is.  They may all have dust & pollution allergies, mind you.  You have to bear in mind that a cat's system isn't really set up to deal with all the crap that human habitation throws at them.  I reckon a whole heapload of cat complaints are caused by allergies.  Same same with humans too, people are developing allergies at a much greater rate than ever before.  

It never crossed my mind until just now, but a childhood cat, Scooter, was called so because he reminded my brother and me of the sound of the scooter bikes in the nearby annual scooter rally.  I suspect that he had dust/pollution allergies now.  Especially seeing as he died from anaphylactic shock, caused by we know not what.  But as anaphylaxis is brought about by an allergic reaction, we always assumed he may have been stung by a bee. 
 

Mamanyt1953

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Darlin, you just have a quirky cat.  Although that might be a redundancy, come to think of it!   I'd have to medicate you if you ever heard Hekitty snore.  It even rocked me back the first time I heard it, and I'm pretty bomb-proof!
 
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