5 Things to Know about the Tabby Cat
Just like men, our feline companions can be prone to hiccups. If you have noticed that your cat is making a sound that resembles hiccups, have no fear, this is a natural reflex that is usually not cause for concern as long as it remains occasional. .
That said, more frequent or painful attacks of hiccups may hide a more serious problem and warrant a visit to the vet. Let's take a look at the advice to apply in the event of a hiccup attack in your cat and what to understand.
Can cats get hiccups?
The answer is a simple yes. Like humans and many mammals, cats can hiccup. If this reflex usually appears at a young age and is more noticeable in kittens, adult cats are not spared. In fact, a cat can have hiccups at any point in their life.
What to do in case of a cat's hiccups? Is this worrying?
If you notice that your cat is having an attack of hiccups, you should remember to note some essential elements related to this reflex. These include details such as how often, when it happened, how long it lasted, and how severe the spasms were. This will help you determine if your cat appears to be in pain or exhausted when it occurs.
Note that hiccups are completely natural and a priori harmless for your cat. If it happens on a one-off or occasional basis, there's really nothing to worry about. All you can do is wait until the crisis subsides.
However, if you notice that your cat is having more frequent hiccups and the attacks are accompanied by painful spasms, then you have reason to be concerned. Such an attack of hiccups can reveal a more serious health problem. Hurry to see a veterinarian to see if this is nota symptom of a cat disease.
Where does hiccup come from in cats?
Several causes can be involved in the appearance of an attack of hiccups in your cat. The most common usually refer to:
- Tendency to overeating, especially if your cat is eating and drinking too much and too quickly.
- The presence of a foreign body in his body. It could be a ball of hair that he would have ingested while washing, for example.
- Localized irritation in the throat
- The presence of parasites and worms in his intestines
- Excitement and stress (case of nervous hiccups).
What exactly are hiccups?
Hiccups are a respiratory reflex characterized by an unusual sound that originates in sudden spasms of the diaphragm and respiratory muscles when the glottis is closed.
Following a sudden contraction of the diaphragm and the muscles of the ribs, a fine mass of air is propelled towards the larynx causing the vocal cords to vibrate and produce the typical sound of hiccups.
In humans as in cats, it is a spontaneous phenomenon which cannot be controlled and which even with these few leads to the discomfort being completely explained.
