My Cat Has Lost Its Voice
A cat that opens its mouth to meow but makes no sound has usually lost its voice to inflammation. What causes it and when it needs looking at.
A cat that goes through the motions of meowing without producing sound has laryngitis: the voice box is inflamed and the vocal folds cannot vibrate properly. Occasionally the cause is something else entirely.
The usual cause
Upper respiratory infection. Cat flu, caused by herpesvirus or calicivirus, inflames the whole upper airway including the larynx. Loss of voice usually comes alongside sneezing, discharge from the eyes and nose, and reduced appetite.
The voice returns as the infection settles, typically within one to two weeks.
Other causes
Overuse. A cat that has called for days, an unspayed female in season, or a cat that spent a night calling at a closed door, can simply be hoarse.
Something lodged in the throat, most often a fishbone or a blade of grass. This tends to come with gagging, pawing at the mouth and drooling.
Inhaled irritants, such as smoke, aerosols or strong cleaning products.
A mass or polyp on or near the larynx. Less common, but this is why a voice that does not come back needs investigating.
Nerve damage affecting the larynx, which can also affect breathing.
What matters more than the voice
The voice itself is rarely the problem. What matters is whether the airway is working.
Watch the breathing. Noisy breathing, a harsh sound on breathing in, laboured effort, blue or grey gums, or a cat sitting with its neck extended: any of these mean the larynx is not just inflamed but obstructing, and that is an emergency.
Also watch whether the cat can swallow. A cat that cannot swallow its own saliva and is drooling needs to be seen the same day.
What to do at home
Keep the air humid. Sitting with the cat in a bathroom after a hot shower for ten minutes helps. Avoid smoke, aerosols and scented products. Offer soft, warmed food that is easy to swallow. Keep water available.
Do not give human cough or throat medication of any kind.
When to come in
If the voice has not returned within two weeks. If there is any change in breathing. If the cat cannot swallow, is drooling, or has stopped eating. If there is blood in the saliva. Or if the cat is a kitten or an older cat, where there is less margin.