Considering that cats are usually pretty quiet animals, a hiccup from your cat could cause you to feel concerned. While we notice how often we hiccup, hearing a cat hiccup can be surprising and for new cat owners, concerning.
Just like hiccups in humans, cat hiccups are relatively harmless so long as they go away before too long. However, educating yourself about cat hiccups can help put your mind at ease the next time your cat begins hiccuping.
What Causes Hiccups in Cats?
As with humans, hiccups in cats can be caused by different reasons. Common reasons for cat hiccups include:
- Eating too fast. A lot of cat owners deal with cats that eat too quickly, and hiccuping can be a side effect of a cat scarfing down their meal too fast.
- Gastric issues. While usually benign, gastric issues or disturbances can cause hiccups in your cat. If your cat has a history of gastric issues, this could be the result of its hiccups.
- Sudden excitement. We’ve experienced this as humans, and cats experience it, too! Excitement can trigger hiccuping in your cat, so if you just came home from a trip or surprised your cat with a new toy, this could be the reason behind the hiccups.
- Stress. While not the most common cause for hiccups, stress could induce hiccuping in your cat.
- Changes in air. If you recently moved with your cat, or if the weather made a quick change, the changes in air pressure, humidity, and more could impact your cat’s respiratory system. This can result in hiccuping.
Should I worry if my cat hiccups?
In general, hiccuping in cats is perfectly safe and natural. If hiccups last for a long time, stretching 30 minutes or longer, it could be time to try and cure your cat’s hiccups. If hiccuping doesn’t stop after a full day, visit your vet. Also, if other changes in your cat’s health or behavior occur during a fit of hiccups, be sure to visit your vet as soon as possible.
What to do if Your Cat Hiccups
If your cat is hiccuping, then your best bet is to wait for the hiccups to pass. Don’t try to scare your cat, massage its chest, or get rid of the hiccups on your own. In many cases, you could end up doing much more harm than good.
What you should do is pay attention to your cat to make sure that there aren’t other adverse effects occurring alongside the hiccups. If your cat looks distressed, in pain, or is acting out of character, consider contacting your vet.
While you can’t do much during hiccups, you can always prevent future hiccups, especially if your cat is a fast eater. Puzzle eaters are great bowls that pace a cat’s eating to ensure they don’t eat too quickly.
In most cases, a cat’s hiccups pass relatively quickly, and things will be back to how they were in no time. Until then, assuming your cat is well, enjoy the cute sound of cat hiccups!
FAQs for Can Cats Get Hiccups
A cat’s hiccups sound just like a human’s, just much higher pitched. You’d be forgiven if you think they’re cute!
Vets cannot get rid of hiccups in cats. However, if there is something wrong with your cat and hiccups are a result, your vet can help with your cat’s health.
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