Over the last week one of my cats has gradually been losing his meow, he has got more and more croaky he is a very audible lad especially at feeding time and this morning he meowed at me but its completely disappeared now

I inspected the inside of his mouth and there are no obvious signs of discolouration or inflammation and his appetite is, as always, healthy.

It doesn't appear to have caused him any distress; but I am wondering if I should get him checked out and maybe some anti-biotics will be the answer?

Only thing is the journey to the Vets WILL stress him out more and my A/C has packed up and cannot be fixed until next week.

What has your non funtioning a/c got to do with your cat's mutism? We had a lovely cat that we adopted when she was 12, no teeth and no miaow, her voice loss was due to age apparently. If he isn't distressed then leave it until you can manage to get him to the vet with minimum discomfort.

RIP Tracey the mute pussycat

From: Cat's owners Home Veterinary Handbook by Delbert G. Carlson, D.V.M and Kames M. Giffin, M.D.:

Loss of voice (Laryngitis)

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the voice box. Signs include hoarseness and loss of voice. Most common causes: excessive meowing and chronic cough. Both produce vocal cord strain.

Laryngitis can be associated with tonsilitis, throat infections, tracheobronchitis, pneumonia, inhalant alergies, and (rarely) tumors. ...

Treatment: if excessive meowing is the cause remove the cause of the cat's anxiety or disstress. In all other cases go to the vet!

So maybe better to have it checked out by a veterinarian.

Nienke

Edited June 9, 200719 yr by Nienke

the loss of a/c was a grammatical thing no? he cant travel in a car w/o the air condi. working or his cat will be even more stressed out????.......

the loss of a/c was a grammatical thing no? he cant travel in a car w/o the air condi. working or his cat will be even more stressed out????.......

correct

From: Cat's owners Home Veterinary Handbook by Delbert G. Carlson, D.V.M and Kames M. Giffin, M.D.:

Loss of voice (Laryngitis)

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the voice box. Signs include hoarseness and loss of voice. Most common causes: excessive meowing and chronic cough. Both produce vocal cord strain.

Laryngitis can be associated with tonsilitis, throat infections, tracheobronchitis, pneumonia, inhalant alergies, and (rarely) tumors. ...

Treatment: if excessive meowing is the cause remove the cause of the cat's anxiety or disstress. In all other cases go to the vet!

So maybe better to have it checked out by a veterinarian.

Nienke

This is of course on the assumption that this is the problem

From: Cat's owners Home Veterinary Handbook by Delbert G. Carlson, D.V.M and Kames M. Giffin, M.D.:

Loss of voice (Laryngitis)

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the voice box. Signs include hoarseness and loss of voice. Most common causes: excessive meowing and chronic cough. Both produce vocal cord strain.

Laryngitis can be associated with tonsilitis, throat infections, tracheobronchitis, pneumonia, inhalant alergies, and (rarely) tumors. ...

Treatment: if excessive meowing is the cause remove the cause of the cat's anxiety or disstress. In all other cases go to the vet!

So maybe better to have it checked out by a veterinarian.

Nienke

This is of course on the assumption that this is the problem

I didn't assume anything, just copied a part from the above mentioned book I have that stated "Loss of voice (Laryngitis), and a carefull suggestion to take your cat to the vet to have it checked out.

You might consider doing that, if you haven't done that already. If your a/c isn't repaired yet, you always can go in the evening after sunset, have your cat in a crate and keep the windows open. Better be safe than sorry.

Nienke

From: Cat's owners Home Veterinary Handbook by Delbert G. Carlson, D.V.M and Kames M. Giffin, M.D.:

Loss of voice (Laryngitis)

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the voice box. Signs include hoarseness and loss of voice. Most common causes: excessive meowing and chronic cough. Both produce vocal cord strain.

Laryngitis can be associated with tonsilitis, throat infections, tracheobronchitis, pneumonia, inhalant alergies, and (rarely) tumors. ...

Treatment: if excessive meowing is the cause remove the cause of the cat's anxiety or disstress. In all other cases go to the vet!

So maybe better to have it checked out by a veterinarian.

Nienke

This is of course on the assumption that this is the problem

I didn't assume anything, just copied a part from the above mentioned book I have that stated "Loss of voice (Laryngitis), and a carefull suggestion to take your cat to the vet to have it checked out.

You might consider doing that, if you haven't done that already. If your a/c isn't repaired yet, you always can go in the evening after sunset, have your cat in a crate and keep the windows open. Better be safe than sorry.

Nienke

Thanks I will do