The other day a friend called to ask if it’s normal for cats and kittens to hiccup. Since I’ve never observed any of our cats hiccup, her question piqued my interest sufficiently to do some extensive research on the subject.
Hiccups are an involuntary reflex caused by a strong contraction of the diaphragm when something irritates it. The technical term for hiccups is “synchronous diaphragmatic flutter“. Hiccups can repeat themselves several times a minute, a fact to which humans, who have had bouts of these very uncomfortable and unpleasant episodes, can readily attest.
In many species of companion animals hiccupping is usually a normal occurrence. In fact, almost all warm blooded wild animals hiccup; including otters, porcupines and skunks. Horses’ hiccups are called “thumps”.
While the sound of hiccups in kittens and cats may not resemble those that are made by humans, when a cat’s diaphragm muscles contract suddenly and involuntarily in reaction to an irritation, the physiology of the reflex is identical. Kittens develop hiccups more frequently than adult cats.
According to PetCareRx, hiccupping in cats is ordinarily not a cause for concern. Cats commonly may hiccup after eating, especially if the kitty has quickly gobbled up her meal, resulting in air being swallowed. And since felines often “inhale” their food without chewing thoroughly, or drink water too fast, this is another possible cause for cats to develop a case of the hiccups.
Hairballs are another common cause of feline hiccups. If the kitty’s throat becomes irritated by fur, as the cat attempts to dislodge or cough up the hairball with their throat muscles, this can cause the cat to hiccup. Hiccups can be caused by emotional upset. In cats, the stress associated with separation anxiety can bring on a case of the hiccups.
Although hiccups may be unpleasant and/or disturbing to the cat and their guardian, most cases are benign. This said however if the cat appears to be in distress with frequent and chronic bouts of hiccupping this may be a sign of a serious medical condition requiring prompt veterinary attention.
Conditions associated with chronic hiccupping can be caused by a tumor, nerve problems or organ disease. Another cause for chronic hiccupping is an anatomical anomaly in the back of the cat’s throat, which can be resolved with veterinary attention.
It can be difficult to actually “hear” a cat hiccupping; especially since the sound doesn’t resemble that made by a human. While guardians may notice a spasm in their cat’s abdomen, sometime it is so imperceptible that it can only be felt. Cats with hiccups can make squeaking noises while breathing, or make a sound resembling something caught in their throat when they breathe.
If wolfing down their food or hairballs is the problem, feeding cats slowly and treating for hairballs can help reduce feline hiccups. But if hiccupping is frequent and/or persistent, a visit to the vet is strongly warranted.
Watch the video uploaded to YouTube by Buddy Films 101 and see if you can count how many times the kitten hiccups.
Have you ever observed your kitty hiccupping? Tell us about it with a comment.
Jo
Photo Credit: Flicker User London looks
My cat was in distress a year or so ago. Vet found she had eaten/then thrown back up a large roach; leaving 3 roach legs lodged in her nasal passages, hindering her breathing. He removed 3 of the legs, but couldn’t find anymore. Now i am wondering if a leg or two w/spikey edges got stuck somewhere internally & is the case of her chronic hiccuping regular episodes.
Phew, this is a terrible story. The short answer is that they might be caused by a foreign body but I don’t know. I have never heard of it before. The best book I have on cat health does not help either. So sorry.
My persian kitten is of 40 days. She had fever one day.she is weak. Now she is coughing and hiccuping for 3 days. She don’t even eat. I took her to the vet. He gave syrup. But there is no recovery.
I don’t know what to do…
Eman, I am sorry to hear that your cat is ill. I am afraid to say that it is impossible for me, a layperson, to advise in this instance because there are numerous reasons why your cat is showing these symptoms. I think you need to take your cat to another veterinarian, difficult though that may sound. I think it is the only way forward. I don’t think just giving syrup is an answer. You need to do some tests. There may be a serious underlying in illness behind the symptoms. Good luck by the way.
This article is very helpful! My 6 yr old long haired cat suddenly started hiccuping, and hasn’t been able to stop after several hours. I called our E.R.vet. I was given some of this same info. You posted. I plan to observe the kitty overnight and hopefully the hiccups will resolve. I’m particularly concerned because the cat is currently being treated for kidney stones and has been on prescription cat food. Thanks.
Good luck to you both and thanks for sharing, Francie.
Thank you for this information, it put my mind to rest, because in all the years we had cats, I had never seen it. Suddenly the youngest cat started to do it. It helped me a lot, the video also helped.
Thanks Helga. I’m pleased it helped.
Thanks for all this good information. Our kittens always hiccuped after their bottles. Like you mentioned they probably ate to fast. I will pass this information on to all my friends.
Esther would hiccup now and then, but she ate too fast. All my puppies have had hiccups….now that’s cute. Munchkin got hiccups quite frequently toward the end of her life. But that poor creature had two giant tumors in her chest; one “squishing” her heart and one pushing out her scapula (shoulder blade). Looking back, I’m sure that was why. She only hiccuped the last few weeks of her life. We all attributed it to her IBD.