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Question
Once in a while my cat is making a choking noise. He just does it out of the blue. As he does the noise, he sticks his paw up to his mouth as if he's trying to remove something from his mouth. Could this be a hairball he can't seem to get rid of? His eating has gone down, too. He never goes outside, also. And he eats both dry and wet food. Thank you so much in advance for your help! I really appreciate it!!
Hi Fernando,
It's possible that he has a hairball, but it sounds very likely that he's experiencing some mouth pain. This is the most common reason why cats will paw at their mouths, and cats will make all sorts of noises associated with pain. It's also possible that he IS choking, especially if it's a growth in his throat that's causing the pain, or if he's avoiding chewing his food properly because his teeth are causing him pain. Oral pain is also a main reason why cats will begin eating less and lose weight.
Whatever the reason might be, because your kitty is eating less, it's definitely a good idea to get him to the vet. Your vet will do an oral exam to see if dental disease, oral ulcers or growths in the mouth could be causing his symptoms. They'll also check under the tongue and view the throat to try to make sure your cat hasn't swallowed something, such as thread or a needle, which can cause these symptoms. If the cause is found, an appropriate treatment plan will be set. If no cause is found, your vet might discuss further diagnostics with you. This might include sedating the kitty to get a better look down the throat, or x-rays.
I hope he's feeling better soon!
Jessica
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Jessica, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart! I did take him to the vet today because I couldn't take seeing him in pain anymore and not eating. You were right, he has to get a dental cleaning and if they find further problems, he might need to have a tooth taken out. After we got home today, although I can tell it still hurt him, he did eat a little and stop on and off from the pain, poor guy :( but tomorrow is the day and he'll recover soon :) thank you again! you are the best! | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Jessica
Expertise
The areas in which I have gained the most experience are cat health and feral cat management/rescue. I provide supportive care to chronically ill cats, hospice care to terminally ill cats and also am involved in trap-neuter-return efforts. My specialities lie in taming feral cats and in the allopathic treatment of cats with illnesses or special needs. I also have owned Siamese, Himalayans, Abyssinians, Russian Blues, Savannahs, Bengals, Peterbalds, Don Sphynx and Oriental Shorthairs and am well-versed in cat breeds as well as cat behavior and nutrition.
Experience
I have 15 years of extensive experience with cats ranging from breeding to medical care. My daily routine consists of caring for cats with diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney failure, feline leukemia, feline AIDS as well as feral cats. I have experience with liver patients, heart patients, feline infectious peritonitis, cancer, recovery from amputation and trauma, congenital deformities and most every disease in between. I have assisted cats giving birth and hand-nursed kittens who were neglected by their mother from 2 days old through weaning.
Education/Credentials
15 years' hands-on experience
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