Expert: Karen Craft - 10/15/2011

Question
Hi,

My cat is nearly 16 and in good health. When she is purring, usually only when loudly, she seems to get stuck a little every few purrs, and then swallows. It seems to get more frequent the longer she purrs and the harder she purrs. If it's soft purring there is no sound - it sounds like if you click your tongue in the back of your mouth and then swallow. It's quite hard to describe but I forgot to mention it to the vet last visit and am slightly concerned even though she seems to not worry and keeps on purring and swallowing. I am wondering if it's too much saliva or some sort of obstruction. I give her hairball malt every other day as she cleans alot (she had many hairballs over summer even though she is shorthair) although they are less frequent now. I try to brush her but she doesn't like it much.

Re her health  - she has just had her geriatric blood profile done and the only suggestions was to move to renal diet as her creatinine was slightly high - which she refused to eat so I have researched and am trying low phosphorus, low protein diet. She has no problem eating (if she likes it!) and there is no weight loss and she is alert and happy. The vet said she definately didn't have thyriod issues (I wanted to cover everything because of her age!) and because she is very chilled and calm I doubt it's this too.

Is this something I should return to my vet about? She definitely wouldn't purr for the vet so it would be quite hard to demonstrate.

Many thanks,
Miranda

Answer
Hi Miranda,

If you are concerned then I would return to the vet. Here is my suggestion for when you take her there. I am assuming you have a cell phone. Most phones today have video capabilities. Capture her doing this with your phone and replay it back for him. Or use a digital camera.  I have found that video is a godsend for those things that your cat only does around you and not the vet. It will give the vet a good jumping off spot to try to figure out if this something serious or nothing for you to worry about. By the way, you are an excellent cat caretaker. Good luck and take care.

Ciao, Karen