How to get rid of my cat’s hiccups?

Probably we all know how annoying a hiccup attack can be. Like us, our pussycat can also be affected by these sudden and involuntary movements. While the hiccups in cats It is not very frequent, they also do not find a pleasant sensation.

In general, cats usually recover quickly from hiccups, so, in principle, it is advisable not to intervene and let your body naturally recompose. But if we observe that the hiccups become very intense or that the animal shows symptoms of discomfort or difficulty in breathing, it may be important to help them control this situation. Of course, we advise you to consult your trusted veterinarian if you notice that your cat has hiccups with a certain frequency or with a lot of intensity. However, in this article, we teach you how to remove hiccups from a cat and we also give you some tips to prevent this uncomfortable situation.

Why does my cat have hiccups?

The inspiratory sound and characteristic sensation of hiccups are the result of two natural organic phenomena that occur involuntarily. The base of the hiccup (or its first part) happens from a involuntary movement of the diaphragm, which consists of a sudden and intermittent contraction. This involuntary contraction generates a temporary and very rapid closure of the epiglottis, which produces the characteristic sound “hip“.

Although the attacks of hiccups appear abruptly, without being able to identify a specific cause, the truth is that some behaviors may favor their development. In cats, the most frequent causes of hiccups They are:

• Eat or drink very quickly.
• Binge eating or excessive consumption of food.
• Formation of hairballs in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Allergic reactions.
• Hyperactivity, anxiety, stress or excessive excitement.
• Metabolic disorders (such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism) that can lead to overexcitement, hyperactivity or increased stress.
• Exposure to cold can promote involuntary contraction of the diaphragm, causing hiccups in cats.

The first two causes make the cat hiccup after eating, so if this is your case do not hesitate to observe it during the meal to see if it effectively ingests the food too quickly.

What to do if my cat has hiccups?

As we have mentioned, hiccups in cats are usually harmless and last a few seconds, since the organism is prepared to naturally recompose itself. Thus, normally it is best not to intervene and observe carefully to ensure that the kitten recovers satisfactorily.

If we find that he has any difficulty recovering, or we see that the cat always has hiccups, the ideal is go to the veterinary clinic. Occasionally, tutors may have difficulties in differentiating hiccups from the noises that the cat can produce by being stuck with a foreign body stuck in its throat, therefore, before using any home method, it is better to have the specialized attention of a vet.

However, it is essential that all tutors adopt some preventive measures to prevent their cats from experiencing a hiccup attack. Below, we summarize some basic tips to keep your pussy cat from hiccuping.

Tips to prevent hiccups in cats

• Prevent water and food from being swallowed very quickly: Although the bad habit of eating very quickly is more frequent in dogs, cats can also have hiccups for this reason. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to offer your food and water in higher containers, which reduce the risk of binge eating by requiring greater effort to reach the content inside. It is also important to establish a regular routine in the feeding of your cat, avoiding exposing it to periods of prolonged fasting.
• Prevent the accumulation of hairballs in your gastrointestinal tract: although the hiccup is usually harmless, if it is associated with the difficulty of removing the hairballs, it deserves special attention. The accumulation of hairballs in the gastrointestinal tract of the cat can cause vomiting, constipation and other digestive discomfort. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the cat is able to expel hair balls from your body. In this sense, the catnip It usually helps to purge, in addition to regularly brushing the cat’s coat to prevent excessive hair intake.
• Discard possible allergies: If you notice that your cat always has hiccups or very intense hiccups, it is advisable to consult your trusted veterinarian about allergy tests for cats. In many pigs, hiccups can be a symptom of allergies, so it is important to confirm if your cat has an allergy and identify which agent causes this hypersensitive reaction to establish a specific treatment or a hypoallergenic diet.
• Take care of the cold: cats are sensitive to cold and low temperatures can seriously harm their health, in addition to causing a picture ofhypothermia. If we want to avoid hiccups and take care of the health of our pussycat, it is important not to expose it to the cold and pay close attention to the conditioning of our home.
• Provide a positive environment: Stress and negative feelings are very damaging to the health of our kittens. Therefore, a healthy breeding must include a positive environment in which the cat feels safe and finds the optimal conditions for its development.
• Offer an adequate preventive medicine: Allergies and metabolic disorders can affect behavior and cause unfavorable moods in our pussycat. To diagnose them early and avoid the aggravation of their symptoms, it is essential to provide adequate preventive medicine to our pigs, making visits to the veterinarian every 6 months and respecting their letter of vaccination and periodic deworming.

Hiccup in small cats or newborns

As with adult cats, when baby cats have hiccups, in general, it is due to an involuntary response of the diaphragm after excessive milk intake or after having ingested the milk with a lot of intensity and very fast. Thus, it is common to see newborn cats with hiccups, or small cats that begin to start on solid food or orphaned cats that should be bottle-fed. Now, if this cause has been ruled out and it is unknown why a small cat has hiccups, due to its young age, it is imperative to go to the veterinarian as soon as possible to find the reason.

This article is merely informative, in .com we do not have the faculty to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.

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