Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Mouth

Published January 5, 2025 | By admin

Cat Parents! Are you scared because of your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Mouth!? If so, then please relax and don’t panic. It is absolutely essential to maintain your calm during medical emergencies like this one, especially when the health and well-being of your kitty is on the line!

You see, what happens is that cats are exploratory in nature and they accidentally swallow unwanted foreign materials which lead to your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Throat!

Other times, common medical conditions like feline dental problems and hairball issues can also be the reason behind your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Mouth.

Now, we want you to buckle up since we are gonna discuss all about this issue in detail! We will tell you all the major reasons behind your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Mouth and also give you essential details about the diagnosis, recovery, and treatment of this feline health problem!

So, without any further ado, let’s dive in!

Why Is My Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Mouth & Throat?

If you find out that your cat is acting like something stuck in her mouth & throat by showing worrisome signs such as choking, panting, excessive drooling, being lethargic and having bad breath along with frequently pawing on the mouth, then there can be 6 major reasons behind this behavior.

These 6 major reasons behind your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Mouth are…

Dental Problems like Tooth Decay, Gum Infections and Tooth Abscess
Hairballs Stuck In Throat
Foreign Objects Stuck In Throat
Asthma Attack
Parasitic Infections
Heart Disease Symptoms

Remember that in the case of your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Throat, it is essential to visit a veterinarian and have the symptoms thoroughly investigated by them.

If your cat is having difficulty in breathing and is acting as if she is choking, then that can turn into a serious issue and can even prove to be fatal! That’s why a proper quick vet checkup is absolutely essential.

Now, let’s talk about all these Major Reasons behind your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Throat!

Reason 1) Dental Problems

One of the most common and non-fatal reasons behind your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Mouth are Dental Issues.

If your cat is suffering from problems like Tooth Cavity, Mouth Ulcers, Gum Infections, or Tooth Abscess, then she might start panting and excessively drooling while also having a slight difficulty in breathing, which will make you think as if something is stuck in her mouth or throat.

Some of the Cat Tooth Pain Symptoms are…

Excessive Drooling
Swelling & Inflammation in Gums
Bad Breath
Loss Of Appetite
Vomiting
Bleeding Gums

If you find any of these signs and symptoms of Cat Tooth Pain, then consult a vet for a proper dental checkup.

These dental issues are not fatal but can cause a lot of discomfort to your kitty. When a kitty is suffering from Cat Tooth Pain, she often stops grooming herself and becomes very stressed & aggressive.

So, it’s best to get a proper dental checkup done without any delay. Now, let’s move on to other reasons behind your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Mouth!

Reason 2) Cat Hairballs

A Cat Hairball is a dirty collection of dead hair & digestive juices that are formed in your cat’s belly due to excessive grooming.

What happens is that when cats are grooming themselves, they accidentally swallow a bunch of their own hair, which ends up being collected inside their stomach.

Once this dirty and gross hairball collection becomes too much for the cat’s body to handle, her digestive system tries to get rid of them by vomiting them out.

Sometimes when the hairballs are too big, they end up getting stuck in the cat’s throat when her body tries to vomit it out, resulting in blocked airways. This might have happened with your cat as well!

You see, the Cat Hairball problem is common in all cats and is a totally normal issue. In fact, it’s said that average cats develop a Cat Hairball problem at least twice a month.

It’s also seen that Long Haired cat breeds like Persian Cats and Norwegian Forest Cats develop a Cat Hairball problem more frequently than other shorter-haired cats.

Now, generally, the Cat Hairball problem is not life-threatening to your kitty but if you notice her choking on her own hairballs then run to the nearest vet quickly since it can be a serious medical emergency!

With that said, let’s move on to the next reason behind your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Mouth.

Reason 3) Foreign Objects Stuck In Throat

As said before, cats are very explorative in nature and just love to get a taste of everything they find in their furry adventures, and that’s why they end up swallowing foreign objects which they find interesting. Most of the time these foreign objects are vomited or pooped out but other times, they can get stuck in their mouth or throat becoming the reason behind your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Throat.

Here is a list of some common household things which your kitty can gobble up and which can get stuck in her throat…

Toilet Paper
Plastic Bags
Insects
Cloth Shreds
Buttons
Grass from Garden
Plant Leaves
Stuff Toy Filling

Now, we advise you to keep a close look at your kitty and try to keep potentially harmful things out of their reach. We know that it’s difficult to prevent cats from gobbling stuff up in their day-to-day adventures but at least try to keep a check at what things are being chewed up by your cat.

In case you notice your cat choking on something or having a tough time breathing while struggling to eat, consult a vet immediately and head straight to the vet emergency as these things can be very dangerous to your cat’s health!

Now, let’s take a look at other reasons behind your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Mouth.

Reason 4) Asthma Attack

Asthma is a very dangerous respiratory problem which is common in both humans and pets. It weakens the respiratory system and makes it difficult for us to breathe.

Asthma causes inflammation in the cat’s respiratory tract which can result in narrowing of the kitty’s Airways making it difficult for her to breathe.

When that happens, you will notice your cat coughing and wheezing while appearing to be choked. All this will make it look as if your cat has something stuck in her throat.

Some common Asthma Symptoms in cats are…

Heavy & Rapid Breathing
Open Mouth Breathing
Lip Discoloration
Wheezing
Coughing
Lethargy
Weakness
Gagging
Vomiting

If you notice any such asthmatic symptoms in your cat then rush straight to the vet for an emergency treatment as asthma is a very serious problem.

Asthma attacks can be very challenging to deal with and can be caused due to allergies as well.

Generally, old cats in the age of 11-14 suffer from asthma and get frequent asthma attacks. A cat can develop asthma any time in her life either due to some sort of allergy or birth defect.

We strictly recommend a quick vet visit and a complete checkup of your kitty in case you notice any asthma symptoms in her.

Reason 5) Parasitic Infection

Respiratory infections caused by parasites like Lungworms can be a major reason behind your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Mouth or Throat.

Respiratory parasites infect your cat’s respiratory tract and cause diseases such as Parasitic Pneumonia, which makes it extremely difficult for your kitty to breathe.

These Parasitic infections need to be taken very seriously since they can turn chronic and even become fatal. That’s why a vet consultation is extremely important.

The veterinary doctors will do a complete checkup of your cat and will help you in getting rid of all the parasites within your cat’s respiratory tract.

So, head straight to the vet if you see your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Mouth because early detection of such parasitic infections is the key towards the quick recovery of your kitty.

Reason 6) Symptoms Of Heart Disease

Heart Diseases like Congestive Heart Failure can cause chronic coughing and breath shortness in cats.

Heart problems can arise out of many different reasons and their symptoms can be the reason behind your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Mouth.

Here is a list of the most common reasons behind Heart Diseases in cats…

Congenital Malformations
Birth Defects
Rise in Blood Pressure
Thyroid
Obesity
Heartworm Disease
Anemia
Tumors

If not treated properly on time, these heart problems can also cause fluid accumulation in your cat’s lungs causing her even more breathing difficulties.

That’s why it is extremely essential to detect the symptoms of heart problems early on for the proper treatment and quick recovery of your cat.

Some of these Heart Disease Symptoms include…

Loss of Appetite
Weight Loss
Walking Difficulties
Lethargy
Increased Heart Rate
Breath Shortness & Breathing Difficulty
Hind Leg Paralysis
Fluid Buildup in Lungs
Sudden Collapse

If you identify any such symptoms of heart disease in your cat then rush to the nearest vet for a proper medical checkup quickly! It’s absolutely essential to treat heart problems early on to prevent them from becoming chronic or turning fatal!

So, these were the 6 main reasons behind your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Throat!

Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Mouth: Types Of Blockages

When your cat is having foreign objects stuck in her throat or mouth, then there can be an obstruction in her airways which will make it difficult for her to breathe.

There are mainly 3 types of throat blockages that your cat can suffer from in case of having something stuck in her mouth or throat, these are…

Esophageal Obstruction
Partial Esophageal Blockage
Airway (Bronchiole) Obstruction

Let’s take a look at these types of obstructions one by one.

Esophageal Obstruction

It’s a complete blockage of the esophagus which is caused due to the ingestion of foreign materials. When the ingested object is too big to pass through the throat, it gets stuck there causing a complete Esophageal Obstruction.

Signs and Symptoms of Esophageal Obstruction are…

Hypersalivation
Gagging
Pawing At Mouth
Breathing Difficulty
Difficulty In Swallowing
Refusal to Eat or Drink

This type of obstruction can be extremely dangerous and difficult to deal with, therefore, head straight to the vet once you start to see its signs and symptoms.

Partial Esophageal Blockage

It’s a partial blockage of the cat’s esophagus due to accidental ingestion of foreign objects or due to more natural things like Cat Hairballs getting stuck in the throat.

Signs and symptoms of Partial Esophageal Obstruction/Blockage are…

Lethargy
Loss Of Appetite
Inflammation Of The Throat
Infection in the Esophagus
Bad Breath

Go to a vet for a proper treatment if you are able to notice any of these signs and symptoms of Partial Esophageal Obstruction and Blockage.

Learn Cat Language NOW…

Airway (Bronchiole) Obstruction

It happens when foreign objects get stuck in the Airways, called Bronchioles, of the cat. It causes a lot of trouble in breathing and can result in your cat choking if not treated in time.

Here is a list of symptoms of Airway Obstruction in cats…

Loud Breathing
Open Mouth Panting
Coughing
Wheezing
Choking
Panicking

These different types of throat obstructions can be the reason behind your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Throat.

Head straight to the vet for a proper treatment and consultation once you start noticing any of the signs and symptoms of these throat obstructions.

Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Throat: Diagnosis & Treatment

When you take your cat to the vet, the first priority of the doctor would be to retrieve whatever is stuck in your cat’s throat as quickly as possible to help her breathe properly once again.

In order to retrieve that item stuck in your Cat’s throat, the vet might do things like endoscopy and can use numerous medical tools like Forceps, Balloon Catheter, Endogastric Tubes (PEG Tubes) etc.

If it turns out to be too difficult and dangerous to remove the object from the mouth, then the vet might just push the object down to the cat’s stomach where it can either pass through the rest of the gastrointestinal tract safely and easily or can be removed surgically through an Exploratory Laparotomy.

Surgery is actually very common in these cases and very safe too with about 93.76% recovery rate.

Furthermore, the vet might also have to do X-Ray tests of your cat’s chest while also taking an Esophagoscopy into consideration.

Keep in mind that the vets might have to sedate your cat to properly treat her during the diagnosis and treatment of this issue.

You just have to keep your calm, not panic and have faith in the skills, experience and qualifications of your Veterinary Doctor! We know everything will be fine and your cat will become healthy once again!

Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Mouth: Recovery

You see, once the foreign object is removed from your cat’s throat, she will recover very quickly and will start to breathe normally again.

However, follow up vet visits are extremely important to ensure that your cat isn’t suffering from any pain or injury in her throat after this accidental medical emergency.

The vets might also prescribe some antibiotics to your cat and recommend keeping her on a soft food or liquid diet for a while after this episode. This will help in avoiding any additional irritation caused to the cat’s throat and will also make sure your kitty recovers quickly.

Final Thoughts

When you notice your Cat Acting Like Something Stuck In Mouth, always make sure to keep calm and head straight to the nearest vet emergency center to get your kitty diagnosed and treated in time!

If you notice signs of choking, breathing difficulty, or anything concerning, rush to the vet immediately. Prompt treatment is key to your cat’s well-being!

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