Cat acting like something stuck in throat – what to do next

The following reasons may help explain why your cat is suddenly acting like something is stuck in its throat.

Ingestion of foreign objects

The cat may have swallowed something they shouldn’t have, such as a hair tie or other objects made of indigestible material. These foreign objects can easily get stuck in the cat’s small throat. If it’s a full obstruction, the cat might also display other concerning symptoms like drooling and constant swallowing (to try and clear out the throat).

Inducing vomiting might help but this should only be done by the vet as you could make things worse if the circumstances aren’t right. For example, it might not work if many hours have already passed since the cat swallowed the foreign object. It could also cause damage to the cat’s throat if the foreign object has sharp edges.

Suffering from laryngitis

The cat could be acting like something is stuck in its throat because of inflammations like laryngitis. The swelling and irritation of the vocal cords could be bothering the cat a lot. Laryngitis could be a result of various underlying health problems, such as upper respiratory infections and hyperthyroidism. Other concerning symptoms of laryngitis include a change in the cat’s voice and an increased effort to breathe. The cat might have its mouth open constantly because of the discomfort.

Dental problems

Dental issues like gingivitis and tooth abscess could also cause the cat to act like something is stuck in its throat. It’s important to introduce dental care while the cat is still young. It’s not too late to start using cat dental products if you haven’t been brushing your cat’s teeth.

Stuck hairball

While unlikely, there might be a chance of an odd hairball has gotten stuck somewhere along the cat’s mouth or throat. Take a peek in the cat’s mouth if it allows you to. The hairball might be close enough for you to take out using a pincer. It might be useful to have some hairball remedy if you don’t have it already.