My cat ate a plant and now her voice is gone. Is this normal?

Your cat may have laryngitis, which is an inflammation of the larynx or "voice box". Signs of laryngitis include hoarseness and/or loss of voice. The most common causes of laryngitis are excessive vocalization and chronic[ coughing](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/coughing). Both put strain on the vocal cords. Laryngitis can also be due to other underlying medical conditions such as throat infections, [allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/feline-allergies/), tonsillitis, [pneumonia](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/pneumonia-1/), tracheobronchitis, foreign bodies and rarely tumors. Since it has been three days since your cat's symptoms began, I recommend having him evaluated by your veterinarian to check for throat infections or other sources of irritation of the larynx. You may need to feed a soft, bland diet and keep him as stress free as possible during his treatment and recovery.

It could be laryngitis from an upper respiratory infection. Usually, the symptoms will go away within 10 days or so. If she worsen or it doesn't go away your vet may have to do more testing to figure out what is going on. https://www.petplace.com/article/cats/keeping-your-cat-healthy/everything-need-know-cat-laryngitis/

I think it is ok to wait, and monitor T closely for the next 24-48 hours. Certain viruses can cause a change in a cat's voice and as long as there are no other signs, supportive care is really the only course of treatment in many cases. Make sure she continues eating well, that she does not become more lethargic, and that new signs such as eye or nose discharge do not occur. If you notice any of these signs, I would contact your veterinarian. I hope T is feeling better very soon.

If all four are experiencing the same symptoms, I would be suspicious that they have eaten something toxic that has upset their stomach (drooling is a sign of nausea), and the voice change could be due to vomiting that you may have not seen. Cats like to chew on plants, and oftentimes, there are plants around the house and yard that are toxic to cats, but the owners do not know they are toxic. They also could have eaten an insect or some rotten food that is causing their symptoms. Given that all four are showing these symptoms, I would check any plants in the house and yard (if they are allowed outside) for toxic plants, and remove them. Given they are still eating, I would monitor them for now, and if the drooling and voice changes continue over the next 24-48 hours, I would take them all into the vet for an exam.

Please know that without seeing Cally in person, I can't say what is going on. In cats, laryngitis can cause a sudden loss of voice without sounding hoarse, so that could be possible. Sticking the tongue out can be a sign of dental disease, but it could also be she is feeling nauseous. I'd have your dad take her into a vet for a health check. I hope this helps!

There is not anything specific to do and it should go back to normal with time. An upper respiratory infection or a growth in the throat can also cause a voice change, so if Pickles has nasal or eye discharge, or if she is also swallowing frequently or breathing abnormally I'd recommend having her examined by your vet.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign is often secondary to an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a pharyngitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!