My cat gurgles while resting. Is it happy purring or a problem?

Hello, thank you for your question about Princess. A gurgling noise after eating/drinking/after activity can be secondary to a few different things. My primary concern is that she could have a polyp; polyps are benign growths are not uncommon in cats and can grow in the back of their throat/airway. It is also possible that Princess could have an upper-respiratory infection leading to inflammation and a small amount of fluid build up. I would recommend having Princess evaluated by your veterinarian so that they can examine her. They will listen to her lungs and look for any evidence of abnormalities. Depending on their findings they may recommend further workup such as bloodwork or a sedated upper airway exam to look for evidence of a polyp. Hope this helps, good luck!

Great question! Each cat has a different purr, just like humans have different voices, so as long as he is eating and drinking normally, using the litter box normally, and is behaving normally, then it is not an issue for his health :-)

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is normal for cats to sound more nasally when they are purring. My cat and I have heard other cats sound different in these loving situations. If he is not sneezing, doesn't have nasal discharge and isn't wheezing any other time I wouldn't worry! I hope this helps!

Given that this sound only occasionally occurs when Marley falls asleep in a sitting position or licking his mouth after eating, and the fact the vet said he was healthy, I wouldn't be too concerned about this behavior. If the sound increases, or he starts doing it regularly, then I would have him checked out by a vet :-)

This is perfectly normal. Some cats have a tiny quiet purr, others a very loud purr, and others again actually open their mouth a little to purr loudly. The louder your kitty purrs the happier it is. Hairballs usually cause a cough. Sounds like you have a very happy kitty.

What a pretty girl! If there is a change in the tissue in the back of her throat, that could potentially cause the "gurgle." If theres a lot of inflammation in her throat, or a mass or tumor of some kind. Ideally, take her to your vet for an exam. If you can get a video of exactly what your concern is, that may be helpful, in case she isn't doing it at the time you take her in to the vet. It sounds like she is meowing more... it would be a good idea to check her bloodwork including her thyroid to see if she needs her dosage adjusted as well, though I doubt this is related to the "gurgle." Your vet may recommend X-rays, and/or a sedated exam so they can visualize the entire mouth and throat. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

It could be that Molly is trying to make additional sounds of happiness, but it's coming out as a growl. Cats can purr and growl at the same time, but if she is looking for love at the time and doesn't appear upset or distressed, I would be inclined to think it may be a happy noise for her, as strange as that sounds.