My cat can't meow, and his voice is very low. What's going on?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would take the toy away. He could have strained his voice from meowing. If that’s the case his voice should return. If he continues to behave abnormally and not eat then he should be examined by a Vet. I hope this helps and good luck!

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.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Brooks. If he's lost his voice and cannot meow, that can be a sign of a medical illness such as a respiratory infection. I would be concerned this could be the case, and I would have him seen by a vet in the morning. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Ollie. Upper respiratory infections (URI) in cats is extremely common. Kittens get infected from their mothers who start shedding the viruses thus infecting the kittens. Many cats live their whole lives carrying these viruses. They will occasionally develop signs of upper respiratory infections during times of stress at any point in time. We vaccinate for a few of these upper respiratory viruses but we still see many many cases. The vaccines should provide some protection and usually adult cats develop very mild signs. Signs of URIs- loss of voice or harsh sounding meows, sneezing, runny eyes/nose, fever/lethargy, decreased appetite, etc. Treating these infections can range from very simple to very complex cases that take weeks to months to improve. Possible treatment involves monitoring only or more in-depth treatment with antibiotics, antiviral medicines, a good deworming program and vaccination program, eye drops/eye ointments, nose drops, a nutritional supplement called L-lysine added to the food may help, and probiotics are all things to try. If Ollie continues to act normal (eats, drinks, goes to the bathroom and doesn't develop more signs or a worsening of the signs present), you can just monitor him. Hopefully, the change in the voice is self-limiting, but if not have your vet evaluate him. Good luck with Ollie.

Sometimes a viral upper respiratory infection can affect the back of the throat and cause swelling that could affect your cat’s ability to meow. Difficulty swallowing can also occur when something is lodged in the esophagus or if there is a problem with a tooth. I’m glad Lily ate some chicken, but if her normal appetite does not return soon I’d recommend seeing your vet for an examination.

If your cat is otherwise happy, healthy, and eating, drinking, and acting normally, I would not be too concerned. If however your cat is not acting like herself she may have an upper respiratory infection or something going on. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a chronic laryngitis (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!