My cat opens his mouth to meow but makes no noise. Is he sick?

Cats have all different 'Meows" just like humans. some are loud and some make the motions with their mouths but no sounds come out. As long as this is how Enzou has always been and assuming that he is healthy, this is not a concern. If this is a new development or if he is sick, have him examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps an please feel free to post any additional questions.

Cats can sometimes "lose their voice" as a result of an upper respiratory infection, similar to what happens to people when we get laryngitis. As a result, they will sometimes go through the motions of meowing but little or no sound comes out. If this sounds like what you are seeing, I would recommend having her checked by a vet - she may need antibiotics or other medication if she has an infection. Another possibility based on what you are describing is that your cat is having trouble breathing - cats will sometimes appear to be panting, or breathing with an open mouth if they are having trouble getting their breath. If you see this, it is a medical emergency and the cat needs to be seen by a vet immediately.

It sounds like there are some subtle things that just aren't right, but nothing that is specifically wrong with Yoshi at home right now. It can be hard for me to say if it is something you should worry about since I can't examine him right now. The "whine" part could be caused by turbulence in the upper airway caused by a mass or polyp. The not eating parts of the wet food could be caused by nausea or oral pain. Occasional vomiting in cats is normal, but could also be caused by hairballs, food allergy, eating too fast, GI blockage, intestinal parasites, IBD, intestinal lymphoma, hyperthyroidism, systemic disease (liver, kidney, pancreas, diabetes), among others. It is probably a good idea to start saving up in case Yoshi's behavior become worse.

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!

I wouldn't be concerned if this is how he has always sounded. Upper respiratory infections are very common in young kittens and sometimes swelling can affect the vocal folds - it's possible that he had some scar tissue formed. It's also possible that this is how he was born. If he does have trouble swallowing or breathing, or if he regurgitates or vomits you should see your vet.

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.

Yes, they can. Sometimes it can be temporary, but othertimes it can be a sign of a medical problem. Hopefully since he is so young, its nothing thats major or concerning, BUT, i wouls recommend an exam to be sure. They will do full exam of mouth, ears, throat, chest and heart and guide you from there.