My cat's voice is gone and he's licking his lips. Should I worry?

I would wait it out at this point in time because he is eating and drinking normally, using the litter, and acting normally otherwise. He might have a respiratory infection, and losing his voice is the only sign. I would keep an eye on him for the next 72 hours. If he still has no voice at that point, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. Should he develop other signs in these 72 hours, such as stopping eating and drinking, then I would take him into the vet sooner. Hopefully, his voice will return on it's own.

I think you have good reason to be concerned in this case. Anytime a cat seems less active, it indicates that something is wrong. Swallowing frequently is something we see with cats that have upper respiratory infections, or complications within the throat like polyps or ulcers. It would be worthwhile to have Liam evaluated by a vet sometime within the next day or two. They will be able to further investigate the problem and determine how concerning this problem is. I hope that helps and Liam gets better soon.

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.

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.

If the cat has laryngitis it will usually resolve on it's own over time with no treatment. Cats are very sensitive to medications so it is not recommend you give him anything over the counter. If the laryngitis is just from overuse of the voice box or a temporary illness like a URI no treatment is needed. If the laryngitis is due to an underlying condition then he will need an extensive workup to figure out what is going on. I suggest you do nothing but monitor him for a couple weeks and if no improvement, then you should get him to your vet for an exam. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

I don't think I would be overly concerned but cats do often try to tell us something with subtle behavior changes. If she had a tooth removed a few months ago it may be related to that. It could be allergies. It could be the beginning of an upper respiratory issue. I suggest you start her on a lysine supplement to help boost her immune system and monitor her. If she continues to do this licking behavior for longer than 2 weeks after starting the supplement then I think you should take her to your vet for an exam. https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/site/view/198944_HomeDelivery.pml?s=lysine&hierarchy=&sort=score%20desc Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Hello, sorry to hear about Thomas. As long as he is otherwise acting like his normal self now that you are back, (eating, drinking, defecating, urinating, and having normal activity) then I would monitor at home to see if his voice returns. However, if you think Thomas is showing additional signs of illness, especially if he is not eating or if he is having a hard time chewing/ingesting his food the I would have him evaluated immediately. Ensure he has adequate food, water and that he is using the bathroom regurlarly. Best of luck and hope this helps.