My Older Cat Ginger Suddenly Cant Meow

[MikeAW2010]

Just out of nowhere. He had been fine with no signs of any issues and yesterday I came out to feed him and instead of being greeted by his usual parade of meowing all i got was his mouth acting to meow and deafening silence, not even a squeak. I kept watching him and it continues through today. Not a single sound comes out when he tries to meow. His mouth moves as if he's meowing but it's just dead silent.

What should I do?

 

[Mamanyt1953]

There are several possible reasons, from something as simple as prolonged meowing to something as utterly devastating as rabies. I'd really recommend having a vet take a look at him. One of the most common causes for a cat losing their voice is an upper respiratory infection that almost certainly will not resolve on its own. I'm betting that's your culprit, unless he meowed his head off for the last day or so.

 

[MikeAW2010]

There are several possible reasons, from something as simple as prolonged meowing to something as utterly devastating as rabies. I'd really recommend having a vet take a look at him. One of the most common causes for a cat losing their voice is an upper respiratory infection that almost certainly will not resolve on its own. I'm betting that's your culprit, unless he meowed his head off for the last day or so.

I scheduled a vet appointment for him for Monday morning. If he recovers before then I'll cancel it. Just wondering is it possible for him to contract rabies without physical contact from another cat that has it? If he does have it, is it curable if caught early?

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. Does he go outside at all? If he does not get regular rabies vaccinations, and is outdoors a lot, he could contract it from any warm blooded animal that was rabid. But, it is typically transmitted through a bite or scratch that penetrates the skin - does your cat have any signs of being bitten/scratched (wound/sore)?

Eating a dead animal that was rabid is not generally an issue either, unless your cat killed the animal and ate it immediately.

If he is indoors only and has no wounds/scratches, the likelihood of rabies is next to none.

Here is an article on rabies, just so you have the information.

Rabies in Cats

A vet visit is the right way to go - could be so many other things - probably more likely than rabies.

 

[epona]

Very sensible to get an appointment booked at the vets - as you say, you can always cancel it, and it is better to err on the side of caution when it comes to our furry friends.

It could be something or nothing, far far better to get it checked out and possibly catch a health issue early while it is very treatable. Any change like this should ideally be investigated, you are doing the right thing. Good luck to you, let us know how it goes.

Don't get distracted or too alarmed because someone mentioned rabies - that was a worst case scenario - change of voice in older cats is more commonly caused by hearing loss or a thyroid disorder, both of which are manageable conditions.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

I scheduled a vet appointment for him for Monday morning. If he recovers before then I'll cancel it. Just wondering is it possible for him to contract rabies without physical contact from another cat that has it? If he does have it, is it curable if caught early?

Since he is an indoor cat, the actual chances of rabies are about 1 in several million! As stated, unless he actually got bit, or killed and IMMEDIATELY ate a rabid animal, he's NOT looking at that. I didn't mean to scare you, only to point out the fact that there are so many possibilities, from a bit of nothing, to severe.

But I will say that even if he doesn't have it, and I'm virtually certain that he does NOT, it is not curable, and all pets should be vaccinated, even if they are indoor only...just in case. What if there was a bad storm, or fire, or he got out for some other reason? Let's get him protected so you NEVER have to worry about it!

 

[Kflowers]

If he's been to the vet at all and was in good shape the vet probably gave him his vaccination. do you still have the bill? Vets usually itemize.

 

[MikeAW2010]

Ginger as well as the rest of my cats are entirely indoor only, the reason I'm concerned however is because I recently took in two Ferals. I got both of their Rabies shots before taking them in but never considered what might happen if they already had Rabies. I dont 'think' they do but I dont know of a way to tell for certain. Gingers interaction with them is very limited.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

As long as Ginger didn't get a deep bite from either of them, you're still fine.

 

[Kflowers]

Even if one of the ferals has it, which is unlikely. When they hold an animal in quarantine for rabies it's usually for 10 days. You got your ferals on June 28, earlier if you delayed posting for us. That's more than 10 days. If they had rabies, it's likely you would have seen a sign of it by now. If your vet considered it likely -- such as a rabies scare in your area -- he would have mentioned it and suggested quarantining them.

anyway, Doesn't Ginger have his vaccinations? He may have gotten a three year shot which you've forgotten about. Most vets send a postcard when you need to bring them in for vaccinations.

 

[Lionheart22]

My cat loses his voice all the time, it's like his meower just breaks. It will just randomly start working again as the day goes on.

 

[MikeAW2010]

He still hasn't gained it back so off to the vet I go.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Let us know what happens!!

 

[MikeAW2010]

Diagnostics costed $725 ... ouch.

He's still there and I'm just waiting.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Oh wow!!! I sure hope they are doing a whole lot of stuff for that price! Keeping my fingers crossed that you get results and that there is a good outcome for your buddy!

 

[MikeAW2010]

Welp. I'm back home now. I'm a bit salty over this vet visit. They took XRays and bloodwork, and also opted to do a lab test. They told me his tonsils were swollen but they wanted to make sure it wasn't a tumor. I won't know any results until tomorrow. They also gave me a cup for a fecal exam. No medication was given for the inflammation and pain he may be incurring for it. So it was a $800 exam.

 

[FeebysOwner]

I know you and your wallet are in pain right about now, but I hope he isn't.

Get a copy of all his records, and make them explain every damn one to you - it ought to be built into the price.

It is time we know your guy's name and have a pic of him, if you feel up to it.

Whatever you do, continue to update us, please.

 

[Kflowers]

They maybe waiting to see what the inflation is from to prescribe the best antibody for the cause. Not every antibiotic works for everything. If you take the wrong one you end up having to go to a different doctor and pay for the same tests all over again and then get the right one.

There is a good chance that the vet doesn't want to tell you anything until they get the results of the lab test.

It maybe tonsillitis, which is something a lot of kids get and is curable. You don't take the tonsils out until you get it several times, at least with people.

 

[susanm9006]

Ouch. I had a kitten/young cat that got tonsillitis every couple months until she was about two. The only symptom she ever had was losing her voice.

 

[MikeAW2010]

His name is Ginger, he's about 8 years old. Had him since he was only a few months old. When I got him, he and his brother Marshmallow had a kitten flu and the animal shelter didn't think they were going to make it but I took them anyway. It was a bit of a struggle but after multiple vet visits, they survived. After that moment , whenever I come home he basically pulls me down while I'm standing and starts kneading me and will fall asleep on me. I have photos of him as a kitten somewhere. I have to find them.