Kitten with hoarse/scratchy voice

Paraskevi

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 28, 2021
Messages
24
Purraise
13
Hi guys!
I adopted my kitten who used to be a stray some months ago and I've had her since she was about 2 months old. Ever since I got her she had a hoarse scratchy meowing and her meowing only becomes clear when she really wants to ask for something or is scared. Now she is 6 months old and still has the same voice. The vet said it's probably the result of a virus or cold she got when she was on the streets and it's normal. She also gets soft stool every two days or so which the vet also said is a result of a disease she got then, which damaged her intestines and that it will go away in months time. Other than this she acts normal, eats with huge appetite and is very energetic, mischievous and loving :lol: . I'm just hoping it's not an underlying condition that remains untreated. Do you guys know anything about this?
 

Kieka

Snowshoe Servant
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Sep 6, 2016
Messages
11,394
Purraise
19,964
Location
Southern California
Rocket has what I call the frog croak meow. She's a 7 year old tiny little dainty 6-7 pound cat with huge blue eyes. For reference:

20210417_202107.jpg


On the rare occasions when she meows, it sounds like a frog is imitating a cat. Think deep, gravely, bad mimicking of a meow. She doesn't even really get to a "normal" meow that most people think with cats, which is good since all three cats have very different meows and I can easily tell them apart.

To emphasize, one time I took her to the vet, Rocket hid under the bench seat in the exam room and meowed after the vet was done with the exam. The vet literally jumped and said she thought I only brought one cat, I had. Once we got Rocket back into her carrier, the vet still checked the room over thinking a cat must have snuck into the room (the office has two office cats and is a cat only practice, while the office cats are kept out of exam rooms its possible). It wasn't until Rocket meowed in her carrier that the vet finally believed Rocket did make that sound.

Rocket was a feral cat, so it is possible that she too got sick as a kitten and it affected her "voice". Rocket went to the vet a lot her first year for random moments of various problems (12 hour fevers, potty issues, general lethargy, etc). She's been pretty healthy since that first year, so if there was any lingering problem she has overcome it with time and supportive care.

But I do also have a 9 year old cat who is on the opposite end. His meow never became "adult". He still chirps, trills and meows very high pitch when he's trying to get human attention. He sounds just like a 8 to 16 week old kitten despite his age. My guess? Meows vary just like human voices and while most fall within a normal range, some don't. If your vet isn't worried about some lingering illness, I wouldn't worry either.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

Paraskevi

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 28, 2021
Messages
24
Purraise
13
Rocket has what I call the frog croak meow. She's a 7 year old tiny little dainty 6-7 pound cat with huge blue eyes. For reference:

View attachment 388550

On the rare occasions when she meows, it sounds like a frog is imitating a cat. Think deep, gravely, bad mimicking of a meow. She doesn't even really get to a "normal" meow that most people think with cats, which is good since all three cats have very different meows and I can easily tell them apart.

To emphasize, one time I took her to the vet, Rocket hid under the bench seat in the exam room and meowed after the vet was done with the exam. The vet literally jumped and said she thought I only brought one cat, I had. Once we got Rocket back into her carrier, the vet still checked the room over thinking a cat must have snuck into the room (the office has two office cats and is a cat only practice, while the office cats are kept out of exam rooms its possible). It wasn't until Rocket meowed in her carrier that the vet finally believed Rocket did make that sound.

Rocket was a feral cat, so it is possible that she too got sick as a kitten and it affected her "voice". Rocket went to the vet a lot her first year for random moments of various problems (12 hour fevers, potty issues, general lethargy, etc). She's been pretty healthy since that first year, so if there was any lingering problem she has overcome it with time and supportive care.

But I do also have a 9 year old cat who is on the opposite end. His meow never became "adult". He still chirps, trills and meows very high pitch when he's trying to get human attention. He sounds just like a 8 to 16 week old kitten despite his age. My guess? Meows vary just like human voices and while most fall within a normal range, some don't. If your vet isn't worried about some lingering illness, I wouldn't worry either.
Rocket is so cute!! Thanks for your answer. I guess they would have noticed if she had some type of respiratory disease when they checked her breathing so it must be just her voice. :kitty: It's adorable anyway I'm not complaining. :lol:
 

artiemom

Artie, my Angel; a part of my heart
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 22, 2014
Messages
11,122
Purraise
23,104
Location
near Boston
Geoffrey has a “squeaky “ vo
E0CAD43E-29BE-4A30-8F3A-DB26152F2555.jpeg
ice! Adopted at 2-4 years, so I do not know his history.

The new Vet laughed and wrote it in his chart that he “squeaks”.

My cousin’s cat came from a hoarder, at a young age. He has the squeaky voice also!!!

It took him a very long time to get into his loudest meow! It is kind of a cross between a meow/squeak/scream.
It really gets my attention!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

Paraskevi

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 28, 2021
Messages
24
Purraise
13
Geoffrey has a “squeaky “ voView attachment 388572ice! Adopted at 2-4 years, so I do not know his history.

The new Vet laughed and wrote it in his chart that he “squeaks”.

My cousin’s cat came from a hoarder, at a young age. He has the squeaky voice also!!!

It took him a very long time to get into his loudest meow! It is kind of a cross between a meow/squeak/scream.
It really gets my attention!
Wow turns out some cats have weird voices 🤣. Mine kinda sounds like a door that hasn't been oiled up for a long time, if I had to describe it some way. Really funny, I was just worried about it. 🤣
 
Top