Can Cats Get the Hiccups (5 Better Ways to Prevent Them)

We’ve all experienced that stubborn hiccups that never end. But have you ever wondered, can cats get the hiccups? Can you imagine your feline friend going through the same predicament?

Have you noticed any similar behavior from your feline friend? Could it be hiccups or something else? Can this behavior be related to your cat gagging in any way?

Getting a better understanding of some of the above queries would help you know better about cats’ hiccups and how you can help them to deal better with them.

Let’s get started.

Can Cats Get the Hiccups?

Cats just like people and other mammals can get hiccups. Hiccups in felines are mostly caused by your cat’s appetite. This could be due to your cat overeating, eating too fast, or sometimes swallowing food that hasn’t been chewed properly. This behavior results in them swallowing extra pockets of air that later causes spasms in their diaphragm – leading to hiccups.

Spasm in the diaphragm is the sudden involuntary muscular contraction or convulsion movement normally associated with hiccups.

Another cause of hiccups in cats could be hairballs. Cats are known to be excessive groomers and therefore end up ingesting extra hair when cleaning themselves. Hairballs can cause spasms in the diaphragm from the irritation caused by the hairballs leading to hiccups.

Hiccups could also be a result of anxiety in cats as is the case with human beings. Emotional distress such as discomfort or separation anxiety has been associated with causing hiccups in cats.

But are hiccups in cats normal?

Are Cat Hiccups Normal?

Yes, hiccups in cats are very much normal. Hiccups in cats are less common than in dogs. You are more likely to notice hiccups in kittens than in older cats. Cats tend to eat at a very fast pace leading to them not properly chewing their food, and end up taking in extra air that ends up causing spasms in the diaphragm. Leading to hiccups.

Hiccups can be quite concerning especially if you are experiencing them for the first time.

If you notice your cat has been having more frequent hiccups than usual you should have him checked by your local vet. This could also mean that your cat’s hiccups could be lasting hours than normal hiccups.

In such cases, your vet could be looking at some other underlying medical conditions that could be leading to these frequent hiccups. These underlying conditions causing frequent hiccups may include:

• Heart disease
• Organ disease
• Tumors
• Ingestion of a foreign object
• Severe Allergies
• Parasites

It’s, therefore, very important to get your cat checked by your local vet as soon as you notice your cat experiencing frequent hiccups lasting for longer periods. Avoid any home remedies in such cases and let your vet advise on the best way to treat the condition.

Getting Rid and Preventing Hiccups in Cats

It’s important to first identify the root cause of the hiccups before identifying the right cause of action to take.

Getting rid of your cat’s hiccups caused by overeating or eating too fast can be addressed as follows:

Raising of the feeding area: Raising your cat’s feeding area will help prevent them from eating too fast as they’ll have to control their portion during their mealtime. This will also ensure that they get to chew their food much better before going for the second scope of their favorite meal.

It’s also recommended to control food portion amount so as to prevent your feline friend from overeating. Automatic feeders could also come in handy.

Using automatic cat feeders: Automating your cat’s feeding portion is another alternative that could help with controlling your cat’s hiccups. Automatic cat feeders are able to disperse food to your cat within the specified time period.

This helps with ensuring your cat doesn’t eat too fast or doesn’t end up eating too much that could later lead to hiccups. Controlled portions end up forcing your cat to eat much more slowly preventing them from swallowing food that hasn’t been chewed well.

Change in diet (fine-grained texture): Changing your cat’s diet could also help with preventing hiccups. Cat’s are known to not properly chew their food therefore allowing pockets of airs that may later on trigger hiccups.

A change in diet, especially trying out different textures of dry cat food might help with this. Finer food texture should be much easier to consume and would let in a lesser amount of air than larger dry foods, hence preventing hiccups to your feline friend.

Drinking from flowing water: A common cure to hiccups that human beings also rely on is drinking water. This has proven to help suppress hiccups not only in human beings but in cats as well. Ensuring that your cat has enough water before you leave the house could really help in preventing hiccups. Some cats prefer running water with a large water capacity.

It’s recommended to not take any home remedies to try and suppress recurring hiccups that last for longer periods. You are advised to always seek medical attention from your local vet.

When it comes to hiccups caused by hairballs due to their excessive grooming nature. Ensuring that they are groomed much more regularly. Brushing and bathing your cat thoroughly will help prevent them from ingesting hairballs that could later trigger a spasm in their diaphragm.

Working with anti-hairball treats and cat hairball gel could also help with treating any loose fur that could lead to the formation of hairballs.

Final Thoughts

Cats just like human beings can get hiccups. Hiccups in cats are mostly contributed by their feeding behavior. Eating too fast, not chewing properly and overeating have been identified as the most common reasons.

Learning to control the speed at which your cat eats as well as controlling their portion will really go a long way in helping to prevent your cats from hiccups. Don’t hesitate to take your feline friend to your local vet in case the situation persists for hours as that could be a sign of some medical condition.