# Why Does My Cat Snore? Normal Noises vs Warning Signs Snoring in cats is common and often harmless, especially in flat-faced breeds or during deep sleep. But is it normal for cats to snore every night, or does it point to a health problem? The answer depends on the sound, how often it happens, and whether your cat has other symptoms. This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. ## Quick Answer - Occasional snoring during deep sleep is usually normal, particularly in flat-faced breeds like Persians and Himalayans. - Snoring that starts suddenly, gets worse over weeks, or comes with noisy breathing while awake needs a vet visit. - Stertor (a snoring-like sound while awake) is a common sign of nasopharyngeal disease in cats, and it is linked to a much higher chance of a blockage in the back of the nose [1]. - Obesity, nasal polyps, chronic rhinitis, and growth hormone disorders can all cause or worsen snoring. - Record a short video of the sound on your phone. It helps your vet more than a description. ## What Cat Snoring Looks and Sounds Like True snoring is a low, rattling or vibrating sound made when air moves past relaxed tissue in the throat or nose during sleep. Your cat is asleep, breathing steadily, and the noise stops or changes when she shifts position. Some cats make noise only when curled in a certain way. Others snore every night. Both can be normal. ### Normal vs. Not Normal Normal sleep snoring: - Happens only during sleep - Stops when your cat wakes up - Does not come with coughing, gagging, or open-mouth breathing - Has been present for months or years without getting worse Not normal: - Noisy breathing while awake - Sound that is getting louder or more frequent - Breathing that looks effortful, with the belly moving hard - Any change in appetite, energy, or weight ### Do Cats Snore? Yes. Cats snore for the same basic reason people do. When the soft tissues of the upper airway relax during sleep, airflow makes them vibrate. Short-nosed (brachycephalic) cats have narrower airways, so they snore more often. Older cats and overweight cats also snore more. ### Is It Normal for Kittens to Snore? Kittens can snore, and mild snoring in a kitten is often harmless. But a kitten who snores loudly, breathes noisily while awake, or has nasal discharge should be checked. Young cats can develop nasopharyngeal stenosis, a narrowing at the back of the nasal cavity. In one study of 21 cats with this condition, ages ranged from 6 months to 14 years [2]. So a kitten with ongoing noisy breathing is not something to dismiss. ## Why Does My Cat Snore? Main Causes The table below covers the most common reasons cats snore, what each one looks like, and how quickly you should act. | Cause | Typical clues | How urgent | |---|---|---| | Normal sleep snoring | Only during sleep, stable for months, no other signs | Routine | | Brachycephalic anatomy | Flat face, snorts and snores since kittenhood | Routine, mention at next exam | | Obesity | Slow weight gain, snoring worse after weight gain | Routine visit soon | | Chronic rhinitis or nasal disease | Nasal discharge, sneezing, crusting, snoring while awake | Visit within days | | Nasopharyngeal stenosis | Constant stertor, no sneezing, trouble breathing | Visit within days | | Nasal polyp or mass | One-sided noise or discharge, worsening over weeks | Visit within days | | Laryngopharyngeal web or obstruction | Loud stertor, trouble swallowing, weight loss | Urgent | | Growth hormone excess (hypersomatotropism) | Increased appetite, hard-to-control diabetes, stertor | Visit soon | ### Sleep-Related Snoring This is the harmless kind. The sound appears only in deep sleep and disappears when your cat wakes. Nothing else changes. Keep an eye on it, but no treatment is needed. ### Breed Anatomy Persians, Himalayans, Burmese, and other flat-faced cats have shortened skulls and narrow nostrils. Snoring is often a lifelong trait for them. It still deserves a mention at your cat's yearly exam, because these cats can also have more serious airway problems. ### Obesity Extra body fat narrows the airway and pushes on the chest. If your cat has gained weight and the snoring started around the same time, weight loss is often the single most useful step. Your vet can help you plan a safe diet. ### Nasal and Nasopharyngeal Disease This is where snoring becomes a real clue. In a study of 167 cats with nasal or nasopharyngeal disease, stertor was strongly linked to nasopharyngeal disease (odds ratio 10.1), and dyspnea (labored breathing) was also linked to it (odds ratio 6.5) [1]. Cats with nasopharyngeal disease were also less likely to sneeze [1]. That matters, because owners often expect sneezing with a "nose problem." Nasopharyngeal stenosis is an uncommon narrowing at the back of the nose. In 21 affected cats, the most common sign was permanent stertor (19 of 21 cats), followed by increased breathing effort (9 of 21), nasal discharge (9 of 21), and cough or reverse sneezing (6 of 21). Signs lasted from 3 to 60 months before diagnosis [2]. That long delay is a reminder that "he has always been noisy" does not always mean "he is fine." Some cats have more than one problem at once. One older cat had a membranous web at the laryngopharynx plus nasopharyngeal narrowing, causing near-complete airway obstruction, along with stertor, trouble swallowing, and severe weight loss [3]. Complex airway disease can build slowly. ### Hormonal Disease Rarely, snoring points to a hormone problem. About 15 to 25 percent of diabetic cats have diabetes caused by excess growth hormone, a condition called hypersomatotropism [4]. Many of these cats do not show the classic "acromegaly" appearance. Instead, clues include a marked increase in appetite, stertor, or diabetes that is hard to control [4]. If your cat has diabetes and snores, tell your vet. ### Anesthesia-Related Swelling A separate and unrelated finding: in one report, a cat's salivary glands swelled symmetrically during general anesthesia, a harmless and temporary condition called "anesthesia mumps" [5]. This is not a cause of snoring at home, but it is a reminder that airway noise during a procedure can have its own explanations. ## Red Flags That Mean Emergency Go to an emergency clinic now if your cat: - Breathes with an open mouth - Has blue, gray, or pale gums - Breathes with the belly or sides heaving hard - Cannot settle, paces, or holds the neck stretched out - Collapses or seems to faint - Makes a loud, harsh noise with every breath while awake Labored breathing is one of the signs linked to nasopharyngeal disease in cats [1]. If your cat is working hard to breathe, do not wait for a morning appointment. For more on this, see [Cat Difficulty Breathing: Emergency Signs and What to Do](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/online-vet-and-care-costs/cat-difficulty-breathing-emergency). ## Safe Things You Can Do at Home While you wait for your appointment: - Record a 30-second video of the snoring, both asleep and awake. - Note when it started and whether it is getting worse. - Count your cat's breaths per minute while resting. - Keep the air clean. Avoid smoke, strong sprays, and dusty litter. - Use a humidifier if the air in your home is dry. - Do not give any medication, including human decongestants or antihistamines. Some are toxic to cats. - Do not put anything in your cat's nose. - Keep food and water easy to reach, and note any change in appetite. If your cat has other symptoms, these guides can help you sort out what you are seeing: [Why Is My Cat Sneezing?](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/symptom-guides/why-is-my-cat-sneezing) and [Cat Breathing Fast While Sleeping: When to Worry](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/vet-visit-decisions/cat-breathing-fast-sleeping-worry). ## What Your Veterinarian Will Check Your vet will start with a full physical exam, including the nose, mouth, throat, and lymph nodes. They will listen to the airway and lungs and check your cat's weight and body condition. Next steps may include: - Blood work, including a glucose check and, if diabetes is present, an IGF1 level to look for excess growth hormone [4] - Skull and chest X-rays - CT scan, which was used to help diagnose 19 of 21 cats with nasopharyngeal stenosis in one study [2] - Endoscopy, which was used in all 21 of those cats and allows direct viewing of the airway [2] - Biopsy if a mass or web is found Treatment depends on the cause. Nasopharyngeal stenosis can be treated with balloon dilation or surgery. In one study, 11 of 12 cats treated with endoscopic balloon dilation had complete resolution of signs, and two of those cats needed a second dilation [2]. Your vet will explain which option fits your cat. ## Prevention and Monitoring You cannot prevent every cause of snoring, but you can lower the odds and catch problems early: - Keep your cat at a healthy weight. - Schedule yearly exams, and twice-yearly for seniors or flat-faced breeds. - Track your cat's breathing at rest once a month. A calm sleeping cat should breathe quietly and steadily. - Watch for changes in appetite, thirst, and energy, since these can point to hormonal disease [4]. - Treat nasal infections promptly and follow up if signs do not clear. - If your cat has dental disease or bad breath along with noisy breathing, ask about a dental exam. See [Cat Bad Breath: When Is It a Sign of Illness?](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/vet-visit-decisions/cat-bad-breath-when-to-worry). ## Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian This article cannot tell you what is causing your cat's snoring. Only a veterinarian who examines your cat can do that. Individual cases need a veterinarian. Contact a vet the same day if your cat: - Starts snoring suddenly after never snoring before - Has noisy breathing while awake - Has nasal discharge, especially from one side - Is eating less, losing weight, or acting tired - Has diabetes and new snoring or a big appetite increase [4] Go to an emergency clinic right away if your cat: - Breathes with an open mouth - Has trouble breathing at rest - Has pale or blue gums - Cannot swallow or is drooling heavily - Collapses Call a routine visit if the snoring is mild, only happens in sleep, and nothing else has changed. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Should I worry if my cat snores every night? Not always. Steady snoring that only happens during sleep and has not changed for months is usually harmless. Worry more about new snoring, louder snoring, or noise while your cat is awake. ### Can snoring mean my cat has a blocked airway? It can. Stertor, a snoring-like sound while awake, is strongly linked to nasopharyngeal disease in cats [1]. A vet exam with imaging or endoscopy is the way to find out. ### Does my cat's weight affect snoring? Yes. Extra weight narrows the airway and makes snoring more likely. If your cat gained weight and then started snoring, ask your vet about a safe weight loss plan. ### My cat snores and has a big appetite. What could that mean? A marked increase in appetite along with stertor can be a clue to excess growth hormone, especially in a cat with diabetes [4]. Ask your vet about testing. ### Can I give my cat anything at home to stop the snoring? No. Do not give human cold medicines, antihistamines, or decongestants. Some are toxic to cats. Keep the air clean and humid, and let your vet decide on treatment. ## Related Articles - [Why Does My Cat's Breath Smell?](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/dental-care/why-does-my-cats-breath-smell) - [Cat Breathing Fast While Sleeping: When to Worry](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/vet-visit-decisions/cat-breathing-fast-sleeping-worry) - [Why Is My Cat Sneezing?](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/symptom-guides/why-is-my-cat-sneezing) - [Cat Difficulty Breathing: Emergency Signs and What to Do](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/online-vet-and-care-costs/cat-difficulty-breathing-emergency) - [Cat Bad Breath: When Is It a Sign of Illness?](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/vet-visit-decisions/cat-bad-breath-when-to-worry) - [Why Is My Cat Sneezing So Much And Coughing](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/symptom-guides/why-is-my-cat-sneezing-so-much-and-coughing) ## References 1. [Association between signalment and clinical signs, and nasal and nasopharyngeal diseases type and localization in dogs and cats](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41742593/). Journal of veterinary internal medicine, 2026. 2. [Nasopharyngeal stenosis in cats: a retrospective study of 21 cases comparing endoscopic and surgical treatment (2018-2022)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39540664/). Journal of feline medicine and surgery, 2024. 3. [Atypical Inflammatory Laryngopharyngeal Web With Concurrent Nasopharyngeal Stenosis in an Older Cat](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42746947/). Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association, 2026. 4. [Feline Comorbidities: Hypersomatotropism-induced diabetes in cats](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38323402/). Journal of feline medicine and surgery, 2024. 5. [A case of anesthesia mumps in a cat captured with magnetic resonance imaging](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41142971/). The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne, 2025. ## Further Reading - [Merck Veterinary Manual: Cat Owners](https://www.merckvetmanual.com/cat-owners) - [Cornell Feline Health Center: Health Information](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information) - [American Veterinary Medical Association: Pet Care](https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare)