In our childhood, we all competed with our friends about who could hold their breath the longest. However, the real question is, can cats hold their breath?
Well, the answer to this question depends upon the circumstances. If your feline has to hold their breath to survive, such as underwater, they will surely hold their breath. However, unlike humans, cats won’t stop breathing just because they want to impress other cats.
Keep on reading to learn how long cats can hold their breath and can they suffocate?
Table of Contents
Why Do Cats Hold Their Breath?
The question is not, “can cats hold their breath?”; it is “when and why does your cat hold their breath?”. Cats won’t compete with other felines about who can hold their breath the longest. Instead, they will only stop inhaling due to reflex action.
For instance, if your feline is underwater, he/she will hold their breath to survive. This action is completely involuntary to prevent water from entering their lungs and eventually drowning. Furthermore, your feline can also hold their breath because of some sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea.
Can Cats Suffocate?
Most people think cats are aloof, but they are quite intelligent. A cat will never try to suffocate itself willingly. Cats have higher survival instincts. So, if your cat is about to be suffocated, it will escape immediately.
Suffocation in cats can occur by accident. Here are some of the most common symptoms of suffocation in cats:
- Signs of discomfort
- Brooding
- Coughing
- Clawing in their mouth
- Retching
- Gagging
- Distress.
Keep in mind that suffocation can easily set the eternal bed for your little furball. So, if you see any of these symptoms, visit your veterinarian immediately!
Signs That Your Cat Is Struggling to Breath
Just like humans, sometimes, cats can also struggle to breathe. If your feline is struggling to breathe, you will notice some obvious signs of difficulty and distress. To give you a better perspective, below, we have compiled a list of symptoms that will indicate your cat is having trouble breathing:
- Difficulty to move
- Raspy breath
- Visible distress
- Collapsing
- Coughing
- Retching
- Lethargy
- Labored breathing
- Panting
Can Cats Go Underwater?
We all know that cats don’t like water. They don’t like drinking it or diving into it. However, if your cat accidentally slips into a pool, you don’t have to imagine the worst.
Cats can go underwater. Just like all other mammals, cats also have a mammalian diving reflex that prevents them from inhaling water and drowning. Plus, your feline also has a high sense of survival instincts. So, they will try to hold their breath underwater for a longer period of time to survive.
Final Words
Can cats hold their breath? Cats won’t hold their breath willingly. They have a great sense of survival instincts that prevent them from suffocating themselves.
That being said, if your feline is underwater, he/she will surely hold their breath to prevent water from getting into their body and eventually drowning.
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