Reverse Sneezing In Cats (Laryngospasm) Symptoms and Treatments

This uncommon but harmless condition may be a cause of alarm because it sounds as though the cat has something caught in an air passage. During an attack the cat violently pulls in air through the nose. This produces a loud snorting noise.

Reverse sneezing is caused by temporary spasm of the muscle of the larynx due to an accumulation of mucus at the back of the throat. The cat is perfectly normal before and after the attacks.

Laryngospasm was produced in anaesthetized and decerebrate cats by mechanical stimulation of the soft palate, pharynx, larynx and trachea. A local analgesic spray applied to the pharynx almost completely eliminated reflex closure of the larynx in response to mechanical stimulation and facilitated endotracheal intubation. The clinical observation that the trachea is more sensitive to stimulation at its distal end was confirmed. These results provide a sound experimental basis for intubation techniques in cats which have proved successful in clinical anaesthetic practice.

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