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My cat opens his mouth to meow but makes no noise. Is he sick?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male

My cat does not meow. He opens his mouth like he is meowing but makes no noise. He can purr but does not meow. Should I be concerned?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on January 28th, 2017

If Yoshi was able to meow before and now can't, then yes I would be concerned as that can be a sign of a respiratory infection. If he's always been like this, then I wouldn't be concerned as some cats do have silent meows. Have Yoshi seen by a vet if this is a new behavior in him.

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