Cats are sweet and loving creatures, and as owners, we may be concerned about the tiniest details. Cats make a lot of noise on their own. Sometimes they purr, sometimes they chatter, sometimes they click. But a popping noise from a cat’s stomach can be confusing and worrying. If your cat’s stomach sounds like pop rocks, this article is for you.
Now you might be wondering what causes this sound.
What causes a popping sound in your cat’s stomach?
Reasons your cat’s stomach is making a popping sound include normal digestion, parasites, inflammatory disease, and digestive tract issues.
Normal digestion
Luckily, most of the time a cat’s stomach is popping like pop rocks is because of normal digestion. The popping sound coming from your cat’s stomach is often associated with Borborygmi. Borborygmi are digestive sounds produced during normal digestive activity by gastrointestinal movement and gas release. If your cat is habitually gassy, you should check out the best cat food for gassy cats.
The noises can be described by cat owners as either popping or gurgling sounds, and they are likely to occur if the cat ingests a lot of air while eating. For instance, when we offer them their favorite food and they eat it too quickly. To avoid the popping sounds coming from your cat’s stomach, you should feed your cat in smaller but more frequent portions.
While your cat is likely fine, there is a chance the popping sound is caused by a more serious problem. If the popping sounds are louder than usual, occur for an extended of time, or is accompanied by any other strange behavior or symptoms, the problem could be more serious. Below are some of the more harmful causes of popping sounds in a cat’s stomach.
Parasites
Popping sounds coming from your cat’s stomach may indicate the presence of parasites. If the popping sounds are followed by diarrhea, your cat is most likely infected with coccidia or giardia. Parasites can be dangerous for cats who are young, old, or already sick because they restrict nutrients and cause dehydration, However, healthy adult cats may not exhibit any signs of parasitic infection.
Because it is not always easy to identify a parasite, you should take your cat to a veterinarian right away if you assume the popping sound is caused by parasites. Not only will the veterinarian be able to select the best treatment, but they will also be able to confirm the infestation and rule out any other pathology that may be present. If you are in a pinch, you can use coconut oil for fleas on cats.
Inflammatory Intestinal Disease
If you hear popping sounds coming from your cat’s stomach for a longer duration, it may be the cause of inflammatory intestinal disease. This condition is common in older felines, and it is usually accompanied by vomiting and weight loss.
Because the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease can be mild, nonspecific, and difficult to diagnose, you may need to take your cat to the vet for an endoscopy and/or biopsy.
Digestive Tract Disorder
There are numerous digestive tract disorders that could be causing your cat’s stomach to produce popping sounds. In this section, we’ll look at some of the digestion-related disorders and conditions.
Indigestion
Indigestion occurs when food gets stuck in a cat’s digestive tract, resulting in an impacted bowel. It can happen if they consume too much food quickly. Indigestion can be distressing for a cat, but it usually resolves on its own unless it is chronic. If your cat’s indigestion is chronic, it may require veterinary care.
Foreign body
Small objects, plastic pieces, or other foreign bodies can obstruct your cat’s intestinal transit and cause problems, as well as popping sounds in their stomach. Furthermore, your cat may also suffer from reflux, discomfort, or intestinal perforation. If your cat is vomiting and has a lack of appetite, in addition to the popping sounds, it may have a foreign body stuck in its intestinal transit. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should consult a veterinarian right away.
Dysbiosis
Dysbiosis occurs when the flora of a cat’s digestive tract changes, sometimes resulting in a buildup of possibly harmful gut flora. This can result in popping sounds in your cat’s stomach. If your cat’s digestive tract does not heal on its own, you should see a veterinarian.
Malabsorption
Malabsorption occurs when a cat is unable to digest food properly, to the point where nutrients are not properly absorbed into the bloodstream. You may notice popping noises as well as an increase in food intake but no weight gain if your cat has this condition. Malabsorption is usually caused by pancreatic issues and must be treated by a veterinarian.
Conclusion
As you’ve seen, popping noises from your cat’s stomach is usually not a cause for concern. However, we must be vigilant in case something more dangerous is causing these sounds. You should be on the lookout for any other accompanying symptoms. If you notice any, you should take your cat to a veterinarian right away.
