Cats make all sorts of vocalisations, from meowing to purring to trilling. And sometimes, cats burp! Also known as eructation, burping is the release of excess air from the stomach through the mouth. It’s usually caused by swallowing air while eating or drinking quickly.
“A cat burp might sound like a quiet gurgle, a soft belch, or even resemble a faint hiccup or cough,” explains Dr Nita Vasudevan, DVM, veterinary consultant for Embrace Pet Insurance. “Some cats may open their mouth slightly or make a quick gulping motion just before or during the burp.”
It’s not often you’ll hear your cat let out a burp. Cats primarily breathe through their noses, which means extra air doesn’t tend to enter their gastrointestinal tracts. Cats can burp occasionally, but they shouldn’t be burping regularly (say, daily). More frequent gas can be a sign that something’s going on in your cat’s sensitive biome.
Here’s what to know about cat burps—why they happen, what it means, and when to see a vet.
Why Are Cat Burps Uncommon?
Burping in cats is more subtle and way less common than it is in humans and dogs.
Because they don’t typically breathe through their mouths, cats are significantly less likely to wind up with excessive air in their stomach or oesophagus, according to Dr Preston Turano, DVM, veterinary advisor at ASPCA Pet Health Insurance. So when you see a cat burping a lot, it means they’re either actively swallowing air or breathing with their mouth open—both of which are red flags.
Reasons a Cat Is Burping
If your cat is belching daily, especially if they’ve never done it before, it’s a sign that something’s amiss. Here’s what might be going on.
Eating or drinking too fast
While most cats are slow and sometimes even dainty eaters, some cats gobble down their food like they haven’t eaten in years. If you have a kitty who’s a speedy eater and you notice them burping a lot, you can try puzzle bowls and automatic feeders to slow their eating pace.
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Respiratory problems
Open-mouth breathing, like panting, isn’t normal in cats, and it’s considered a sign of severe respiratory distress, explains Dr Turano. Cats who are burping because they’re panting may be dealing with asthma, lung diseases, or heart problems.
Note that open-mouth breathing is different from the Flehmen response, in which a cat opens their mouth to better take in smells.
Brachycephalic breeds
Flat-faced, or brachycephalic, cats like Persians, Himalayans, and British Shorthair cats are bred with short muzzles and narrow nostrils. These cats are more prone to nasal congestion and brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BAS), so they struggle to breathe out of their nose. They’re more likely to pant and might experience burping as a side effect.
Gastrointestinal problems
Some digestive problems can have burping as a less common side effect, say Dr Vasudevan and Dr Turano. Examples include:
- Acid reflux
- Oesophagitis (inflammation of the oesophagus)
- Hiatal hernias
- Impaired GI motility that causes frequent hairballs
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Food allergies
- Intestinal bacterial or parasitic infections
Medications
Burping isn’t a common or well-documented medication side effect in cats, says Dr Vasudevan. But some medications, like steroids, NSAIDs, and antibiotics, could potentially increase the risk of burp-inducing gastrointestinal issues, like gas, acid reflux, and reduced digestive motility.
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Do Kittens Need To Be Burped?
Nursing kittens, especially bottle-fed ones, are more likely to ingest air, so they might burp more frequently, Dr Turano says. Unlike human babies, nursing kittens don’t need to be burped. A simple burping episode resolves on its own. If you notice prolonged or recurring burping, contact your veterinarian.
Older kittens who speedily gulp down their food are more likely to hiccup rather than burp.
Unlike a single burp, Dr Vasudevan says hiccups are often noisier, happen in short bursts, and are more visibly obvious. Kittens with hiccups make a repetitive “hic” or “hup” noise, and their diaphragm and lower chest have a rhythmic jumping or spasming motion.
Importantly, their mouths stay shut, and they don’t look scared or like they’re in distress.
When To See a Vet
One or two burps every once in a while isn’t a medical concern. But if you notice your cat burping because they’re open-mouth breathing, Dr Turano says it’s considered an emergency and to seek veterinary care immediately.
Other concerning symptoms that might indicate your cat’s chronic burping spells have a more serious underlying cause include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Drooling
- Loss of appetite
- Sudden or drastic weight loss
- Hiding
- Uncharacteristic behaviours
