claim: A video captures a cat with an extremely deep meow.
origin: In May 2017, a 2015Â video featuring a cat with an unusually deep voice inexplicably went viral, and was duly picked up by various tabloids: < Donâ€™t let this catâ€™s small stature fool you â€“ he has a bass voice that would put Barry White to shame. In a video filmed by the kittyâ€™s owner, heâ€™s just chilling on the kitchen counter. Unsurprisingly, his ridiculously low voice has gone viral, with a lot of people wondering how itâ€™s physically possible for such a tiny cat to produce such a noise. > There are several reasons to be skeptical about this footage. TheÂ video was originally posted to YouTube by â€œCash CatFlavaâ€ in December 2015, bearing the following description: < So this is Jack and he has some sort of type of laryngeal paralysis? At least thats what the vet told me. > Some cats do suffer laryngeal paralysis, but a deep meow is not a known symptom of the disease. Dr. Jessica Vogelsang, a California-based veterinarian with expertise in small animals, told us: < While certain medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism or masses can alter a catâ€™s meow, Iâ€™ve yet to see a cat who developed a deep and humanlike meow like this. Any change in a catâ€™s meow is a good reason to visit the vet because the meow shouldnâ€™t change over time! > According to the American College of Veterinarian Surgeons, a cat with laryngeal paralysis may display harsh panting or a coarse (not deeper) voice: < Â In dogs and cats with laryngeal paralysis, the muscles that normally pull the airway open do not function properly.Â When an affected pet breathes in, the walls of the airway do not pull openâ€”rather, they are sucked into the opening, or in severe cases sucked shut.Â Early in the condition, this creates increased noise when they breathe; later, it can completely obstruct their airway, and they can suffocate.The early signs of laryngeal paralysis can be quite subtle. You may notice: harshness in their panting increased panting or panting when cool and calm a hoarse or raspy-sounding bark > AÂ video of a cat suffering from laryngeal paralysis shows that their meows are not comically deep, but squeaky (and arguably a little sad):