Nasopharyngeal polyp in cats: stertor and how to find it
10-month-old domestic shorthair with a snoring-type respiratory noise for 2 months that worsens during sleep, open-mouth breathing after play, voice change and occasional gagging when eating. There is no ear discharge or head shaking.
What is the most direct way to confirm the main suspicion?
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A. Laryngoscopy in the awake cat to assess laryngeal movement
Stertor is a low-pitched noise of nasal or nasopharyngeal origin; the larynx produces stridor. Moreover, the nasopharynx is hidden behind the soft palate.
B. Thoracic radiographs to rule out feline asthma
Asthma causes coughing and expiratory wheezes, not an inspiratory snore with dysphagia and voice change.
C. Otoscopy: if the ear canals are normal, a polyp is ruled out
Many polyps grow into the nasopharynx through the auditory tube without reaching the external ear canal, so a normal ear does not rule them out.
D. Examine the oropharynx under sedation or anaesthesia, retracting the soft palate rostrally to view the nasopharynx
Correct. Stertor indicates nasal or nasopharyngeal obstruction, and in a young cat a nasopharyngeal polyp is the most likely cause. Under anaesthesia, retracting the soft palate with a blunt hook usually reveals the pink mass; the palate may appear bulged ventrally.
lightbulb Key takeaway
After removing a nasopharyngeal polyp by traction-avulsion, perform CT or bulla radiographs: if the bulla is affected, recurrence is more likely. Horner's syndrome and otitis media are common complications after removal.
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Updated: October 31, 2026 · Educational content for veterinary professionals. It does not replace current clinical guidelines or the judgement of the attending veterinarian.