FYI–when this issue first started, we took chest x-rays of my cat (his name is Miles). The x-ray revealed two masses on his heart, which our regular vet automatically diagnosed as tumors. We went to the specialist for an ultrasound the next day (amazingly only cost $100)–upon examining the masses via ultrasound, the radiologist assured me that the masses were only fluid filled cysts. She seemed completely unconcerned about the cysts and went so far as to say that they could have been there his whole life (he’s 10-years-old), and that she didn’t think they had anything to do with his breathing “issues.”

We’ve since tried a two-week stint on antibiotics to rule out upper respiratory infections, a blood pressure test to rule out cardiomyopathy, all possible blood work, a urinalysis, a bronchial/esophageal scope to rule out tumors in those areas, and a second round of chest x-rays to confirm that the cysts haven’t grown at all .talk about frustrating and expensive!

All that and none of the vets have ever seen Miles’s gurgling, since he never purrs when we’re at the vet. I’m going to have another vet do a home visit, so at least a professional can see the problems he is having…it’s really heartbreaking when he’s having the episodes..I’ve also heard about the L-Lysine, so I’m going to try that too.

I found another page today that you might find interesting: http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=28274.
In particular, the stories about Jake and Bird seemed helpful (and familiar).

Thanks again.

Charlie still gurgles and at times he stops eating. I have had good luck getting him to eat babyfood (turkey or chicken) when he refuses all else. The vaporizer runs continuously which also helps, and I give my Lysine every day in his babyfood. He will likely be on Lysine the rest of his life.

Until I can come up with the $500.00 needed for an ultra sound it is likely, I won’t have an answer to his gurgles. But again, it is also likely the ultrasound won’t show anything and be “inconclusive” at best. Which is why I haven’t scheduled him for it. He is active, for the most part healthy and will soon be neutered. For the first time, I am nervous about getting a kitten neutered. I will be asking they run full bloodwork prior to the surgery and that they take great care in putting him under. My husband calls him the bionic kitten because of how much money he has swallowed. I really don’t want to lose him because of a neuter surgery gone terribly wrong.

Also, do you know the name of the shot he received “to try and move some of the air through his system?”

My cat has been in and out of the vet numerous times for his seemingly hitching breath and gurgling purr, but all of the tests are coming back normal. In addition, the sounds only occur when he’s purring (which he never does at the vet), so I’m really the only person who has seen the condition.

Any details you could provide would be greatly appreciated!