My cat has lost his meow!

[MimiSam]

My cat, who is normally quite vocal, is looking as if he is meowing, but no sound is coming out. He has just been under anaesthetic, having stitches in a nasty bite wound. He has definitely meowed since then (yesterday), but this evening isn't making a sound...I think he is upset at having to wear one of those lampshade colour things around his neck to stop him licking the wound and at being kept inside, but can cats lose their voice for a psychological reason?

He may have some inflammation around his vocal cords due to the endotracheal tube in his throat. It may have taken a few hours to appear. We always warn cat owners of this after an anaesthetic.

Sparkling Cat had that after her dental, and we were warned it was because of the tube. Very strange having no miaow.

at bite wound. Fighting?

i have a half siamese and though i thought he would be a yapper he never meows just dosent open his mouth and the 3-4 times he has meowed in 2 yrs he has this little sqeauk its weird

He looks as if he ought to have a yowl like a foghorn!

cozie when i first saw him at 7 months old at the rescue thats what i thought but no he just looks at me with those big baby blue eyes never opens his mouth to meow, the ginger and white one with the long hair has a gob like the mersey tunnel

Just idle musing, issey, but I don't know if you know any of his history before the rescue. Is there any chance that he was mistreated as a little 'un - maybe got his voicebox damaged or something?

cozie no all i know is he was born to a feral mom and taken from mom when he was six weeks old with his siblings and fostered till he came into the rescue at 7 months old by a lovely lady who has his sister they eventually caught mom and spayed and released her back as she is feral and not just a stray

Only a thought. His being early raised by a feral Mum may be more to do with it. They don't always talk so much - other than the range of warning sounds.

Sorry for the slight hijack Mimi. How's the boy's meow doing?

cozie thats my thoughts too taught early to be quiet OP hope your furry gets his voice back soon

Thanks for the advice that it is normal after an anaesthetic (feel a bit silly for suggesting it might have been psychological, but, hey, I'm relatively new to cat-owning, so what do I know?!)
No, he still hasn't got his voice back and this is the 4th day...anyone know how long it should take?

Lone is really the best person to ask about that although I'd have thought myself that any inflammation would have gone down by now. But maybe he's reluctant to actually meow if he's come to know that it hurts over the past few days.

Is he he still doing the mouth opening but no noise coming out thing?