Why is My Cat Drooling? | 11 Shocking Reasons and Warning Signs
Drooling and dribbling are often linked with dogs, but cats experience this condition too. While cats are not very big droolers, and mild drooling does nothing, an excess of it could be a point of concern. Being a caring companion, you wouldn’t want to see your kitten suffering from such a condition.
Spit bubbles and saliva can be spotted on your cat’s mouth during such a condition. A certain saliva amount can be considered normal, but assessing the situation, determining the cause, and seeking veterinary help is crucial to tackling this problem.
Let us guide you with some of the well-known reasons that could possibly be triggering drooling in cats!
11 Prominent Reasons for Cat Drooling | Know When it’s Normal and When Not?
Is it normal for cats to drool, or why is my cat drooling when I pet her? If you are one of those pet parents searching for the reasons for these concerning situations, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some of the expected feline hypersalivation causes exposed to help you address and handle such conditions!
01out of 111. Relaxation and Excitement
Terms like “blissful dribble” and “happy drool” are often used to refer to this condition. When cats are very relaxed and feeling super safe, they begin drooling as a sign of deep pleasure. It is considered normal dribbling, which is not a sign of any serious conditions. The possible reasons for excitement can be restful sleep or having delicious food. Besides, when they are gently held or cuddled by their owners, they become happy and purr or knead.
02out of 112. Dental & Cat Mouth Issues
Some mouth and dental disease in cats can also be the core cause of drooling in cats. Sometimes excessive saliva relates to cat food allergies, causing irritation. Constant cat drooling in cats can be due to discomfort and pain occurring because of oral issues, like stomatitis, broken teeth, periodontal disease, gingivitis, and tumors. Besides that, swollen and bleeding gums, bad breath, and loss of appetite signify that they are suffering from dental issues. These kinds of feline dental problems can be solved with tooth extractions under anesthesia and followed by antibiotics afterward.
03out of 113. Nausea
Abnormal drooling in cats can be due to another major reason, which is nausea. Nausea in cats occurs due to motion sickness when they are in the car. Additionally, dietary issues like fast eating, foreign objects, and spoiled food are some of the cats nausea symptoms. Plus, internal parasites, gastrointestinal issues, and medication side effects can bring your cats to this condition. After proper inspection, vets may recommend laboratory work for better organ functioning and relevant treatment. Felines profusely drool during such conditions.
04out of 114. Heatstroke
Heatstroke is often found in Persian cats when they are kept in a hot environment for too long. Cat drooling suddenly can be due to the fact that they are trying to cool themselves. In such a case, they experience excessive panting and saliva production, making a cat uncomfortable. Also, they begin breathing heavily, weaken, become disoriented, or even vomit due to prolonged exposure to the sun or a heated place. To get out of this life-threatening condition, move your cat to a cold place promptly and wet their coat with cool water. Before seeking any emergency assistance, offer them fresh drinking water.
05out of 115. Oral Cancer
Also referred to as “Oral cavity cancer”, this condition results in the lining of the upper throat, mouth, and lips. If you wonder why is my cat drooling a lot, notice symptoms like eating difficulty, mouth bleeding, bad breath, weight loss, and facial swelling. In addition to that, these malignant tumors cause pain, ulcers, inflammation, and majorly affect salivary gland function, resulting in too much saliva excretion. Have your felines examined by a vet who often recommends biopsy treatment.
Raw diets can worsen mouth irritation — learn more about the raw cat food diet
06out of 116. Stomach Upset
Dyspepsia, a condition of impaired digestion, is another possible reason for your cat’s drooling. The symptoms for this condition are heartburn, nausea, belching, heartburn, and upper abdominal pain. Cats feel fuller even before eating or sometimes get full earlier than expected. The reason why is my cat drooling excessively can be indigestion. Other than gastrointestinal upset, experiencing hairballs, lethargy, appetite loss, and behavioral changes can also cause dribbling. If drooling is accompanied by frequent regurgitation, learn why your cat is throwing up undigested food
07out of 117. Respiratory Infection
Worried about why is my cat drooling thick saliva? One of the main cat drooling causes is respiratory tract function. Because of oral ulcers, an upper respiratory infection majorly affects, causing difficulty in swallowing due to caliciviral. Sensitive cats may respond better to hypoallergenic cat food types. Fever, lethargy, decreased appetite, nasal discharge, and sneezing. Upon noticing these URI symptoms, seek a vet’s consultation to receive proper treatment.
08out of 118. Foreign Body
Chicken bones, strings, grass, or even toy parts are some of the widely observed foreign objects found in a cat’s mouth that are causing saliva to come out. Commonly, it’s a string wrapped around something in a cat’s intestine or stomach, causing damage. Instantly go to the nearest emergency clinic or vet office to get it treated. Such kinds of objects, when stuck in the throat or mouth, can cause irritation and difficulty in swallowing. Never attempt to remove these objects by yourself, as it could cause internal damage.
09out of 119. Trauma or Anxiety
If you are troubled by why does my cat drool when I pet him? Know that sometimes it’s not a medical condition; it simply may be due to cat stress or anxiety. During this period, you need to observe cat behavior changes, because as a physiological response to any overwhelming situation, they begin slobbering. This condition is not to worry about much because it subsides when that stressful time period is over. Cats prone to anxiety may benefit from routine feeding using automatic cat food dispensers. However, when severe illness signs are involved, a veterinarian visit should be considered.
Unexpected veterinary costs are common in emergency conditions — compare cat health insurance options
10out of 1110. Poison or Toxin Exposure
Sometimes cats ingest some harmful elements, it can be either cleaning products, toxic plants, medicines, or other substances. These kinds of elements can cause mouth irritation, nausea, intestinal upset, or oesophagus issues. The irritation triggers the saliva production due to the nervous system. Next time, before you wonder why my cat is drooling a lot, try checking their mouth to eliminate the poison, chemical, or object. Next, take them to the vet right away for emergency treatment.
Some foods are dangerous across pets — see foods toxic to birds to understand cross-species safety patterns
11out of 1111. Rabies
If your cats are vaccinated, rabies will be rare to find in them. However, when it happens, you will notice some nervous system abnormalities and changes in behaviour. Rabies-affected cats excessively drool and need to be vaccinated immediately. Upon noticing any clinical sign, a veterinarian will recommend quarantine. The vet will even go with humane euthanasia. Rabies in cats can be dangerous to human health as well. Don’t stress, why my cat is drooling because it needs a veterinary diagnosis from the samples taken after death.
When to Consult With a Veterinarian for Cat Drooling?
Although it is unusual for felines to dribble, if you are worried, Why is my cat drooling so much, It is always safe to take your cat for a wellness exam and discover the possible reasons with a veterinarian. If your cat is not behaving normally and drooling excessively, instantly make an appointment with your vet
If drooling causes appetite loss, explore healthy cat food options. When cats drool, they won’t eat well or behave normally. Besides, they try to hide themselves and vomit a lot, accompanied by lethargy and difficulty in breathing. If you suspect a toxin ingestion, an urgent wellness appointment with a veterinarian should be considered.
“According to guidance from the Cornell Feline Health Center, excessive drooling can signal oral disease, toxin exposure, or underlying health conditions, and professional evaluation is recommended.“
Final Thoughts
Drooling and dribbling in cats is uncommon, as it is usually found in dogs, and it can be due to a variety of reasons. Sometimes it can be due to excitement and contentment, and they purr and drool in this state. But too much drooling can be a cause of concern because it indicates some hidden conditions that could potentially ruin your cat’s health. All the expected health or medical conditions have been listed above to let you know to take the best possible measures. For serious conditions like excessive vomiting, heatstroke, and poisoning, you can take your cat to a veterinarian for treatment. Also, get to know when to worry about cat drooling and seek medical or vet assistance.
01out of 01Read These Related Cat Health Guides
Why does my cat throw up undigested food?
Cat Food Allergies, Warning Signs, Causes & Symptoms
Best Canned Cat Food For Sensitive Cats
Raw Cat Food Diet Safety For Beginners
