Understanding Why Your Cat Is Drooling: Normal vs. Concerning Signs
While dogs drooling is common and often expected, cat drooling is relatively unusual and can catch pet owners off guard. Known medically as ptyalism, feline drooling can range from perfectly benign to a sign of serious health issues. Understanding the difference can help you determine when to simply observe your kitty and when to seek veterinary attention.
When Is Cat Drooling Considered Normal?
Though not typical on a daily basis, some cat drooling is completely harmless. Certain situations may cause your cat to salivate lightly:
- Relaxation and Contentment: Some cats drool when they're being petted, cuddling, kneading, or purring. This behavior can stem from kittenhood, when kneading and nursing were soothing experiences.
- Sleeping: Occasionally, a deeply relaxed or tired cat might drool slightly while sleeping.
- Excitement About Food: Anticipating a favorite treat or smelling irresistible aromas can spark temporary drooling.
- Teething in Kittens: Young felines between 2 to 6 months old might drool more frequently during teething.
In these cases, infrequent and mild drooling is nothing to worry about. There are no signs of illness, and the behavior is situational.
When Should You Be Concerned?
Drooling that is persistent, sudden, excessive, or accompanied by other symptoms may signal a more serious issue. Common conditions associated with abnormal drooling in cats include:
1. Dental or Oral Disease
- Gingivitis and periodontal disease
- Oral ulcers and stomatitis
- Broken or infected teeth
- Mouth wounds or bleeding
Look for additional warning signs like bad breath, reduced appetite, weight loss, and pawing at the mouth.
2. Oral Foreign Bodies
Objects such as string, toy parts, or grass can get lodged in your cat’s mouth, causing drooling. Attempting to remove the object yourself can cause more harm, so always consult your vet.
3. Exposure to Toxins
Ingested or chewed substances like lilies, cleaning agents, human medication, or pest control products could lead to chemical burns and excessive salivation. Emergency care is crucial in such cases.
4. Gastrointestinal Upset or Nausea
Nausea can result from hairballs, parasites, kidney or liver disease, poisoning, or motion sickness. Look for signs like vomiting, loss of appetite, and lethargy.
5. Stress or Anxiety
Cats can drool temporarily under stress, such as during vet visits, car rides, or loud noises. This type of drooling typically stops once your cat calms down.
6. Oral Trauma
Injuries caused by accidents, fights, or electrical cord chewing can damage oral structures, leading to bleeding and drooling. These cases require immediate veterinary attention.
7. Heatstroke
Overheating may cause salivation, panting, lethargy, and collapse. This is a medical emergency.
8. Upper Respiratory Infections
Infections that block nasal passages can force cats to breathe through their mouths, resulting in drooling.
9. Neurological or Systemic Conditions
- Nerve disorders affecting swallowing
- Mouth tumors
- Allergic reactions
- Rabies (though rare in vaccinated cats)
How to Evaluate Drooling in Your Cat
- Normal drooling: Mild, temporary, and occurs during positive experiences.
- Abnormal drooling: Persistent, large in volume, and often paired with warning signs like behavior changes, appetite loss, foul breath, injuries, vomiting, or lethargy.
Taking Action: What to Do If Your Cat Is Drooling
- Monitor: Observe if the drooling correlates with comfort, excitement, or a specific trigger. If no other symptoms appear, it may not be serious.
- Check (if safe): Look in your cat’s mouth for signs of injury or stuck objects. Proceed carefully—cats in pain may react aggressively.
- Visit the Vet: If drooling is new, excessive, continuous, or includes other distress signals, schedule an examination immediately.
Veterinary Diagnosis and Treatment
Your veterinarian may perform:
- Physical oral exam
- Blood tests and urinalysis
- Imaging to check for internal issues or foreign bodies
- Screening for infectious diseases or exposure to toxins
Treatment will depend on the cause—ranging from dental procedures and medications to toxin antidotes or surgery.
Prevention Tips
- Oral hygiene: Brush your cat’s teeth regularly using products made for cats.
- Toxin safety: Keep houseplants, human medicines, and chemicals safely stored.
- Environmental safety: Remove small, chewable items from your cat’s environment.
- Summer care: Keep your cat cool and well-hydrated.
- Routine check-ups: Annual vet visits can catch early signs of drooling-related conditions.
Conclusion
Drooling can be a sweet sign of happiness or a red flag for your cat’s health. Periodic, mild drooling during purring or petting is often harmless. But if your cat’s salivation is persistent or severe, or you observe additional symptoms, a trip to the vet is essential to rule out disease, injury, or poisoning.
