You expect that a baby will drool during teething. But what about a cat — even an adult one who already has teeth? Is cat drooling something to be concerned about, or is it typical behavior?
Why do cats drool?
Cat lovers are familiar with the normal signs of kitty happiness. Happy cats purr, knead their paws or even butt heads as a sign of affection. But for some cats, the ultimate compliment is a little dribble of saliva or drool. “A normal amount of saliva is nothing to worry about,” says Dr. Nadja Raver, a veterinarian at Mt. Pleasant Hospital for Animals. What constitutes a normal amount of drool really depends on your cat — some cats are more slobbery than others, so get to know what’s normal for your furry friend.
Excessive drooling, often called hypersalivation or ptyalism, is cause for concern. It’s a physical clue that there’s something wrong with your cat. Typically, there’s either a problem in your cat’s mouth or elsewhere in his body.
Dr. Patrick Mahaney, a holistic veterinarian, has three common reasons why your cat might be excessively drooling:
1. Injury from electrical wiring
If you notice a sudden change in your cat’s drooling, they may have bitten an electrical cord and received burns inside their mouth. Cats love to chew on and play with string, but they can’t differentiate between a toy string and something that might harm them.
2. Dental problems
You may notice excessive drooling if your cat has dental or mouth issues, such as a broken tooth, gingivitis or stomatitis (inflammation of the tongue). “These all lead to swelling in the mouth. If the cat’s mouth can’t close properly, they’re going to produce extra saliva,” says Mahaney.
3. Mouth or tongue irritation
Your cat may have licked or eaten something that irritated their tongue. This is especially common with outdoor cats who encounter plants, lizards and bugs on a regular basis. It’s also important to remember that cats are self-grooming animals — if something with an unpleasant or bitter taste gets on their coat, they might drool more after their tongue comes in contact with it.
This can be an issue for indoor cats who have been exposed to chemicals such as bleach, ammonia, lye or detergent. If you suspect your cat has consumed a poisonous substance, call your veterinarian right away.
When to see a veterinarian
Dr. Sarah Tasse, a veterinarian at Portland Veterinary in Portland Maine, provides even more reasons for why your cat is drooling. “There are several other possible causes for excessive cat drooling including, but not limited to, kidney disease, liver disease, gastrointestinal disease, an oral tumor, upper respiratory infections and trauma,” she says.
Drs. Raver, Mahaney and Tasse all recommend giving your veterinarian a call if your cat’s drooling has become excessive. When making a decision about whether or not your cat is drooling excessively, it’s important to consider your cat’s history, says Tasse.
She looks at the duration of cat drooling, if it’s accompanied with vomiting, if the cat has a history of anorexia, if the cat is pawing at face or muzzle and if it’s an indoor or outdoor cat. She also checks for neurological and upper respiratory signs, as these, combined with excessive drooling, point to larger health issues for cats.
When you head to the office for a diagnosis, be prepared to give as much information as possible about your cat’s typical behavior and what has changed since the excessive drooling has started. If you are worried about your pet, have your pet sitter record any abnormal behavior when you are gone so you have everything you need for your vet appointment. Once you get a diagnosis, it’s back to only happy drooling for you and your pet.
