Symptom · Cats
Cat drooling: what it means and when to call the vet
Some cats drool when they are blissfully happy and kneading. Drooling with pawing at the mouth, bad breath, not eating or foaming may mean mouth pain, a foreign object, nausea or poisoning, and needs a vet.
By Maya HartCommon causes
- Contentment while being stroked (harmless)
- Dental disease, tooth resorption or gum inflammation
- Mouth ulcers, often from calicivirus
- Something stuck in the mouth or around the tongue
- Nausea
- Bitter taste — medicines, glow sticks, licking flea treatment
- Poisoning
What you can do at home
- Look in the mouth only if your cat lets you safely
- Never pull on string under the tongue — see a vet
- Wipe off anything on the fur so your cat doesn’t lick more
- Think about what your cat may have licked or chewed
What the vet may do
- Examine the mouth, sometimes under sedation
- Dental X-rays and treatment
- Remove foreign objects
- Treat poisoning and nausea
Prevention
- Yearly dental checks
- Use only cat-specific flea products
- Keep lilies out of the home
The details
A drooling cat on your lap, purring and kneading, is simply very relaxed — some cats do this all their lives. New drooling is different. In cats, it most often means something hurts in the mouth: tooth resorption, a painful condition where the tooth structure breaks down, is very common in adult cats and easily missed at home.
Sudden heavy drooling or foaming after licking something is often a reaction to a bitter taste, but it can also be the first sign of poisoning. Call your vet if you are unsure.
Questions owners ask
Is cat drooling an emergency?
Usually it is not an emergency, but your pet should see a vet within 24 hours. Go now if you see: drooling after contact with lilies, flea treatment for dogs, essential oils or household chemicals; drooling with tremors, wobbliness or seizures; drooling with breathing difficulty; string or thread under the tongue.
What causes cat drooling?
Contentment while being stroked (harmless); Dental disease, tooth resorption or gum inflammation; Mouth ulcers, often from calicivirus; Something stuck in the mouth or around the tongue; Nausea; Bitter taste — medicines, glow sticks, licking flea treatment; Poisoning.
What can I do at home?
Look in the mouth only if your cat lets you safely. Never pull on string under the tongue — see a vet. Wipe off anything on the fur so your cat doesn’t lick more. Think about what your cat may have licked or chewed.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts