Drooling is quite common in cats. It is a common sight in cats when they are contented and happy; here is why you might find your cat drooling when relaxing. Keep in mind however this involves just a tiny amount of saliva.
Regular cats drool very little, as small as a droplet or two, so when you start to notice excessive saliva, it might be time to pay a visit to a veterinarian. There are several reasons why this can sometimes happen. Still, heavy drooling occurs majorly in cats when your pet is sick.
Generally, cat drooling is normal behavior, but it is usually more identified to kittens than adult cats. Yet, this does not mean that regular adult cats can’t drool. They can. All you need to do as a cat owner is confirm that it is not due to an illness or medical issue by paying a visit to the veterinarian.
Why Would A Cat Suddenly Start Drooling?
As mentioned above, cats drool just like dogs, but they do so in small and barely noticeable amounts. Therefore, when your cat suddenly begins to drool excessively for hours or days, you have to contact your vet. Fear and anxiety can cause excessive drooling in cats. Tying to get rid of a bitter taste and creating more heat than they need can also cause drooling in a feline pet.
A cat with a specific illness and disease can also drool as a symptom or sign of their condition. In rare cases, healthy cats drool because they are just natural droolers. That’s alright. It would be best not to try to change this natural behavior. Just ensure that they are healthy at all times and pay close attention to them. Let’s see some reasons why cats drool.
Dental Diseases
Our furry friends develop dental issues that you might not notice from time to time. Drooling is a natural cat behavior to show that something is wrong with their body system, so you should pay more attention to your cat’s drool.
Dental issues cause our little furry friend’s constant pain, and when cats are in pain, cats drool. Inflammations in the mouth can lead to gum diseases and other oral conditions such as mouth ulcers, tooth injuries, and further tooth infections that can cause your cat to drool continuously.
In such cases, you should pay a visit to the vet or have a chat with one to figure out the next step to take. A vet might recommend antibiotics and some oral procedures in such a situation.
In addition to this, tooth decay might also cause drooling. You can check for this by softly pulling back your feline’s lip to see the teeth. If the gums are bleeding or the teeth looks brown, then you need to pay a visit to the vet for treatment.
| Image | Title | Details |
|---|---|---|
Top | Purina FortiFlora Cat Probiotic Powder Supplement | Learn More |
Top | Oral Health for Cats and Dental Care Supplement | Learn More |
Top | Virbac Rebound Recuperation Formula for Cats | Learn More |
Fear And Nausea
Usually, several reasons cause nausea in cats: internal issues, kidney disease, or gastrointestinal problems. Drooling in cats can also be caused by fear, anxiety, and stress. It’s also possible for cats to drool due to nausea. Cats who are ill and have been vomiting a lot can drool excessively.
Cats can also drool when they feel threatened or anxious. Do you ever notice that on a car ride or a visit to the vet, your cats might begin to drool out of nowhere? It is pretty standard. Cats salivate when anxious; all you have to do is wait for your cat to stop after their anxiety level has gone down.
Unpleasant Taste
Bitter or any other unpleasant taste can also cause drooling. As humans, when we take or taste something icky, we try to get rid of this horrible taste any way we can, drinking water or taking a sweet. Our feline pets are the same. They try to get rid of the bitter taste, and this causes drooling.
Toxin and medications are a common source of a bitter taste for cats, so if your cat is on some medications, it might be normal to salivate because they want to get rid of the bad taste. Also, when your furry friend feeds on toxin plants in your garden, this might occur. You can offer your cat water or a treat, the same way you would have done to help them clear the bitter taste.
Respiratory Infection
Respiratory infections in your furry friend’s upper body, such as nose, throat, can lead to increased saliva produced by your cat. An unclean environment and stress can increase a cat’s risk of respiratory infection.
Hence, whenever you notice excessive saliva produced by your cat alongside some other symptoms such as sneezing, you should visit the vet as soon as possible to avoid further complications.
Heatstroke
The signs of heatstroke in cats are slightly similar to heatstroke in dogs. Restlessness, drooling, and salivating are common signs of excess heat in cats. Heatstroke in pets can be severe. You can identify it by an increase in body temperature such that your cat cannot regulate its body temperature.
In such cases, it is best to see a veterinarian as soon as possible because heatstroke, when serious, can shut down a cat’s organ systems. Your feline friend can suffer heatstroke if in an improperly ventilated area or your cat generates too much heat.
Should I Be Worried If My Cat Is Drooling?
It depends on the gravity or the amount of drool your cat produces. Generally, cats drool in tiny amounts when happy, relaxed, and contented. They can also drool when scared or stressed, but they do so in moderate or small amounts. Also, the drool stops once they feel safe and secure.
However, suppose your cats drool excessively and continuously for hours or days. In that case, you might have a reason to be scared. If other symptoms accompany drooling, i.e., lack of appetite, ensure that visit the vet.
What Should I Do If My Cat Starts Drooling?
Drooling can be very inconvenient for you as a pet owner because it is gross and requires more cleaning, but that is not the only reason why you should be worried when you notice this. It is important to note that moderate drool in cats is average, but it might not be in cases when it is excessive.
It might be a symptom of another severe cat disease. When you notice these changes, the first thing is to visit the vet. In some cases, drooling in your feline friends might be due to their current environment, and you can remove them from such. Then proceed to wait for a while for your cat to stop drooling by itself after making them feel safe, but if it persists, especially with other symptoms, you should visit the vet immediately.
Final Thoughts
Cat drools shouldn’t be excessive, and when it is, it might be a sign of something wrong in their body. So if your cat starts to drool all of a sudden, a visit to the veterinarian is needed. The visit is essential to ensure that your feline friend is in good health. In some rare cases, some cats are droolers and produce excessive drools but regardless, make sure you speak to a vet to ensure that there is no cause for you to worry.
Also Read: Why Is Your Cat Peeing Outside The Litter Box: What To Know
Shawn Manaher is a serial entrepreneur but when he isn’t working, he loves dogs. He’s owned different pets over the years, and always gives a part of his heart to each pet.
