Why Is My Cat Drooling So Much?

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Drooling can be a normal physiological response or a disease process in cats. Saliva offers protection against disease because it breaks down nutrients, softens food, and lubricates the food for easy swallowing.

It is normal in cats with a specific stimulus such as offering food or a pleasurable sensation. At other times this may be due to a disease process that requires intervention.


Contentment And Relaxation

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The cat drools while being very relaxed and feeling well, especially during an extended petting session. Salivation in this case is usually accompanied by purring and indicates that your cat has been secured and is happy with the moment.

It may result when some cats become too excited or stimulated, for example, from an exciting play session. It is generally for a short duration and will cease shortly after playtime has ended.

Food Anticipation

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Just as humans drool at the sight or smell of food, cats can too. If your cat slobbers after seeing or smelling his favorite treat or meal, this is a normal response to excitement and hunger.

Some cats have temporary sensitivities to the ingredients involved in their food. This sometimes makes them salivate. A good example could be smelly fish at dinner, which causes a rise in salivation.

Medication Response

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Many different types of medications can cause drooling in cats, particularly those that are distasteful for them to taste. If your kitty is on some type of prescription medication, you might notice slobbering during the adjustment period his body makes to the new flavor. It should stop once the medication course is complete.

Many cats salivate after a vet visit for vaccination or some other minor surgery. This tends to relate either to the stress of such treatment or post-treatment side effects of some therapies and tends to self-resolve within a day.

Teething Kitten

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During the kitten teething period, the friction and pressure on the gums can easily become inflamed and result in temporary drooling, and it is normal for the kitten, like human babies. This will be resolved once the kitten has stopped teething.

Anxiety

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Drooling is one of the common ways cats may show their stress and an anxious cat will salivate in some anxious circumstances such as a car ride, going to the vet, or even very loud noises. These types of activities resolve once the stressful event is over.

Sleeping Behaviour

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Cats drool at nap times, especially in some casual sleeping positions that is when they lie on their sides. Deep relaxation with the added friction of gravity may cause the saliva to drip from the cat's mouth while they sleep.

Like humans, cats enter REM sleep and thus will salivate if they are in deep sleep, dreaming. Salivation happens occasionally or in cases only when they reach very restful sleep.

Some cats slobber a little when waking from an extremely deep sleep. This is because the body needs to gear up from being at its most relaxed state to being awake. In such cases, slobbering is not likely to be problematic and is only temporary.

Scent Marking Behavior

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Cats have scent glands in the skin of their mouths, and many will drool a little when performing their scent-marking behaviors which include rubbing their faces on surfaces or their human skin. Cat owners may experience this during their interaction with their feline companions and it is facilitated by petting and happy interaction.

Neurological Diseases

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Neurological diseases can affect a cat's ability to control its facial muscular tissues, leading to issues like immoderate drooling. Disorders including feline dysautonomia and nerve damage may also cause swallowing issues, resulting in saliva loss.

Cats with these conditions may warfare with different muscle actions, making normal capabilities difficult. Certain breeds may be extra vulnerable to neurological problems, increasing the likelihood of drooling.

High Temperatures

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Heat Provided your cat feels extremely hot or is lying near a source of high temperatures, such as around a heating vent, for example, drooling can be in response to a raised temperature. This isn't usually dangerous but monitor your cat in case they might overheat.

Dental Disease

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Dental diseases in cats include gingivitis, periodontal disease, and resorption of teeth that are painful and result in excessive salivation. These conditions are often characterized by other signs such as bad breath, problem feeding, or visible tartar buildup.

Oral problems can always be prevented if regular dental examinations are performed.

Injury To The Mouth

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Trauma to the mouth, including lacerations, bruises, or fractured teeth, is another common cause that creates drooling in cats. Consult a vet to see whether you are able to notice the bleeding or whether your cat is pawing at its mouth.

Novel Smells

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Cats have an awesome feel of scent, and novel odors can cause a robust reaction. When they encounter a brand new or intriguing scent, their salivary glands may additionally kick in, causing them to salivate slightly.

This drooling is mostly a reaction to exhilaration or interest as they process the unexpected but exceptional scent. It's a sign their senses are in overdrive, exploring their surroundings.

Nausea

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Everything from an upset stomach to something more serious, like a deeper gastrointestinal issue, may cause nausea that leads to drooling before vomiting. Vomiting persists and will need to have a cause determined with the involvement of a vet.

Poisoning

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Poisoning in cats can result in drooling, especially when it involves the absorption of certain plants, household cleaners, or foods toxic to them. Common signs include salivating, vomiting, lethargy, and labored breathing.

If poisoning is suspected, any delay could be disastrous and there is a need for early intervention to prevent serious complications. Prevent accidental intake by keeping all harmful substances away from your cat.

Foreign Objects in the Mouth

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Cats sometimes have things stuck in their mouth, including strings, small toys, and blades of grass. Often drooling is a reaction of the body to attempt to dislodge the object.

If you recognize this, try to remove the object carefully or seek veterinary assistance and avoid interaction of your cat with unwanted objects around them.

Liver Disease

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Liver issues in cats can cause drooling, as well as signs like jaundice, lethargy, and vomiting. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to take your cat to the vet right away for diagnosis and treatment to prevent further complications.

Heatstroke

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They might also be overheated during hot weather by being exposed either directly to sunlight or in an inadequately ventilated space. This may cause heatstroke that consequently might cause your cat to pant, salivate and have depression. These you can help your cat with by taking it to a cool environment with enough water .

If the situation continues, you need to take it to the veterinarian for further treatment.

Kidney Disease

Kidney disease in cats leads to drooling as a result of nausea or a buildup of toxins, known as uremia, in the bloodstream. This serious condition often requires ongoing treatment and close monitoring by a veterinarian to manage symptoms and prevent further complications, helping to improve the cat's quality of life.

Infection

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Though infrequent, some viral infections cause excessive salivation triggered by the irritation of mouth ulcers or even shortness of breath. It is also marked by sneezing, fever, and eye discharge.

Drooling may also be due to respiratory infections that inflate a cat's nasal and oral regions. Cats with respiratory problems are also known to sneeze, cough, and show watery eyes.

Gastrointestinal Blockages

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Drooling is caused by an obstruction of the digestive system, and the presence of hairballs or other indigestible material in the body is a way of working its way around a blockage. This is usually coupled with either vomiting or an inability to pass the stool.

Rabies

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Rabies is a serious, fortunately rare, viral disease that has the potential to be fatal and causes excessive drooling in the terminal stages of the infection. Other signs of rabies infection in cats include erratic behavior, aggression, and difficulty swallowing.

If rabies are suspected, then veterinary attention should be sought right away.

Know When Drooling Is A Problem

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While drooling might be a normal condition for cats, there are some pertinent signs that one needs to look out for to decipher that salivating is no longer normal and thus may require veterinary attention.

  • Prolonged or excessive drooling would indicate an underlying medical condition if it were to continue with your cat for no apparent reason, or if the slavering has not come to an end.
  • Other symptoms that may set off an alarm could include bad breath, loss of appetite, vomiting, and behavioral changes, which hint at dental disease or poisoning.
  • Generally, examine the swelling, reddening, or even growth of your cat's mouth. Any observed deformed structure in the mouth needs to be addressed with the veterinarian.
  • Drooling, which is of acute onset and no obvious cause can be established, needs to warrant a consult with a veterinarian as soon as possible, along with other alarming symptoms like lethargy or changed feeding behavior.

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