Drooling in cats also called hypersalivation or ptyalism is most often a sign of mouth pain. Cats are experts at hiding.
There are a number of reasons why your cat might drool and they tend to fall into three major categories.
Cat is drooling. Cats drooling when they are happy and relaxed for example drooling while being petted can be normal behavior. Usually these kitties adopt this behavior early in life so it would not be typical for an older cat to start drooling suddenly if they hadnt before. If this happens you should call your vet to talk about your cats sudden drooling.
Drooling in cats also called hypersalivation or ptyalism is most often a sign of mouth pain. If its painful for a cat to close her mouth or swallow saliva will end up leaking out of her mouth resulting in drooling. Abnormal Drooling in Cats.
If your cats drooling occurs constantly there may be a health problem going on. This is especially the case if the drooling cannot be associated with contentment or food. All cats should be seen by the veterinarian at least once a year for routine wellness exams even if they seem healthy.
The vet can often detect problems before your cat. Cat drooling when purring is usually a happy sign. When your cat is purring whilst being petted it means she is relishing the touch and attention.
When your cat is drooling whilst youre petting her you should take it as a compliment. She reminisced the feeling of security and comfort when she was a little kitten with her mommy cat. Dental disease is a very common cause of drooling in cats since tooth and gum disease is common in as many as 85 of cats with an advanced age of over 3 years.
Since this drooling is caused by a disease you expect that the saliva coming out from the mouth of your cat will be giving off an unpleasant smell and may often be tinged with blood. A cat that is suddenly drooling excessively requires emergency veterinary care if it persists for any length of time. It is not a normal behavior and a cause for concern.
Prompt medical attention should be given especially if you suspect the ingestion of a foreign body or toxins. Cats love their routines so anything out of the ordinary may cause them stress. If your cat feels stressed or anxious it could be the reason your cat is drooling.
It can also cause many other symptoms. If your cat is suffering from anxiety here are some therapies and activities that can help. Shes Not a Fan of Her Food.
Cats with anxiety stressed afraid or feel depressed will usually drool but this is only temporary as well as when they sleep or purr. However a drooling cat can become worrying if it keeps drooling even when doing other activities some of the things that underlie this are conditions and health problems in cats and this is why your cat is drooling. Cats drool excessively when they are overheated or dealing with an underlying illness.
Other causes include being affectionate during petting hunger dental issues kidney failure or side effects from medication. Excessive drooling is not normal and should be closely monitored. Drooling on the other hand isnt too common in cats.
Especially if it becomes excessive and continuous. The medical term for that is ptyalism or hypersalivation. Understandably its an instant red flag that gets many cat parents to call the vet.
If you happened to see a cat drooling and lethargic then it would be best to observe it closely. Drooling in cat refers to the sign of contentment and relaxation so generally cat drools when they feel relaxed and happy. In some cases due to fear and stress cats may start to drool and this may be during any loud events vet visits or car rides.
What does it mean when cats drool. If you notice your cat drooling this is highly abnormal and warrants a veterinary visit. Drooling is often due to underlying medical problems in cats such as.
Dental disease causing your cat to drool. There are a number of reasons why your cat might drool and they tend to fall into three major categories. Pathologic conditions that result in inflammation pain or an inability to swallow.
Irritations that the cat is trying to wash away. Cats drool when excess saliva is produced by their salivary glands. Saliva is constantly produced to keep their mouths moist.
When they eat extra saliva is produced to begin the digestive process. Saliva drools from a cats mouth when an excessive amount is produced often for reasons of extreme happiness or stress. Excessive drooling in cats often occurs when they are anxious upset or fearful.
Cats do not like abrupt changes. If you have suddenly picked up your cat put her in the car and took her on a trip or to a vet appointment she might start drooling because she is terrified. Motion sickness can also be the reason behind your cats drooling.
A cat that has been hit by a car may have a broken jaw that causes drooling. Cats that have oral injuries from cat fights often drool. You may not see evidence of an injury on the outside but the drooling is a sign that you should see the vet.
If your cat is drooling and you cant find an obvious normal reason please contact your veterinarian. Cats are experts at hiding. Dental pain can cause your cat to start salivating excessively leading to drooling.
Other oral health problems like tooth injuries mouth ulcers infections gum disease and resorptive lesions cause drooling behavior in cats. If you notice abnormal excessive drooling in your feline book an appointment with your vet for diagnosis. A cat drooling is a bit of a strange sight and you might be concerned that it is instantly a sign of a large health problem for your pet.
You can usually work out whether this is the case or not by paying attention to your cats behavior. It is rarely normal for a cat to drool but there are exceptions to this. Drooling or the uncontrollable dropping of saliva from the mouth happens to cats when they are kneading or purring and is a sign of contentment and relaxation.
However if your cat drools while she is sleeping it may simply mean she is in a deep sleep or in some cases it could indicate a serious medical issue.