Drooling can be a normal cat behavior while purring, kneading, or sleeping. Cats drool when happy, relaxed, or while being petted by their favorite human and in many other situations. Generally, young kittens display this behavior, so it is not a typical older cat instinct, especially if it hadn’t shown such behavior earlier.
If you have seen your cat drooling, it might be because she is stressed or sick or on the contrary because she is rested and relaxed well. It’s true that cats don’t drool often like dogs, dogs who salivate for many reasons including desire for food, illness or fear. A feline drool doesn’t look like a canine’s drool, you may notice a single droplet of saliva dotting the area below your cat’s mouth, as they are less messy droolers than canines. There are several reasons why a cat drools, some reasons may be of serious concern and require immediate medical attention.
A little drool should not be worrisome for feline pet parents, specifically if their cat has exhibited drooling behavior its entire life. However, excessive drooling is a major red flag indicating that something is definitely not right with your furball and requires your attention.
If your cat’s drools are sudden or abnormal, maybe it’s time for a vet visit. It is probably an oral or dental issue or other medical condition that needs to be tested and confirmed by a medical expert. Pet insurance allows you to provide your fur baby with quality medical care for broader-ranging health conditions, which is why you must consider buying a cat insurance policy.
Meanwhile, read this article to learn some common causes of your cat’s uncommon drooling behavior.
- Many health conditions are potential causes of nausea and drooling in cats. For instance, Pancreatitis, Diabetes, Hyperthyroidism, and renal or liver disorders can cause drooling. Usually, your vet will recommend blood, urine, and fecal tests to rule out or confirm a medical condition.
- Inflammatory bowel syndrome or cancer can lead to physiological changes in a cat’s gastrointestinal tract or the development of a cancerous mass at the back of the throat or near the tongue, making it feel nauseous or drool. If your vet suspects any of these two issues, they can suggest abdominopelvic ultrasound, endoscopy, or biopsy of suspected tissue.
- If your feline has access to plants in the house or goes out, she may have consumed a blade of grass, a plant leaf or some other thing that may have lodged in her esophagus or mouth. An unknown object in your cat’s system will make it hard for your feline to swallow and she may drool.
- If you are taking your cat to the vet in a carrier, she may drool because she is scared. Cats are usually not very accepting of change, and something different in their routine like a car ride may increase their anxiety levels, as well as their salivary glands.
- Fear can cause drooling in cats. Your kitten may drool excessively if they feel threatened. Keep her safe and away from all the stress. Try to identify the reason she is being stressed about and provide her a safe environment.
- Jaw/skull fractures and oral ulcers/burns caused due to chewing electrical cords are other reasons for drooling in cats. Fractures and electrocution can be traumatic and possibly require timely surgical intervention, painkillers, dietary changes, and other supportive care to alleviate a cat’s pain and discomfort.
- Administering bitter oral medications can have the same impact. You might have to deal with an overly dramatic cat in such a case. Provide some freshwater or a tasty treat after giving the medication to revive your cat’s taste buds by washing the bad taste out of its mouth.
- Neurological diseases can interfere with a cat’s ability to pick up food, move food around its mouth, chew, and swallow. A cat suffering from such health complaints can drool and show symptoms like body weakness, lack of coordination of body parts, and memory problems.
Drooling can be a severe issue if you notice signs like reduced appetite, weight loss, foul odor from the mouth, vomits, diarrhea, lethargy, sneezing, nasal discharge, and other respiratory problems, to name a few.
A physical examination might be inevitable to get to the bottom of the matter. So, schedule a vet’s appointment as soon as possible. Your vet can run several tests and scans to discover the root cause of your cat’s drooling issue.
Should you have a cat insurance policy, you need not worry much about the unanticipated vet bills because you can claim them from your insurer later. The best pet insurance comprehensively covers your cat’s health, so why not consider reviewing your policy or buying one so your fur baby has optimum coverage?
