Cat Drooling: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Other Names: Ptyalism in cats, drooling in cats.

Common Symptoms: Excessive saliva production, decreased appetite, difficulty swallowing, signs of discomfort/oral pain

Diagnosis: Thorough oral exam which sometimes must be done under sedation. Bloodwork, x-rays, ultrasound to look for underlying causes.

Requires Ongoing Medication: No

Vaccine Available: No

Treatment Options: Treatment will depend on the underlying cause of drooling. Treatment may be aimed at relief of nausea or pain.

Home Remedies: No

If your cat is drooling, you might wonder if it’s normal or something to be concerned about.

While a small amount of drooling can be normal in some cats when relaxed, it usually indicates a problem that needs medical attention. This is especially true if you’ve never noticed your cat drooling in the past.

Drooling may have multiple causes in cats, such as oral and dental conditions, nausea and some toxins. If your cat has started drooling, always seek advice from a veterinarian.

What Causes Drooling?

The most common causes of drooling in cats are health conditions causing oral pain.

There are many conditions that might cause drooling (also called hypersalivation or ptyalism) in cats.

Dental Disease

Drooling in cats is most often a sign of mouth pain. If it’s painful for a cat to close their mouth or swallow, saliva will end up leaking out of the mouth, resulting in drooling.

Oral or mouth pain can come from many sources. The most common problem is dental disease. Tooth and gum disease in cats can be painful, but can be difficult to spot. Common dental problems in cats include gum disease, resorptive tooth disease (where teeth lose their enamel coating), tooth root abscesses and broken teeth.

 Other Sources of Oral Pain

Dental disease is not the only problem that causes a painful mouth. Oral tumors and abscesses can also cause pain and excessive drooling. One of the most common oral tumors that causes pain and excessive drooling is squamous cell carcinoma. There may also be a bad smell from the mouth (halitosis).

Less common causes of mouth pain can include:

• Irritation such as burns from chewing electrical cords, grooming something off their fur, or eating some plants which cause oral irritation
• Something is stuck in their mouth
• Some viral diseases and severe kidney disease can cause ulcers in the mouth which are painful and cause drooling

If your cat is drooling due to dental disease or other sources of a painful mouth, you may see some additional symptoms, such as:

• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Decreased appetite
• Reluctance to eat hard food
• Food falls from the mouth while eating
• Weight loss
• Mouth hanging open
• Thick, discolored or bloody saliva
• Poor grooming

If your cat is drooling and not eating, seek veterinary attention urgently.

 Nausea

A less common cause of drooling in cats is nausea. Many health conditions can cause nausea, such as gastrointestinal upset, pancreatitis, kidney disease and liver disease.

Motion sickness (car sickness) in cats is another potential source of nausea and drooling.

 Poisoning

There are various toxic substances that can cause cats to drool. These include chemicals such as household cleaning products. Exposure to pesticides, in particular one called permethrin found in some flea/tick medications only for dogs, can cause severe drooling if cats are exposed to them.

Less Common Causes of Drooling

There are some other health conditions which may cause drooling in cats, although less commonly seen.

• Problems with nerve function to the mouth and throat
• Rabies
• Bitter tastes, such as with some medications. The appetite stimulant Elura, for example, often causes hypersalivation. Cats who manage to lick off a topically applied flea/tick preventative may also have an excessive drooling response from the bitter taste.

When to Call the Vet

Unless your cat is a well-known ‘happy drooler’ and is only dribbling a little when being petted, most causes of drooling will need investigation by a veterinarian.

Drooling is sometimes seen in healthy cats. For instance, some cats drool while very relaxed and receiving positive stimulation like petting. The drooling is often accompanied by purring. Sometimes cats may drool and purr while kneading a blanket or other soft material or even when sleeping. The reason for this is largely unknown, but it appears to be behavioral and not a medical problem. If your cat has always been a drooler when relaxed and purring, but seems fine at other times, it’s likely not a problem.

Drooling may also happen during times of stress. “I have a handful of cat patients who routinely drool only when they come in for their physical exams. I’ve always believed it to be a unique stress or excitement response. We always have a note flagged in their medical chart so anyone involved knows this is routine and not a medical issue.” says Dr. Chris Vanderhoof.

However, in many cases, drooling in cats requires an examination from a veterinarian because a medical concern does actually exist. Seek help if your cat:

• Has suddenly started drooling with no prior occurrence
• Is drooling and not eating or grooming
• Has other symptoms such as bad breath, weight loss or blood-tinged saliva

Your vet will check your cat for any weight or muscle loss and do a thorough physical exam, checking all over your cat’s body—especially your cat’s mouth and teeth to try to find the cause of the drooling. The vet might recommend further tests like x-rays, bloodwork, or a sedated oral examination to get to the root of the drooling so it can be treated.

Also Read: 10 Subtle Signs Your Cat May Be Sick

Treating Drooling in Cats

Treatment will depend on what the cause is but could include medications for pain or nausea. It may also include dental care and removal of diseased painful teeth.

Oral tumors may be addressed by surgical removal, however this can depend on their location in the mouth. Tumors under the tongue can be very difficult to remove. In some cases, if your vet is concerned they cannot remove a tumor safely, they may get a small piece of it to send out to a pathology lab and find out what the specific tumor is and if there are any other options to treat it.

Preventing Drooling in Cats

Establishing a good oral care routine is recommended for all cats.

There are some diseases which we can’t prevent, but with a common source of drooling being dental pain, cat owners can focus on good dental hygiene for their pets. Invest in a cat-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste and start a daily hygiene routine for your cat!

Here are some other tips to prevent drooling:

• Accustom cats to car travel gradually
• Keep all medications out of reach of pets
• Make gardens and indoor plants safe by following cat-friendly gardening

Never Ignore a Cat Drooling

It can be normal for some cats to drool a little when they are very relaxed and content or on the flip side if they’re anxious or stressed like in the car or at a vet visit. However, if your cat that has never drooled before suddenly starts drooling, do not delay seeking veterinary treatment.

Drooling is most often caused by painful conditions. Drooling means your cat may be in pain. Cats do their best to hide their pain and illness. Once drooling is seen, the problem is often quite advanced and painful.