You might want to take another look at the saying “Cats rule, dogs drool.” Cats drool too, but for different reasons. At times, a drooling and purring cat is a content and happy little furball.
Other times, she may be suffering from underlying diseases, and cat drooling is one way to tell her owners. There are things to consider whether to worry or not when your cat is drooling and we will discuss them as you read on.
What Is Cat Drooling?
Known also as dribbling, drooling is the course of saliva from the mouth. Saliva is constantly secreted into the oral cavity, which is the function of the salivary gland. This is to prevent dryness and aid ingestion when eating. Saliva in cats has an antibacterial agent that helps to keep their body clean and heal their wounds faster.
Cat drooling is perfectly normal. In fact, some felines are naturally born dribblers. However, when a cat is drooling along with other symptoms, it may be alarming. Here are the three common causes that trigger this behaviour:
1. Emotional Reaction
- When your cat is purring whilst being petted, it means she is relishing the touch and attention.
- When your cat is drooling whilst you’re petting her, you should take it as a compliment. She reminisced about the feeling of security and comfort when she was a little kitten with her mother. This could also result in your cat drooling whilst sleeping.
- When your cat is drooling and purring altogether whilst you’re petting her, you should congratulate yourself. You just sent your furball to a cloud of happiness. She feels soothed and relaxed that swallowing was out of her priority.
- It might be her way of saying, “I’m feeling good.” It is usually accompanied by rolling over on her back and giving you access to her belly.
- It can be a sign of excitement especially when she is about to be fed.
- Cat drooling is also common for stray cats that are starved for attention. When rescued and adopted into a new home, she feels happy and relieved to finally have the security and attention she is longing for. It can be accompanied by purring and kneading as well.
- Catnip exposure: catnip can give a sense of excitement that would cause them to lose tension in their mouths, causing them to drool excessively. This is due to hormones and is commonly seen in females rather than males.
- When a cat sniffs the scent of another cat in heat, it may trigger your feline to drool.
Warning: Exposure to stressful situations such as sudden car rides can lead to drooling in felines. Overstimulation can result in this behaviour as well.
For this reason, be attuned to your cat’s emotions. Do not force her into situations she is not ready for. Walk her through the gradual process of acclimation to avoid causing her anxiety.
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2. Irritant Reaction
Drooling may mean that a foreign body in your cat’s mouth is causing her discomfort. It could be in the form of some dirt, sand, or a strip of grass. As such, washing and brushing her mouth might be the simplest thing to do to dislodge the foreign object.
Observe if your cat is drooling excessively and the saliva is thick as it may be a serious irritation. In this case, you may see your cat pawing her mouth or throat, or attempting to vomit. Ease your cat’s pain with professional help.
3. Health Problems
A. Dental Disease
This is one of the most common causes of cat drooling. It can be easily triggered by poor dental care, which can manifest in gum disease, feline odontic resorptive lesions (FORL), and related ailments.
Symptoms: Difficulty or hesitating to eat, weight loss, bad breath, drooling, red gums, and pain.
B. Kidney Malfunction
A leading disease most cats suffer from, this condition can either be an acute or a chronic case. It can manifest due to infection of kidney tissues, kidney stones, damage to kidney functions, cancer, and hereditary.
Symptoms: Increased thirst, increased urination, drooling, weight loss, and bad breath.
C. Corrosive Toxic Substances
Abrasive and harmful chemical ingredients to cats are present in many household items such as laundry detergents and other cleaning products.
These products are not just toxic but also corrosive. They can lead to excessive drooling, mouth ulcers, and burning in the mouth, oesophagus, and stomach when ingested.
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhoea, and severe drooling.
D. Neurological Health Issues
Cats that suffer from brain disorders tend to have specific impaired body functions. Sometimes, these diseases compromise their body coordination, including their ability to chew, eat, drink and swallow. Thus, it isn’t unusual for felines with neural problems to drool excessively.
Symptoms: Aggressive behaviour, behavioural changes, drooling, seizures, and loss of coordination.
E. Oral Tumours
Oral tumours commonly grow on the jaw bones or tongues of cats. As most of them are often malignant, they can spread and induce discomforting mouth pain to affected felines.
Symptoms: Bad breath, drooling, loss of appetite, weight loss, and the inability to close her mouth.
If you have noticed that your cat is drooling more than normal, contact a veterinarian and schedule a health check-up. Getting her properly diagnosed will keep you from agonising over the possible cause of her excessive salivation.
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FAQs About Cat Drooling
1. Is It Bad That My Kitten Drools a Lot Every Time I Pet Her?
No, it isn’t bad that your kitten drools a lot every time you pet her. Her behaviour signifies that she enjoys the physical contact so much that she has zoned out and drooled.
2. Why Is My Cat Drooling and Foaming at Mouth After a Flea Treatment?
Certain flea treatments are bitter-tasting, which can cause your cat to drool and foam at the mouth. Note that certain products contain harmful ingredients such as pyrethrin. It does not only cause abnormal salivation but may also induce poisoning.
Consider letting your cat wear an E-collar or a body suit that prevents her from licking off the flea treatment.
3. Why Does Brown Saliva Come Out from My Cat’s Mouth?
Many factors can cause brown saliva to come out from your cat’s mouth. It could be due to oral tumours, kidney disease, or ingestion of a corrosive substance. Having your pet checked by a vet will help you find out the root cause of this problem.
4. Why Does My Cat Pant and Drool Like a Dog During Car Rides?
Your cat pants and drools like a dog during car rides because she feels extremely stressed and anxious.
We suggest working on desensitising her to vehicular travel first before taking her on longer car trips to prevent this dilemma from arising in the future.
Conclusion
However, when cat drooling is accompanied by other symptoms of illness like vomiting, lethargy, and weight loss, take this as a sign to bring your pet to the vet ASAP or you can contact an emergency vet.
