Cat drooling may seem cute, but this concerning cat behavior needs a visit to the vet. While you may associate the behavior with being hungry, feline drooling is actually a red flag of problems.
Tracey Jensen, D.V.M., Dipl. ABVP, medical director at Wellington Veterinary Hospital in Wellington, Colorado explained, “The typical cat does not drool for no reason. If they’re drooling, something’s wrong and they need to be seen by the veterinarian to get to the bottom of it.” If you note this concerning cat behavior, make sure you take your furry friend for a check-up ASAP. The bottom line – if your cat is drooling it is typically a sign of pain, which mean your kitty could be suffering from a medical issue.
Related: Cat Health Questions: Veterinarian Explains Why Cats Have Droopy Tummy
There are very rare cases in which your cat may drool without any underlining issues, but Dr. Jensen states, “In my 23 years of practice, I’ve only seen a handful of cats that drool and it’s more of a behavioral thing — they’re drooling as they purr.” Consider your cat’s age in this scenario. “That’s usually in young cats, and they do it often and repeatedly. If this is a cat who has never drooled before, however, it would be extremely unlikely that this would be a behavioral response. It’s more likely there is some reason that cat does not want to swallow,” the 2015-2016 president of the American Animal Hospital Association elaborated.
To be on the safe side, getting your cat’s drooling behavior checked out it always a smart choice. It could be the result of mouth pain. If your cat also experiences a change in eating habits, that is another sign that your cat’s health could be at risk. Another red flag associated with drooling or pain is weight loss. Usually, the focus on the exam associated with drooling will be the mouth which could mean X-rays depending on the level of drooling, pain, appetite issue or general concern.
Related: Cat Obesity And Health Problems On The Rise: Are You Over-Feeding Your Pets?
In short, cat drooling is not normal and you should have your feline’s unusual habit looked at by a medical professional. If nothing else, for your peace of mind and your cat’s general well being.
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below, on our Facebook Page, Follow Our Twitter Account or Head Over To Our Pinterest Page!
My daughter’s new cat had a dripping nose after getting her vaccinations. It lasted for a week and had her worried but the vet said it was a side effect.
I am not much of a cat person but my dad has one. I will pass this along to him.
Oh my goodness. I never would have thought that a cat drooling could be related to pain. That is so sad. I hope every cat owner reads this. Luckily my cat has never had excessive drooling.
Interesting! I will need to share this article with my Mom, who has cats. I agree it is smartest to have a pet checked out by a vet when they have a behavioral change like this.
Thanks for this post. I have 2 cats so this is very helpful. Our 3rd cat died in August of unknown reasons, so I do my best to make sure these 2 stay healthy.
I guess I didn’t realize it could be a sign of something wrong. I’m used to dogs always drooling, but never considered it for cats!
We just adopted a ten-year old cat to add to our family. I’ll keep this in mind!
I have never seen a cat drool before, so it would definitely be alarming for me. With so many underlying reasons, it’s best to get the advice of an expert.
I learn something everyday. We don’t have a cat but both my son and SO wants to get one. It’s good to know that drooling in cats is not the norm.
My dad had a warehouse attached to his work and one day this cute little calico kitten came wandering about. We took her in as the “shop cat” and she was such a happy little kitty but she drooled everywhere! All the time! I even started to keep tissues by my desk to mop up after her because she loved to be at my desk. I never really thought much of it at the time, but knowing what I know now (and from this post) I’m thinking I could have been more helpful to her! Thanks for the information here, Cat drooling is kind of cute but definitely something to be looked after!