Drooling is the term used to refer to the act of excessive salivation from the mouth that drips through the lips. Drooling in cats may be normal or abnormal depending on the causes and time of occurrence.
Occasional drooling in cats:
Occasional drooling without other signs and symptoms in cats is normal and the majority of cats do so since kittenhood without any underlying health concerns.
Sign of relaxation:
Cats often drool and knead their paws when they are happy and relaxed, whenever these signs are observed there is no need to worry about them.
During nursing:
Kittens during nursing mostly knead their paws on their parent to suck and stimulate milk ejection from the udder, cats don't forget this behavior after reaching adulthood, when they are content and thrilled during adulthood they repeat this behavior along with drooling.
Exposure to a new environment:
When cats are exposed to a new environment to which they are unfamiliar they show anxiety which causes drooling. This lasts for a short period and does away by itself without further complications, this is also the nonmedical reason for cats drooling.
Abnormal drooling in cats:
Sometimes, cats drool due to numerous health issues which are deleterious to the overall well-being of cats. Here we will delve into the reasons and causes of cats drooling.
Problems in the mouth:
Several mouth problems are forcing the cats to drool like gum inflammation i.e., gingivitis, mouth inflammation (stomatitis), infection of the oral mucosa, and mouth ulcers these are the possible causes of drooling in cats which accompany pain and distress.
Tooth problem:
Dental issues like tooth decay, tooth injury, tartar, and infection are the leading causes of drooling in cats. If you suspect that drooling is due to mouth and dental problems then visit the veterinarian, he or she will examine your mouth properly and accordingly fix the problem.
Nausea and vomiting:
Nauseous cats drool a lot while vomiting, there are numerous causes of nausea and vomiting in cats such as parasitic infestation, gastrointestinal problems, and kidney and liver issues.
Foreign body stuck in the mouth:
Foreign bodies like string, toy parts, or even grass parts may get stuck in the mouth which leads to excessive salivation and drooling in cats, try to get this issue fixed with the assistance of a trained and expert veterinarian.
Exposure to poisonous materials:
Cats that are exposed to toxic substances like poisonous plants, toxic chemicals, and foods which cats ingest cause drooling in cats. Chemicals like pesticides and tick and flea repellent that are not supposed for use by cats sometimes unexpectedly come into cat's use which leads to drooling and salivation.
Injuries to the mouth:
Mouth injuries and broken jaw can lead to drooling in cats, injuries that are not visible from outside can also cause the cats to drool.
Infection of the respiratory tract:
Infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by bacteria or viruses is one of the reasons for drooling in cats due to oral ulceration. Signs that appear along with drooling which are indicative of respiratory tract infections are sneezing, nasal discharge, runny nose, not showing interest in food, lethargy, etc.
Seek advice from a trained veterinarian who will inspect and correspondingly prescribe medication for the infection, if the infection subsides drooling will subsequently subside.
Problems in the gastrointestinal tract:
Gastrointestinal tract issues like blockage due to string or ribbon stuck in the mouth or stomach may cause nausea and vomiting leading to drooling. Another issue in the stomach and intestines may also cause drooling in cats, which can be figured out by performing an x-ray and abdominal ultrasound by a veterinarian.
Cancer of the upper gastrointestinal tract:
Cats are also prone to neoplasia and cancerous mass formation like humans, if there is the formation of cancerous mass in the mouth or around the throat cats may drool heavily with other symptoms like difficulty closing the mouth, bleeding from the mouth, bad breath, eating difficulty, etc.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD):
This is one of the major causes of nausea and drooling in cats due to drastic changes in stomach and intestinal content.
Some other health conditions:
Diseases affecting the liver (hepatic diseases), kidney (renal) pancreas and gallbladder are also causes of drooling in cats. In addition to these conditions, joint health can also be a significant factor in your cat's overall well-being. To this end, supplements like our Hip and Joint Chews for Cats can be beneficial. Lastly, to get rid of drooling, conditions have to be corrected first. Taking of bitter taste materials:
If cats take bitter-taste materials like bitter medicines, foods, or drinks these make the cats drool and produce excess saliva.
Provide clean water for the cats so that the bitter taste goes away.
Stress:Stress and anxiety can also lead to drooling with other signs such as rapid breathing with mouth open and sweating. Stress develops due to many reasons like not providing proper food at the proper time, not allowing them to play, drink, and move, and confining them for longer periods of time make them stress prone.
Heatstroke:It is another problem that many cats are not subjected to but some breeds like Persian cats are more likely to develop heatstroke, which causes drooling in the cats if they are not immediately treated. Make sure the availability of cold and fresh water for them, provide a shaded area for them, during hot and sunny days curtail their exercises, and keep them indoors. Heatstroke is very dangerous so consult a veterinarian without delay so that the life of your feline buddy is saved.
Diseases of the nervous system:Nervous system diseases which are associated with the cranial and facial nerves might be the leading cause of drooling in cats’ other signs characteristic of neurological diseases are difficulty in taking food, difficulty in swallowing food, imbalance body, tongue problems, etc.
When to seek a veterinarian's assistance with drooling:
It is extremely important to judge whether your dog's drooling is normal or abnormal, abnormal drooling may take a toll and is dangerous to the health of your feline pal, so you have to get rid of this monster as soon as possible. The following Signs which accompany drooling indicate that this is abnormal.
Bad breath, lethargy, appetite, lack of interest, weight loss, imbalanced body, incoordination, nausea, nasal discharge, eye discharge, paleness of oral mucosa, bleeding from nose or mouth, etc. The veterinarian will evaluate these signs and symptoms and also, he or she will do laboratory work to confirm the presence of infection, parasitic infestation, blood tests, etc. He or she may also resort to doing diagnostic tests like x-rays, and ultrasonography to exactly spot or pinpoint the real culprit behind these issues.
Conclusion:
In the end, this is for general information that drooling is sometimes normal and it is abnormal and deleterious too depending upon the causes of drooling, so it is wise to figure out the causes of drooling and other associated signs and to consult a veterinarian for the possible treatment of such conditions.