Excessive Drooling

Jun 4, 2011 by     70 Comments    Posted under: Tips & Advice

When cats drool, we should always wonder what is causing this symptom.  Although some cats will drool when they are purring excessively and really comfortable, most drooling cats are having a problem that needs our attention.  An outdoor access kitty may have some of the most serious culprits to blame such as a broken jaw, or some other head trauma, including battles with other animals.  Indoor only cats can avoid these episodes but may still have reason to drool excessively.  In many cases the drooling is directly due to pain, so it  should be addressed immediately.

Dental disease is the most common reason to drool for indoor only cats.  This type of drooling is often associated with a foul odor and sometimes even blood in the drool.  These additional findings at home absolutely dictate that the cat be examined immediately.  Most cats are not receiving home care (getting their teeth brushed daily!) and most owners do not inspect their cats teeth with any frequency at all.  Genetics are the primary factor in a cat’s tendency to develop dental disease and  some studies indicate as many as two thirds of cats have dental lesions by age 3.  Resorptive lesions of the teeth are the most common type of dental disease in a young cat.  In addition to these common resorptive lesions, we also see classic periodontal disease of the mouth where tartar has invaded the gum line and destroyed the periodontal ligament.  The difficulty of home care and the reluctance of cats to allow oral inspection dictate that they have an oral exam often; and, that we are proactive with dental prophylactic cleanings to identify and minimize these problems.  Drooling will commonly be seen with all forms of dental disease, including infectious stomatitis, peridontal disease and odontoclastic resorptive lesions.

Another cause of drooling in an indoor only cat would include an oral mass.  We do see mouth cancer in cats and early treatment is crucial to success.  Unfortunately many oral cancers do not leave us with favorable treatment options.  These cats often have swelling of their face, and sometimes even a deviation of their normal jaw alignment.  If your cat allows, open and close their mouth as you look from the front.  The jaws should “go together” nicely and then we know the cat has proper dental occlusion.  Sometimes, periodontal disease will cause swelling of the face and poor dental occlusion.  A veterinarian can help you differentiate these causes upon oral exam.  Any excessive drooling should be seen by the doctor, especially if poor dental occlusion is noted. Mouth cancer is most common in older to middle aged cats, rarely seen before about 7-8 years of age.

Indoor only cats sometimes get bored and I have seen foreign bodies lodged in the oral cavity.  I removed a sewing needle that had imbedded in the hard palate of a bored indoor only kitty.  I also removed a very stubborn twigg that had lodged in an outdoor access cat’s mouth.  Both if these cats had excessive drooling and the drool had begun to smell foul.  Fortunately, they both recovered very well.  It is worth mentioning that all causes of excessive drooling seen in the indoor only cat can also be seen with outdoor access kitties.

The final cause of drooling to cover is drooling due to nausea.  Many cats are nauseous, even though they do not vomit.  Some cat doctors even go as far as to say that inappetance or anorexia is the most common sign of nausea.  Many of these cats will drool either periodically or consistently.  If a cat drools when food is placed in front of them, and they then do not consume the food, nausea should be considered.  Causes of nausea are numerous and many cases have multiple causes.  As you can see from this blog, a drooling cat should be seen by a veterinarian very soon after the symptom is noted.

Dr Michael Ray

Dr. Ray is a Marietta Georgia native and graduate of Osborne High School. He received his bachelor of science at Georgia Southern University, and went on to graduate with his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Florida in 1997. After graduation, Dr. Ray completed an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Animal Specialty Group in Los Angeles.

Dr. Ray has spent most of his career working in Feline Only hospitals, and is very excited to have the opportunity to own his own cat practice. Dr. Ray has been the Medical Director of The Cat Clinic of Roswell since March 2008.

The Cat Clinic of Roswell
1002 Canton Street
Roswell, GA 30075

Phone: 770-552-PURR (7877)
Fax: 770-552-8855
Email: info@catclinicofroswell.com

Website: http://www.catclinicofroswell.com/
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  • R. Naccarati

    Hi Dr. Ray!
    I’m not too far from you- Cumming is where our US home is. However we are not there very often, as my husband works here in Riyadh,KSA. We are ex-pats, Living here has presented many problems with taking care of mostly feral cats. But that isn’t my problem today, my feral colony is healthy & I try to provide shade along w/their food & water.

    My big problem is- I have adopted someones throw-away…. long story. Bella is 20 (at least, she was 19 for so long..lol). She was a longish haired mostly toothless cat, due to periodontal disease, or so the vet here said… I found out her age & history, because he is the same vet who has treated her the most. As is common here, some people never take their pets to see a Doc…:( So I suspect she didn’t until it became apparent she was having troubles, maybe 6 or 7 years ago) The 1st time I took her, he updated her vaccinations, and did surgery to remove more teeth. He also informed me that she should be on prednisolone 5 mg 1 a day for the rest of her life. I cleaned her up, gave her a full course of anti-B’s 10 days + the pred. & returned her to her owners. They promised to keep her inside only. Well over the past 2 years, she kept coming to eat w/my ferals. If she looked ok I let her go home. But after my 3 vet visit with her I said no more! She was a solid matt, obviously sick & in pain. It took myself and 2 helpful friends almost 2 months to get the last of the matts- I would not stress her & do it all in a day & the Dr. did not recommend that kind of stress either.

    So now to my point & Question. The Dr. here is a very nice caring guy… he says periodontal disease.
    After reading about “infectious stomatitis”, I am worried, I mentioned that to him, he made a face, but did not directly answer. Since she has become well enough, finished yet another course of Clavamox, and gets her steroid everyday like clockwork, I decided to let her roam freely inside my house w/my other 3 indoor only cats. Sometimes she sneezes on the food or elsewhere- I do not allow my 3 to eat from the same bowl & I change their water often. Bella, still has her own room & still for the most part eats in her room. I feed her 4x’s a day plus on demand (Desperately trying to put weight on her) I have her on a mix of Royal Canin Urinary Tract & Kitten. Dry, but I wet it & it’s her fav. Another problem here, is lack of consistently in what is available.
    The biggest problem Bella & I have is her drooling… it’s definitely not from pleasure. It is clear, but thick & slimy & causes her trouble when she’s trying to eat. However it’s not only restricted to eating.
    Can I give her something to help dry it up? I tried Benedryl 1/2 of a 25 mg. pill (something I have to bring in my suitcase) no help. They have Claritin here…? I also give her 1/16th of a 50mg. Tramadol (also brought from USA for me). That seems to give her arthritis some relief. The Dr. here said 1/8 was ok, but that just was too much- maybe not for the pain, but she was drunk-like.

    Some people ask, why not just put her to sleep, out of her misery…. I don’t know if you believe this or not, but I honestly feel Bella would prefer to die naturally. I know we should not ascribe our human feelings onto our pets, but… this is how I feel about her. I have had to put pets of mine & other throw aways & ferals w/FeLuk & FeAids, in the hopes of preventing the spread to our feral colony’s on our compound. We have about 40 & those are split between myself & a few others who care about cats.

    So, is there more I could be doing to help Bella & keep her comfy?

    I know I am not one of your patients, but I’d be glad to pay for an office visit, for your answer 🙂

    Sincerely R. Naccarati

    a link about cats in KSA-  http://www.openpaws.org/ , (when the time comes for Bella to go, I will be calling Dr. Lana, who founded Open Paws, however she has no answer for this problem, she is from S.Africa, don’t know if it makes a difference, but I’d feel better w/advice from an American Vet.)

    • Sounds like you are doing a great job of taking care of your cats.  Has Bella had a sedated exam of her mouth?  Have they taken radiograph of the mouth? 

    • Steve Bailey, DVM

       Dear R. Naccarati,

      Feline Drooling (pytalism) can be a frustrating and elusive problem.  While it can be related to disease of the liver or kidneys, it can also relate to  and gastrointestinal concerns (difficulty swallowing, occult nausea).   Some cats will drool affectionately, but this does not sound like your cat’s problem.

      Given the serious matting and the drooling I think it is likely in your cat that the drooling is related to painful dental disease, or disease of the mouth/throat.  A good place to start is by performing a thorough examination of the oral cavity, with you (old) cat anesthetized. Dental radiography is essential to assess health of the remaining dental tissue, including retained tooth roots where is appears teeth have been ‘lost.” If your veterinarian is not comfortable investigating these issues you could explore possible referral to one who is.

      I would not be trying medication aimed at reducing saliva formation until you determine the specific cause.   

      Steve Bailey

  • Dr. Ray

    Hello part-time neighbor,
    I am also very concerned about infectious stomatitis.  Although some of these cats will need to be on steroids, “forever” is not likely.  I also agree with Dr. Brown that a full mouth radiograph would be helpful.  Many of these cats also need courses of antibiotics and sometimes steroids too!  But once the teeth are removed, they should improve  in the affected areas.  Radiographs will also help diagnose or rule out retained roots at previous extraction sites.You also mention that she does not groom very well, which is typical of affected cats.  Cats like to look good, so any help with her grooming will be much appreciated.  It also sounds like she needs more maintenance than that “new owner” home provides.  I know you have a lot on your plate with all you already do for the other cats, but maybe caring for her regularly would be less work than dealing with the result of her not being maintained.  It sounds like you have conceded that fact already, which is good for her.If your doctor is willing, I would also be happy to talk with him directly.  Of course, I would love to chat with you sometime on the phone to see if that helps!  You do not need to worry about paying for that phone consult, as I am happy to help.
    20 is definitely an older cat, but teeth are teeth!  We deal with these cats the same regardless of age.  Planning their anesthesia is different; but they often need surgery to properly maintain their mouth.  I personally would never shy away from anesthesia just because of age.
    Not everyone loves cats like you and I do.  I face that fact more often than I want to, right here in Georgia!  There is nothing to dry her out with the drooling directly.  But she is not doing well, and that drooling is likely due to a painful mouth.  I think she most likely needs more surgical help with her mouth (extractions, or retained root removal) before the medical management will be effective.  
    Not an easy solution.  I also think you need to be comfortable communicating your desires and questions to your vet.  If they do not listen, the care will not be ideal.  Adequate communication and follow up are crucial to feline care.  Part of being a caring veterinarian is listening to the client’s concerns.  I agree with you that euthanasia for bad teeth is not ideal.  However, you have a great history with this cat and have become her advocate.  When you feel the time is right, that may be her best solution.  I do think that thinking ahead and planning a little is appropriate at this time.
    Please call me at the clinic, or have your vet contact me if they are interested.
    Dr. Bailey also presents an excellent point about other causes of drooling (possibly nausea related).  She should get a blood and urine workup prior to anesthesia at this age.  The blood and urine samples, along with a systemic blood pressure measurement could assess her candidacy for anesthesia and rule out some of these other causes.  Dr. Bailey also mentions that a referral may be appropriate if your vet is not comfortable or experienced with these procedures.  Definitely a consideration.

    Hope that helps,
    Michael Ray, DVM
    The Cat Clinic of Roswell
    770-552-7877

  • Amy Halpern

    I have a cat who has been drooling excessively since Ive owned here . She will be fine for a while and then will have a bout usually it only lasts a couple of days and then shes fine…this time its lasting over a week and shes very lethargic..but she is eating and her weight is fine..my vet hasnt a clue we have retested her for toxoplasmosis as that has been an issue shes had since ive owned her…We live in Smyrna and go to Cumberland Animal Clinic and have seen Dr Dehaven,,,do you have any ideas???

    • My first thought is that is that we should be concerned. Especially if the drooling is associated with lethargy. I would need to examine the cat and either review or obtain a lab database (blood and urine usually). We could then begin to rule out and ultimately diagnose a cause of her drooling. We have to consider nausea and dental disease number one and two until proven otherwise. I am not familiar with Toxoplasmosis causing drooling but that is never a bad test to run. Because dental disease is so commonly to blame, a diagnosis may occur with just a physical exam. If she needs dental surgery we would still want to get a lab database. We would love to see your cat and try to help. And obviously some causes of drooling are undetermined but this sounds like pathology to me. Contact us as needed, 770-552-7877

  • Amy Halpern

    Want to add that she is about 8 months old

  • I did not see this part when I first replied. That is an interesting age to be affected. And you said since you had her. Some cats will have significant inflammation during eruption of their adult teeth but that would not cover the earlier times in life. And almost all cats are done with this by age 8 months. This process is also rarely associated with lethargy. Again, only an exam would rule out dental disease.

  • disqus_5wNJWGZqzu

    drooling excessively , lethargic oNLY since getting a penicillin shot yesterday by vet . .

  • disqus_5wNJWGZqzu

    drooling excessively , lethargic oNLY since getting a penicillin shot yesterday by vet . .

    • Michael Ray

      As long as it is temporary, I might hang tight. But cats have to eat everyday, so that would be your pressing concern. Penicillin shots concern me a little too. I hope your kitty is OK

  • Walter Taylor

    Our 15 y/o neutered male house cat (Jinkie) has had a terrible drooling problem for over 5 years. In 2006, we had to move from our rental condo due to severe mold infestation which necessitated removal of all drywall, cabinets and floor coverings. Jinkie had conjunctivitis, keratitis, and purple goop emanating from his eye sockets, so we took him to a ophthalmology vet who tested him for Bartonella. Jinkie was a “Strong 4+Positive” to the IFA Bartonella serology test, required antibiotic and interferon therapy, but tested serology negative 6 months later on follow-up. I understand that “sialometaplasia” or excessive drooling, is a symptom of Bartonella in cats and dogs and I am concerned that Jinkie’s previous Bartonella infection was not effectively treated. Since Jinkie’s 2006 Bartonella infection, I have had a retinal detachment, uvietis, iritis, recurring fevers, sensorimotor demyelinating polyneuropathy and positive CDC IFA serology tests for Rocky
    Mountain Spotted Fever and Rickettsiapox. Bartonella researchers state the following on page 21of their research article, Bartonellosis: an emerging infectious disease of zoonotic importance to animals and human beings, “Importantly, there is evidence to support serologic cross reactivity between B. henselae and Rickettsia spp. antigens in dogs and in humans”. Mentioned in the same research article above as a reference is, Saunders GK, Monroe WE. Systemic granulomatous disease and sialometaplasia in a dog
    with Bartonella infection. Vet Pathol 2006; 43:391–392.

    My question to you Dr. Ray is, since Jinkie had Bartonella previously and drools

    excessively and has what appears to be a nipple at the base of his throat (papule?),
    could he have had a Bartonella relapse from biting me, if I was not adequately
    diagnosed or properly treated for my 4-fold increasing titer Rickettsia infection
    in 2010… which may have been a Bartonella infection? BTW…. my medical records show that military doctors thought I had “Cat Scratch Disease” in September 1957 and I was then hospitalized for 40 days between May-July 1958 for acute glomerulonephritis…. also a Bartonella symptom.

    • I have not seen Bartonella cause excessive drooling in cats, nor have I associated drooling with a solitary structure in the mouth, unless it is a mass. That is not a likely cause with the duration of this problem, because oral masses are often aggressive. This structure is described as much more benign that an oral mass.
      He could have follow up testing done with Bartonella (again) and also be treated with the latest regimen your vet recommends. I would especially consider testing again if you have history that could put you more at risk for this known zoonotic probem. Obviously, I would recommended a MD advise you with your care and diagnostic testing. I am also not as suspicious that Bartonella has your kitty any symptoms since it is usually much more benign in the feline body. And without continued trauma from the cat, I think your Bartonella exposure could have been from elsewhere. Obviously much of your history is before this current cat! Further examination and or testing of this cat could likely tell us more. Statistically, I would suspect dental disease.
      As far as cats getting Bartonella from people, it is unlikely. Most feel that adult immunocompetant cats often harbor Bartonella as normal skin and nail flora. They do not have to work that hard to “get” Bartonella. Associating it with a symptom is another debate.
      Michael Ray, DVM

  • Chris

    My cat is 1 years old and drools at night only. Why is this?

    • Michael Ray

      A lot of kitties drool when sleeping. I would get an oral exam at your vet’s office to be safe. You may not have a problem at all!

  • carrie

    my kitten is 7 months old he has been sleeping allot and doesn’t want to play, he has woken up 3 mornings with brown wet smelly stuff round his mouth. (not sure if its blood)
    i have tried to have a look but cant see anything he is still eating but not as much as he normally would. does anybody no what is wrong thanks

    • Michael Ray

      I would definitely go to the immediate length of having a veterinarian take a look. Unfortunately, if the kitty is reluctant to allow, it might be an even better reason to look in his mouth. Sometimes sedation is best for the cat.
      Now, what is potentially comforting is that kittens are often teething around this time and the gum inflammation can be significant and may create crowding in the mouth which could lead to infection. Again, let your vet take a look to be sure. While most teething is uneventful, some have a problem with the process.

      • April Steenburgh

        hi my cat is 4 years old he was a stry when we got him as a kitten and he has been fixed but he started drulling and loseign hair he smells and sweets alot and im woried but cant aford to take him to vet what do you think it could be

  • Jess

    We have a 6 month old female bangul kitten! 2 days ago i woke up too seeing her with a horrible clogged nose… mind you this happened before when she was a small baby and its cleared its self up… but this time she now has a clear slim around her mouth it has a “Puss” like smell too it… ANY IDEA’S WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!

    • Jess

      ALso she is very sluggish this time around also, she wants too just sleep upstairs in the bathroom if i bring her down too the food and water bowl she wants nothing too do with it… her mommy was a Bangul the dad was a wild outside cat. she was born outside also… but brought in right after birth if that helps at all.. i did alot of research and i cannot come across anything that is answering my question. As i said before this has happened and cleared its self up so i dont wanna rush her too the vet if its not a big deal Thank you!!!

  • Priscilla Wooten

    I am very worried about my 8 yr old strictly indoor cat. I need to get him to a vet, but right now we are only living off of my Husbands small workers comp check. We’ve had our cat since he was only 6 weeks old, so we are very attached. He started drooling excessively within the past few weeks. Another new thing he is doing is licking constantly and then literally pulling his fur out just on one side. He has no fleas, because we’ve checked. Any idea what could be going on here? I am in Paulding County. If you know of any vets in Hiram or Douglasville that would be willing to see him and allow us to work out a payment plan, please let me know about them. I will call them asap.

    • Michael Ray

      Hello Mrs. Wooten,
      Excessive grooming and missing fur on the side is still likely a flea allergy and not seeing the fleas on the cat or in the home will not eliminate that likelihood. Does the cat have any flea control on board? (Advantage Multi and Revolution are my 2 favorite products) Other skin allergies would have been more prominent over the years and you may not be describing a ongoing situation. The original Advantage is now called Advantage 2 and available over the counter if you want to keep costs down.
      Now drooling is not commonly associated with skin disorders, so you may have 2 separate problems. Dental Disease is the most common cause at his age. Can you check out his teeth and comment on any halitosis present? If he is eating really well and not vomiting, nausea is less likely.
      I do not know many veterinarians in that area but check out catvets. com and use their zip code locater! You will then at least have a vet that is a member of the AAFP (American Association of Feline Practitioners).

  • charm

    my 1yr 8months cat suddenly started drooling today. this never happen before. they sleep with me together with my female cat. last night i heard a sound of puking under my bed and when i checked in the morning, there was nothing there but a dry liquid on the floor. and today my mom noticed him drooling excessively while sleeping. it seems he drools whenever he pauses or starts to feel sleepy and when he is sleeping. he eats fine, play and drink like usual. what could be wrong?

    • Michael Ray

      Hello Reader,
      I think having a feline veterinarian examine the mouth to be safe is the best idea for your cat. Since this is not an established habit, it is more likely to be associated with a problem. However, most dental problems are not going to cause a waxing and waning type drooling but more commonly cause a persistence of drooling.
      So you have a little bit of a mixed bag, so an exam will help us decide which way to go with this cat. It is also encouraging that he is eating well, playing and drinking as usual. Also pay special attention to his grooming habits, since the cats often drop off with their grooming when a mouth problem exist.
      A second cause of drooling which can be periodic is nausea. His vomit under the bed may support this theory. Again, an exam and discussion with a qualified cat doctor should help you develop a plan quickly. I recommend you search catvets.com and plug in your zip code to find a good cat doctor. I think an exam will help this kitty a lot in figuring out his cause of drooling. I hope that helps you and your cat.
      Michael Ray, DVM The Cat Clinic of Roswell

  • Erin

    My male cat, about two years old, began drooling about a day ago. He lives both indoors and outdoors, and I’ve never seen this happen before. The drool isn’t very stringy, it simply smears along his chin and smells sour. It also isn’t very frothy and doesn’t seem to have any color. I’ve also noticed that he’s been somewhat more sluggish, although is otherwise eating, drinking, and relieving himself as normal.

    • Erin

      My name is Erin and I have a cat now with the exact same symptoms. This is weird. What was wrong with your cat?

      • Michael Ray

        As I commented above, please get your kitty and oral exam ASAP. Keep us updated!

    • Michael Ray

      Sorry for the delay. I did not see the comment until recently. In this cat, I would suspect dental disease as the primary suspect. Can your cat get an exam with a cat doctor, and include a thorough oral exam.

  • Ins Kagakit

    I really don’t know what happened or what my cat ate outside 🙁 This morning he was just fine yet he keeps on sneezing, then I decided to bring him outside the house first. After a few hours, I just saw my cat drooling in an excessive manner. What could be the problem? Please help me 🙁

    • Michael Ray

      Hello Reader,
      I think having a feline veterinarian examine the mouth to be safe is the best idea for your cat. Since this is not an established habit, it is more likely to be associated with a problem. However, most dental problems are not going to cause a waxing and waning type drooling but more commonly cause a persistence of drooling.
      So you have a little bit of a mixed bag, so an exam will help us decide which way to go with this cat. It is also encouraging that he is eating well, playing and drinking as usual. Also pay special attention to his grooming habits, since the cats often drop off with their grooming when a mouth problem exist.
      A second cause of drooling which can be periodic is nausea. His vomit under the bed may support this theory. Again, an exam and discussion with a qualified cat doctor should help you develop a plan quickly. I recommend you search catvets.com and plug in your zip code to find a good cat doctor. I think an exam will help this kitty a lot in figuring out his cause of drooling. I hope that helps you and your cat.
      Michael Ray, DVM The Cat Clinic of Roswell

  • Courtney Hollon

    I have a four and a half month old kitten she was recently spayed and doing fine and healed from that but today she has been excessively drooling. At first I thought she fell in the toilet cause she has a fascination with the toilet and investigates if someone forgets to shut the lid but then I realized it was drool and it went on for about 2 hours then stopped and it hasn’t happened since. I am assuming its from teething cause she had her adult top k-nines come in and the baby ones were restricted for about a week before they finally came out with in the past couple of a days. Just wanting an opinion.

    • Michael Ray

      Hello
      The timing for teething is perfect. Kittens lose their baby teeth and begin to get their adult teeth at 4 months of age. Most of the time, the process is done by 6 months of age. More times than not, the owner will notice nothing from the cat during this teething phase. But drooling is a possibility in some cases. A feline veterinarian can determine if the process is occurring normally. You obviously have a less pressing problem than if the drooling were continual. The second possibility is nausea which sometimes happens as they recover from surgery. Please let a qualified cat doctor take a look very soon.

  • Libby Clemmons

    Okay. So I have an 11 year old cat and he has started drooling so perfusely that it’s literally covering all down his neck, and feet it’s on his face and he hasn’t moved from his place in a few hours and has discharge from the nose. We don’t know what to do. We can’t afford the vet bills if this is something serious.

    • Michael Ray

      Again, an exam is crucial, but your kitty may have an upper respiratory disease. Anytime they are snotty as well, I would hope that his upper respiratory disease is all better by now. If not, please get an exam ASAP.

  • Joe

    I have an 8 year old female cat who had resorptive lesions that required extraction of most of her teeth about 1 1/2 years ago. Not all teeth were removed, I believe the doctor left approximately 6 teeth. She has felt much better since the extractions, but recently she has begun to drool excessively. I took her to my vet who said the remaining teeth did not appear to have any problems, but the very back of the throat was quite inflamed. Could this problem still be related to resorptive lesions to her remaining teeth, even though the doctor didn’t see any inflammation etc. near them?

    • Al

      Have you researched stomatitis?

      • Joe

        Stomatitis appears to be the diagnosis. Her remaining teeth were extracted yesterday, and now we’ll have to see how she does. She seems to feel a lot better already!

    • Michael Ray

      Hello Jo,
      Yes, oral disease is a very likely underlying cause of your cat’s drooling. Whenever the back of the mouth is inflamed, the cats often have Stomatitis. While not directly related to resorptive lesions, Stomatitis treatment often requires removal of all premolars and molars. Many of the teeth removed are otherwise normal, without periodontal disease or resorptive lesions. The incisors and canine teeth are often spared. Unfortunately, I strongly suspect your cat is headed toward more oral surgery! Keep us updated!

  • Jolene Vandenhaak

    my cat mittens has this weird drool, very clear, not really frothy, just coming out of her mouth and its like really sluggish, and she seems to have trouble swallowing, because she makes gulping sounds. also it looks like its coming out of one of her eyes too. it started very recently. she just lays around lazily. usually she is out catching mice. we can not really afford vet bills right now. what should I do?

    • Michael Ray

      Hello Jolene, I wish I had replied sooner, because my concern is high with your cat. Even with an indoor only lifestyle, these symptoms are alarming. I hope you have a good update for us but this cat really needs to see a cat doctor ASAP! Her symptoms almost sound like a nauseous kitty that will not be eating without intervention. Again, I hope she has seen a cat doctor and is all better now!

  • Rohit Agarwal

    Hello Dr Ray, does drooling also occur as a result of pain because of external injury? My himalayan male cat marble had injured one of his eyes. He came running meowing continuously when i came home after work and both his eyes were shut. His bip was wet with saliva and his left eye area seems puffed and swollen. His right eye seems to open fine but the left one is shut and a watery discharge was coming out. Since it was late night I could only take him to a nearby emergency vet who unfortunately was specialized only with dogs. He did say that eye inflammation is there which could be a result of trauma, infection or insect bite. He gave him a shot of antiinflammatory and antibiotics and washed the eye. I am back home and marble is sleeping, and is very quite and withdrawn.

    • Michael Ray

      I would be concerned about oral and nasal problems here, as well as tasting something adverse since it seems to have had such a sudden onset. But if drooling is persistent, the kitty will not eat well, which can lead to several problems. Please have him examined by a cat doctor soon. If I had to guess in this case, I would be most suspicious of an upper respiratory infection.

    • Michael Ray

      And the withdrawn sounds like a fever thing! Good luck and keep us updated!

  • Christina Grigg

    My cat is about three yrs old. She started meowing really loud and is now starting to drool. I believe she has chewing lice and gave her drops a few weeks ago. My boyfriend checked her mouth and jaw, which she opened widely. I cannot afford a vet and my other cat died because she couldn’t eat. Plus, dry cat food gets stuck in her mouth sometimes. Please help ASAP. Thanks 😉

    • Michael Ray

      It sounds like Stomatitis Christina, which is inflammation of an area or many areas of the mouth. She needs to see a vet ASAP. Unfortunately, no simple over the counter remedy is likely to help. You are also correct that not eating can have dramatic effects in this species. Good Luck with your kitty. MRay

  • Megan

    Hello, my cat goes outdoors with me under supervision. The last few days he has been hanging out by a vine that has lots of bees and has been trying to catch them. We also have some black widows in the yard. I saw him catch and eat something three days ago and has been drooling excessively since. It’s clear and watery, just a lot of it. Appetite and energy has been the same. Is there anything I can treat with at home before taking him to the vet for blood tests etc? Maybe Benedryl?
    Thanks for your help!

    • Michael Ray

      I doubt Benadryl would help. My biggest concern would be the hanging out in one place which usually means not eating well. He may benefit most by food and anti-nausea therapy. But I have to recommend a veterinarian see the patient as items like foreign bodies and trauma are on your list of possibilities with an outdoor access kitty. Please seek help sooner rather than later because your story concerns me as a cat doctor. They are often more ill than they let on… Michael Ray, The Cat Clinic of Roswell

      • Megan

        I ended up taking him in and as I suspected due to his energy level, appetite and no visible injury or swelling, the vet sent me home with “he’ll be okay.” And $50 bill. Turns out, he’s okay. No additional drooling today.

        • Michael Ray

          I am glad he is better Megan. If the drooling stays away, no reason for concern. I hope he has continued to thrive!

  • Karen

    My cat is 12 yrs old. He has hyperthyroidism and irritable bowel so he is on tapazol cream x 2yrs and prednisolonne by mouth x6months . He recently started drooling. Could this be from the meds or kidney problems?he is an indoor cat. The drool is clear and has no odor. He doesn’t have bad breath.although he does chew things like the corner of his scratching post ,blankets,fleece jackets.he stops when I tell him to. Appetite is fine and he is active

    • Michael Ray

      Hello Karen. He certainly sounds like a kitty that goes to the veterinarian regular and is “pro-active” with his health thanks to an attentive cat mom! But I would still be concerned, start with an oral exam, follow his weight trend, etc. Nausea and mouth pain would be my top 2 suspicions.

  • Dawn Coffey

    I have a indoor cat but she go out on Monday when she came back on Tuesday she seemed ok but on sunday she started drooling that had a odor and a slight ting of blood in it and also had blood mark by her vagina please help

    • Michael Ray

      Hello Dawn
      Sound like your indoor cat ran into outdoor peril! Trauma would be high on my list. Please get her to the cat doctors ASAP. Broken jaws are common in cats with trauma and can be managed very well in most cases. Blood in the urine may be a player too with what you saw on her vagina. Please keep us updated!

  • Brenna

    I noticed today that my cat had like a film of drool around his mouth, he gets pretty regular vet checkups in the two years I’ve had him I think he is about 3 years old, very clean and always indoors what do you think it could be?

    • Michael Ray

      Definitely sounds like nausea in your cat’s case. Consider discussing diet changes (bland diet for instance) and OTC heartburn meds with your veterinarian. Gastrointestinal disease is very common in cats and reading about the multifaceted syndrome of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) may be insightful with your cat. But on exam, a complete oral examination can follow up on dental health as well.

      • Brenna

        I took him to the vet and he had a sore on his tongue I didn’t expect that haha I’m pretty sure he probably scratched his tongue licking something cuz he likes to lick things like lamps and tv’s and walls…lol

        • Michael Ray

          Good News, Must always start with a good oral exam… I am happy for the cat.

  • Hulya

    Hi, my name is Hulya . Yesterday, I noticed my cat Teddy drooling excessively and took him to a nearby emergency animal hospital. They did blood work to rule out kidney and liver diseases and examined his mouth well to rule out gum disease etc.. They also took an xray which did not show much of anything. They gave him a shot of Cerenia and some fluids but the drooling did not stop. I took him in to see his regular veterinarian this morning and he was given a shot of Famotidine. That did not help either. He is eating very little and drinking little. Yesterday morning, I had found a huge hairball which he usually never has them although he is a long haired breed. They think the hairball may have caused his esophagus to get irritated and thus causing the drooling. I am really worried and scared. Please I really would appreciate any suggestions.Do you have any idea what else could be causing him to drool? Thank you in advance for your reply.

    • Michael Ray

      Hello Hulya,
      You have done all the right things, great job! I think nausea is the most likely cause with dental disease being ruled out by exam. I hope he is doing better at this point. If not, I would consider things such as an Pancreatitis testing and ideally and ultrasonic exam of his abdomen concentrating on his intestinal tract and his pancreas. He may also need aggressive support with fluids and syringe feeding. Cats do not handle being off their food well, and drooling cats often eat poorly. Keep us updated and I hope that helps you with your kitty.

  • linda

    My cat is 17 years old, he is drooling and sometimes looks like shoelace. No bad odor, he eats good and drinks water, normal voiding, not crying, he had a lump under his chin, took him to vet, they wanted to sedate and check his mouth, but the cost was way too much i could afford. They sent him home with clindamyacin and gave him a cerenia injection. Today there was a little blood in the drool, but not now. Any suggestions?

  • SDA

    Can you address the issue of a Persian cat with an undershot jaw that drools continuously. My male Persian has tipped tongue and undershot jaw, he didn’t drool too much his first couple of years, but not drools profusely, to the point that the coat around his chin, neck, and chest are completely stained. I’m wondering if there is a surgical correction for undershot jaw, or some other course of action to correct this?

  • Gale

    My cat has a white lump under her tongue and her tongue feels like rubber, her tongue hangs to the side of the lump and hangs out of her mouth, also she drools. Is this Cancer? If so is there any cure for her?

  • Stephanie Sherron

    How can I treat dental disease

  • Caylah Tongotea

    My cat is an indoor and outdoor cat, and has recently started drooling really bad, his drool is clear and doesn’t really have a scent and only seems to escape his mouth on the right side, i have noticed his jaw is starting to swell on the right side too and i suspect that he’s been getting into some fights. he’s still eating as normal and active however he is shedding a lot but that may just be because its summer and the heat is up in the 28-30 degrees Celsius range, help?

    • Michael Ray

      He should get a Dr, visit for that one! I would suspect cat fights, or possible tooth issues. But either way, you should find a qualified cat doctor near you to look at his face and mouth and best determine his next course of action. The outdoor access guys need to have their viral status check periodically as well.
      Michael Ray, DVM

  • Janice Morton

    Hi Doctor, could you please advise me. My furry boy is 10 yrs old. He was fit as a fiddle 4-5 days ago, although 2-3 years ago he had bladder trouble, it got blocked twice. Now he is drooling, smells awful and his fur is staining where his mouths rests during sleep. He is eating wet food. Because of the drooling, I have started to syringe water into his mouth, he doesnt seem to mind. He is quiet and is behaving strangely sometimes when he attempts to lick his fur, its hard to describe, but he looks like he dithers and doesnt quite reach the fur. I took him to the vet 2 days ago who gave him an injection in case he felt nauseous, but that is all.Was there something else that couldve been prescribed for him? His urine was tested and no blood was found or anything else. Is turmeric safe to give to cats if they have liver or kidney problems? I am on an extremely low income due to changed circumstances so your advice is so appreciated.

  • dalton

    My cat is getting fairly old and he recently started to drool , the drool snellsr bad and looks almost like glue when its on his fur, he also hasn’t been eating and is getting pretty skinny what is causing this and what should I do?

  • Amanda

    Hello, We a year old male cat. This morning we woke up to him drooling like a leaky tap. He is eating and drinking like usual. He is playing like normal too. It doesn’t have any smell and is clear. It must have started late last night as I found a big puddle on his favorite chair. I have poked him and prodded him on his body to see if he has any pain and nothing. Yesterday he was gagging a bit. I read somewhere it could mean a hair ball. He cleans himself like crazy, like something touches him and he has to clean it. I take him out on a harness and the last time was five days ago; starting to get cold and I don’t like it lol. He did kill a mouse. He has bitten them before but this was his first kill. He didn’t eat it just killed it. I did find feathers in the livingroom this morning. I hide his feathers toys at night so he can’t get them but last night he managed to find one. With him eating I can rule out something in his throat, or at least I would think. Could a feather have poked him in the mouth? My last cat never had any problems as she was scared of everything, but this cat gets into whatever he can. He acts like a dog. Chasing cars and sticks too. I called the vet but they don’t have any available appointments and the nearest emergency vet is an hour drive. What can I do to check him out. I didn’t notice any swelling in his face. Kind of checked his mouth and all looked good but he hates people looking in his mouth so it was really fast.

  • Holly Whitbread

    Hi, I notice you’re not really replying to comments on this thread anymore, but I’m going to try anyway.
    I have a cat who is 10.5 years old, about six months ago he was sneezing constantly and so I took him to the vet, they put a camera inside him and confirmed it was allergic rhinitis and prescribed steroids. Half way through his course of steroids he had an accident that caused him to lose an eye, I had to stop giving him steroids whilst he was treated for that (I do not know what happened, we can only assume blunt trauma such as being hit by a car.)
    When he arrived home from his hospital stay I started to brush him and he would dribble quite a lot, but he was clearly enjoying it and, since I’d never brushed him before, I put it down to the enjoyment. That was about 5 months ago and, until recently, that was the only time he would dribble, every time I brushed him.
    However, about 5/6 weeks ago he started to smack his lips a lot, I read up about it and thought it could be a food allergy as the sneezing had never gone away, and he also had a long thin scab on the top of his head, so I bought him hypoallergenic food and started him on the steroids again. That lip smacking has become progressively worse and now he is visibly dribbling ALL the time, it’s obviously uncomfortable for him because he sometimes hisses to himself when he does it.
    He started to lose interest in his food, but he does not appear to have lost his appetite. By that I mean he will follow me into the kitchen and ask for food, but when he gets it he is less enthusiastic… I think he wants to be able to eat but something is stopping him. With a lot of patience and encouragement I am getting him to finish each of his meals every day, but this is a cat who used to wolf anything down you put in front of him without stopping for air.
    He doesn’t seem particularly more subdued than usual, maybe a little I guess but not by a great margin.
    I mentioned this to my vet when I saw him about 3 weeks ago to get his booster jab and told him I was trying this diet to see if it was an allergy thing. He kind of just went along with what I was saying and said ‘yeah, try the food, see what happens’.
    Since I saw my vet, his dribbling has worsened, it’s all over his paws and his tail. He does not groom himself very well, I had to sponge him down (I think he was quite grateful for that). And I’ve noticed a small amount of discharge from his nose. Also the sneezing is no better than it was six months ago, in fact I would say it is worse.
    I have another vet appointment booked in one week time and I wanted to get some advice before I go, because I think I need to get my vet to work a little harder for his money, and not just accept the diagnosis that I gave to my cat!!!
    I wonder if the trauma he had could be causing some of this? I know he has allergies, but I don’t know of what. It might actually be several issues that he has.
    Oh also, six months ago when they put the camera in him, them took the opportunity to give his mouth a clean and confirmed that he had no oral issues, but I wonder if it’s worth getting that checked again now? I don’t want him anesthetised unnecessarily though.
    Any advice on what I should be checking gratefully received.
    Thank you (and sorry for the incredibly long explanation)

  • jerrie axelson

    My cat in an indoor cat and is 1year old. She was drooling, but in a way that seemed more like leaking. It was completely clear with no smell, and I haven’t noticed any other changes in behavior. I gave her a can of wet food after it started and after she ate, it stopped. What could have caused the drooling and does she need to see a vet?

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