Excessive drooling in cats can have many causes. In general terms, the more sudden and intense it is, the more concerning it becomes. If your cat has a sudden onset of excessive drooling, it is best to speak to a vet straight away, especially if there is a chance they may have come into contact with something poisonous. If your cat also has laboured breathing, the situation could be life-threatening, and you should see a vet straight away.

Drooling is normal in some situations, especially when they are sleeping or very relaxed. Some cats will also have a very strong reaction to bitter or unpleasant tastes, and can drool a lot for a few minutes after being given medications. Aside from these instances, drooling is usually due to an underlying problem. This can range from stress, nausea or pain to poisoning or having something stuck in their mouth. Often there will be other symptoms that may point to the cause, such as pawing at the mouth or vomiting. Most causes of excessive drooling will require veterinary attention.

What to do if my cat is drooling excessively

If the excessive drooling just started, try to assess if their breathing has changed:

• Are their chest and tummy moving more than normal?

• Are there unusual noises when they breathe?

• Are they taking more than 40 breaths per minute?

• Do their gums look pale or blue?

• Is there anything abnormal inside their mouth? Be careful when checking, if distressed or in pain, they may act out of character and bite.

If you have any concerns about their breathing, speak to a vet straight away.

If the breathing is normal, consider:

• Could they have been exposed to a poison?

• Have they been hunting, eating something that could contain fish bones or playing with something that might contain a needle or fish hook?

• Are there other symptoms, such as vomiting, tummy pain or lack of coordination?

If there are other concerns or you’re not sure, it is best to call a vet for further advice.

If you just gave them medication or they licked a small amount of cat flea preventative off their coat, they are likely to be back to normal in 5-10 minutes. If not, or you’re worried about their breathing, speak to a vet.

Even mild, occasional drooling can be a sign of an underlying disease. Arrange a check-up at the vet if you’ve noticed increased drooling.

Common causes of excessive drooling in cats

• Nausea and vomiting

• Pain

• Stress

• Motion sickness

• Injuries to the inside of the mouth

• Foreign objects or lumps in the mouth or throat

• Dental disease

• Many types of poisons, such as herbicides, blue-green algae, plants, toads or lilies.

• Caustic or irritant substances, such as concentrated detergents or the liquid inside batteries

• Heat stroke

• Seizures

When to worry about drooling in cats

Take your cat to an emergency vet straight away if, alongside the drooling, you notice:

• Gums or tongue look blue, purple or pale

• Something obstructing the airway that cannot be safely removed

• Your cat is breathing with the mouth open, neck extended, front limbs spread apart and cannot lie down or settle

• They seem disoriented or unaware of their surroundings

• They are collapsed or are unable to stand

Speak to a vet straight away if:

• Breathing seems laboured or sounds abnormal

• Your cat is distressed or acting out of character

• There is blood or a bad smell in the drool

• There is swelling around their face, mouth or throat

• There are multiple episodes of vomiting or severe diarrhoea

Things to look out for

Very excessive drooling is usually quite obvious, but in more chronic cases, you may instead notice:

• Wet patches on their chin, neck or inside of front legs

• Wet patches on their bed or where they rest

• Dermatitis or sores around the corners of their lips

• Changes in the way they eat their food

• More frequent or obvious swallowing movements

Prevention tips for drooling in cats

• Do not leave medications or potentially dangerous products within the reach of children or pets

• Do not let your cat play with objects that could get stuck in their mouth/throat or could splinter and injure them

• Routine dental care and a healthy diet may prevent or reduce dental disease

Diagnosis of drooling in cats

Diagnosis of excessive drooling usually starts with a full physical examination, with particular attention paid to the mouth and throat. Sometimes a detailed examination of these areas may require sedation or anaesthesia. Depending on the findings of the examination, further tests may be necessary:

• Dental x-rays

• Neck, chest or abdominal x-rays

• Ultrasound scan

• Blood tests

Home remedies for excessive drooling in cats

• Most cases of excessive drooling will require veterinary treatment, especially when it is severe and develops rapidly.

• If you think your cat has come into contact with something caustic or irritant, contact a vet straight away and try rinsing their mouth with water if you can do this safely. Be very careful not to point any water stream towards their throat to prevent choking.

• When associated with vomiting or a tummy upset, a bland diet may help. Please see more information in the article about vomiting in cats.

• Preventative dental care is very important in avoiding and managing dental disease. However, when symptoms such as drooling develop, vet treatment is usually needed.

Vet treatment for excessive drooling in cats

Because there are many possible causes for excessive drooling, treatment may be vary:

• Suspected poisoning cases will need to be seen straight away to prevent further absorption of the poison and to manage other symptoms

• Any foreign objects will need to be removed as soon as possible to prevent further problems. Mouth injuries may need to be cleaned and treated with prescription medication

• Heat stroke requires active cooling and detailed assessment of potential complications

• Nausea and vomiting can be treated with injections and a bland diet

• Lumps or masses will likely need to be tested to determine if they are serious

• Dental disease will likely require a full assessment under anaesthesia. Treatment may require the extraction of diseased teeth

Is my cat at higher risk for drooling?

• Cats that scavenge and have a tendency to eat things they shouldn’t are more likely to expose themselves to poisons or irritants

• Cats that hunt are more likely to injure their mouth and teeth

Other causes of excessive drooling in cats

• Problems with the facial nerve

• Disease of the salivary glands

• Side effect of some medications

• Kidney disease

• Adder bites

• Liver disease