When it comes to drooling, there are many factors that could be behind it. This can range from the mild to the serious, so it is good to know the possible causes and their symptoms.
Whether or Not Drooling Is Natural
Some cats do just naturally drool. Usually this is something that forms in young age. There are also some other perfectly normal factors that will cause your cat to drool a little, such as:
- Seeing something that attracts her appetite
- Pleasure
- Fear
- Being petted
- Feeling happy
- Attempting to cough up a hairball
All of these causes for drooling are harmless and often do not last long at all. It is also likely that this will be a regular occurrence for your specific cat under the above situations. There are two main causes for drooling that are not normal and require treatment: those that belong in the mouth and those that belong elsewhere in the body.
What Mouth Problems Cause Drooling
There are a few problems that occur with the mouth that can result in drooling from your feline.
- Bee stings
- Foreign objects in the mouth
- Gum diseases, such as periodontal disease
- Gingivitis
- Dental diseases, such as broken or decayed teeth
- Masses, such as a tumor
- Salivary gland cyst
- Nausea
The most common mouth problem is periodontal disease, which is something that 80% of cats will suffer from. This disease causes pain for your cat, which will result in the drooling. It is important to rule this out as a possible cause.
Along with drooling, many of these conditions have other symptoms such as foul smelling breath, blood in the saliva, pain and the refusal to eat. It is possible, however, that drooling will be the only symptom that your cat may display for any of these conditions.
What Other Problems Can Cause Drooling?
The problems that can cause drooling in your feline but not be related to problems of the mouth include:
- Advanced kidney disease
- Portosystemic shunt, which is a liver disorder
- Disorders of the stomach
- Disorders of the intestines
- Disorders of the esophagus
- Exposure to caustic chemicals
- Exposure to toxins
The most common reason out of all of these for drooling is the exposure to toxins. Since toxins can be found in many things, including household cleaners, there is always a good chance that your cat either came into direct contact with something or even brushed against it and licked it off of her skin unknowingly.
What You Can Do
The most important thing that you can do, once you noticed that your cat is drooling an excessive amount and not for reasons that are considered normal and okay is to take your feline to the veterinarian so that the exact cause for the drooling can be determined and treated properly.
As far as prevention goes, make sure that your cat is vaccinated against rabies. You can also brush your cat's teeth regularly and make sure that she goes in for regular check-ups to see how her health is going.