Why is My Cat Drooling Excessively Suddenly?[Answered]

As a cat owner, noticing sudden changes in your cat’s behaviour can be concerning, especially if you observe that your feline is drooling excessively, which can be a cause for concern. Although some felines may drool occasionally, excessive drooling may be indicative of an underlying medical condition

Why is My Cat Drooling Excessively Suddenly? Numerous factors may trigger excessive drooling in a feline. It could result from dental issues such as tooth decay or gum disease. Other plausible causes may encompass ingestion of noxious substances, heatstroke, anxiety, or medication side effects. Excessive drooling is not normal,, and it is crucial to promptly seek medical attention.

In this article, we will discuss the possible causes of sudden excessive drooling in cats and what you can do to help your furry friend.

What is Excessive Drooling in Cats?

Drooling is a normal physiological response for cats, especially during the grooming process. However, excessive drooling in cats, also known as hypersalivation or ptyalism, is when your cat produces more saliva than usual, leading to excessive drooling which is not normal and may be a sign of an underlying medical condition.

Why is My Cat Drooling Excessively Suddenly?

A bit of drool is normal when cats are relaxed, getting pets, or purring. When they feel safe and very relaxed, their body’s parasympathetic (rest and digest) system is activated. Along with many other functions, it is also responsible for the production of saliva, so a little drool is expected. 

However, it gets alarming when you notice your feline drooling way too much out of the blue. Here are some reasons why cats drool excessively:

1. Dental Issues

If your feline is drooling, making absurd mouth movements, and avoiding food, it could have a dental problem. Other signs that you may notice include the following:

• Bad breath
• Preferring wet canned food over dry kibble
• Weight loss

Cats commonly suffer from dental diseases, some of which include gingivitis, periodontitis, and tooth resorption. In fact, it is reported that around 85% of elderly cats have some sort of dental issue.

Gingivitis is a common feline dental ailment, which is characterized by inflammation and bleeding of the gums. If left unattended, this condition may progress to periodontal disease, causing the cat to excessively drool, feel excruciating pain, and lose its teeth. Consistent dental checkups and proper dental care could prevent and remedy gingivitis in cats.

What’s worse is that oral ailments are progressive, which means, if untreated, they will only get worse over time. This is why it is vital to take a trip to the vet as soon as you notice signs of dental disease.

2. Oral Injury

Injury to the mouth can cause hypersalivation. The pain might cause your feline to keep its mouth open, resulting in drooling. Here are some possible ways your cat can hurt its mouth:

• Getting into a fight with another cat.
• Chewing on electric cables.
• Biting a sharp object.
• Biting the inside of its cheek while eating.

If your cat has an oral injury, it will show signs like a dental disease. However, unlike dental disease, oral injuries tend to heal well on their own.

This is because the mouth is a highly vascular and moist area, so as long as the injury is contained to soft tissue, it should heal nicely. That being said, if you notice it getting worse, take your feline to the vet.

3. Traveling – Motion Sickness

Traveling can be stressful for both humans and animals but for entirely different reasons. Being locked in a cat carrier, the inability to escape, traffic and car sounds, as well as the motions of the car can freak any feline out.

Additionally, just like us, cats can get car sick, leading to nausea. The nauseous feeling causes excessive drooling.

To prevent your cat from stressing out while travelling, there are some ways you can ease it into the process:

• Leave the cat carrier in your house so your cat can get familiar with it.
• Go for short drives around the block with your feline.
• Purchase a pheromone calming collar or spray.

For more tips and tricks to getting your cat comfortable with car rides, check out our article: Cat Panting in Car: Why & What to Do.

4. Heat Stroke

Cats are warm-blooded animals, meaning they can thermoregulate. In general, you will notice your feline enjoys being around warmth, like sitting in the sun, getting under blankets, or sitting in front of the heater.

While cats have no problems warming themselves up during the cold, they struggle to cool down when they are too hot and may start drooling and panting in an attempt to lower their body temperatures. They may also start grooming themselves, so saliva evaporates and cools them down, as cats do not sweat as we do. 

Therefore, it is easy for felines to develop heatstroke. This is when their core body temperature is unable to come down. If left untreated, it can cause sudden collapse, coma, or even death.

If you think your cat has a heat stroke, you need to take it to the vet in an emergency. On your way there, make sure it is in a cool spot, rub it gently with a cold towel, and encourage it to drink cold water.

Find Out: What Temperature Do Cats Like?

5. Anxiety and Stress

It is common for felines to produce thick and ropy saliva in response to stress. This is because different glands are over-activated during the fight-and-flight response, changing the composition of saliva. However, the drooling is short-lived and subsides as soon as your cat calms down. If your cat is stressed, you might notice other odd signs, such as:

• Aggressive behaviour
• Hissing
• Hiding
• Loss of appetite
• Sleep disturbances
• Overgrooming
• Scratching furniture

Cats are highly sensitive beings and may exhibit signs of anxiety and agitation due to even the slightest environmental changes, introduction of new pets, or exposure to loud noises.

It is best to identify what is causing your pet to spin out of control, and then remove the triggering factor. In the future, be sure to gradually introduce any changes to your cat’s routine.

6. Neurological problems

Excessive drooling in cats could also be caused by neurological conditions such as seizures or brain tumors, which are potentially life-threatening and necessitate immediate medical intervention.

In case your feline friend undergoes abrupt behavioral changes, seizures, or loses consciousness, seek veterinary care promptly.

7. Poison

Hypersalivation is a tell-tale sign that your feline has been poisoned. This happens when your pet eats something it shouldn’t have, like home cleaning products, human medication, houseplants, chocolates, onions, garlic, essential oils, or flea medication for dogs.

If your cat has eaten something that is poisonous to it, the effects will come swiftly. Some of these include:

• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of appetite
• Seizures
• Sudden collapse

If you suspect your cat has been poisoned, you need to rush your feline to the vet in an emergency, as its condition will only deteriorate as the substance spreads through its system. Most cats make a full recovery if they are timely taken to the vet.

8. Foreign objects

Being naturally curious creatures, cats may accidentally swallow foreign objects or get them stuck in their mouths, causing excessive drooling.

Such objects could include bones, toys, or strings. If you suspect that your cat has a foreign object lodged in its mouth, make sure to seek veterinary assistance immediately.

9. Medication Side Effects

If you recently started your cat on a new medicine, chances are drooling is a side effect. Most animal drugs have hypersalivation as a side effect.

Your cat may also be salivating to get rid of the nasty after-taste of the medicine. You can try mixing it with wet canned food to reduce its taste, which should help the drooling.

In any case, if the excessive drooling is because of the drug, it should subside as soon as the course is complete and is nothing to worry about.

My Cat is Drooling Excessively Suddenly – When Should I See a Vet?

Seeing your vet about excessive drooling largely depends on other symptoms that your cat is exhibiting, as well as reasons for drooling. If your cat is drooling because of stress, travelling, or medication, there is nothing to worry about, as this is temporary.

However, if the cause of drooling is unknown and accompanied by blood in drool, loss of appetite, vomiting, bad breath, difficulty breathing, or even seizures, you should see your vet.

Symptoms of Excessive Drooling in Cats

Here are some common symptoms of excessive drooling in cats:

• Wet fur around the mouth and neck
• Saliva stains on furniture or bedding
• Pawing at the mouth or face
• Difficulty swallowing
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Vomiting

If you observe excessive drooling in your cat, coupled with any of the accompanying symptoms, it is imperative to get urgent medical attention. Delaying treatment could exacerbate the condition, leading to more severe complications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Closing Words!

In some cases, like stress, travelling, or medication intake, your cat’s drooling is short-lived and nothing to worry about. However, if it is excessive, non-stop, and accompanied by alarming symptoms, it can range from dental disease to your cat being poisoned or suffering a heat stroke.

If your cat is drooling excessively, and you notice any of the accompanying symptoms, you need to rush to the vet.