Why is my cat drooling?

What it often means

• Well-being: some cats drool a little while purring and kneading, probably a leftover from nursing. The body is loose, the mouth normal.
• A problem in the mouth: tartar, inflamed gums, a broken tooth, tooth resorption. It is one of the most common medical causes.
• Nausea: before vomiting, in the car, or from an illness of the kidneys, liver or gut. He licks his lips and swallows often.
• A bitter taste, an irritating product or a poison: a pill, a plant, a household cleaner, an essential oil, a dog flea treatment. The drool sometimes foams.
• More rarely, an upper respiratory infection with mouth ulcers, a foreign body, a mouth tumor in an older cat, or an injury after a fall.

Signals to read at the same time

• The timing: only during cuddles and purring, or any time, at rest, alone. Contentment drool shows up only when he is relaxed.
• The drool itself: a few clear drops, or a steady string, foamy, tinged with blood, with a strong smell.
• How he eats: he goes to the bowl then gives up, chews on one side, drops food, prefers wet food, shakes his head. That is typical of mouth pain.
• Other signs: lip licking and vomiting (nausea), sneezing and runny eyes (respiratory infection), tremors and dilated pupils (toxin), open-mouth breathing (emergency).
• What he could have reached: a new plant, a bouquet with lilies, a spilled product, an essential oil diffuser, a dog flea treatment on him or on a dog he sleeps with.

What you can do

• If he only drools during cuddles, change nothing: put a towel on your lap and enjoy the moment.
• If he lets you, look in his mouth in good light by gently lifting his lip, without forcing. If a string is caught under his tongue, never pull it.
• Check the house: a chewed plant, a spilled bottle, a product on his fur. If you suspect a poison, call your vet or a pet poison control hotline right away, packaging in hand.
• Do not make him vomit and do not give him anything, milk or home remedy, without your vet’s advice: making a cat vomit at home can hurt him. If a product is on his fur, keep him from licking while you call.
• Note when it happens and how long it lasts, and film him eating: that is often where mouth pain shows.

When to see a vet

Go to the vet urgently if drooling starts suddenly with tremors, vomiting, very dilated pupils, open-mouth breathing or lethargy, or if you suspect a plant such as a lily, a household cleaner, an essential oil or a dog flea treatment. See your vet soon if it lasts more than a day, smells bad, contains blood, or if he eats less: dental disease, mouth inflammation, infection-related ulcers, a foreign body or a tumor are possible.