Cats are probably the last animal that comes to mind when you think of a drooling pet. Although they don’t drool very often, there are times when simply petting some cats can trigger a reaction, causing saliva to drip from their mouths. It’s not commonly reported, but some cats have been known to drool from time to time.
A little bit of kitty spit could be either a physiological or emotional response to the stimulation that they are receiving. It could also mean that they have a health problem. Regardless, we know it’s crucial to figure out why they’re doing this.
The 7 Possible Reasons Why Cats Drool When You Pet Them
1. They’re Happy
Dogs are the droolers of the pet world. They drool when happy, sad, hungry, or just about any other reason you could imagine. Cats, on the other hand, aren’t known for this sort of behavior. Believe it or not, some kitty spittle is to be expected when they’re feeling extra happy. The stimulation from your touch feels good to them. It’s often accompanied by purring, rolling around, and rubbing their face on you. Even though drooling feels like a cause for concern, sometimes they’re simply content with life.
2. Dental Disease
Dental issues or other types of oral irritation are a significant cause of drooling in cats. Drooling is just one of the signs they exhibit, alongside reduced appetite, dropping food from their mouth, having a bad breath, pawing at the mouth, or bleeding. Although many people unknowingly disregard dental issues in cats, they are still common. Therefore, yearly checkups at the vet are so important to their well-being. Besides periodontal disease, gingivitis, and mouth inflammation, some cats, particularly older ones, may develop oral cancer.
3. They’re Scared
Feeling overwhelmed and scared could trigger a drooling response from your cat. This can be a normal response from some cats to different and frightening situations. If you think your cat is feeling particularly stressed, try to put them into a familiar and quiet room where they can feel safe and comfortable to help calm them down and offer them reassurance and company if they are very bonded with you and seek your company.
4. Respiratory Problems
It’s not uncommon for viral infections to cause a cat to start drooling. Saliva is sometimes caused by ulcerations in the mouth that are not uncommon when they have a specific viral respiratory condition.
5. High on Catnip
Not all felines are affected in the same way by catnip, but the cats who love it really love it. Drooling can be an occasional side effect of catnip that takes place in a small number of felines. Don’t worry. They’re probably enjoying themselves more than anything else.
6. Nauseous
What’s the first thing that happens when you start to feel sick to your stomach? Your mouth fills with saliva to coat the inside of your mouth. Cats do the same thing when they don’t feel well and before vomiting.
7. A Foreign Substance
Cats use body language cues as a way of communicating with us. Sometimes drooling takes place when they have something in their mouths or throat that doesn’t belong there, or if they have licked something very unpleasant or irritant. This could be many different items and substances. Check out their mouths first if you can do so safely. If you don’t see anything, take them to the vet to determine if anything is lodged in their throat or around their tongue. If you suspect they licked something unpleasant, toxic, or irritant, avoid trying to rinse the mouth yourself unless advised by your vet, as this can be stressful and difficult to do safely, risking aspiration.
Final Thoughts on Cat Drool
We may not be able to get a person drooling all over us, but sometimes our cats will when we pet them in the right way. However, drooling isn’t very common in cats and can sometimes indicate an underlying health issue rather than just happiness. Whenever you suspect that something is a little off, it’s better to just check with the vet and rule out any major concerns.
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Featured Image Credit: 毛 祥, Unsplash
The 7 Possible Reasons Why Cats Drool When You Pet Them
