Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My cat is drooling a lot. What are the possible causes and concerns?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Female | spayed | 2 years and 6 months old

My cat keeps drooling. Should I be worried? And what could cause that?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

Published on April 28th, 2018

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Drooling is often a sign of nausea. This can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. If this continues or she develops vomiting, I recommend that you have Callie evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Rebeccah Wood
Licensed Veterinary Technician, Registered Laboratory Animal Technologist
Published on August 6th, 2017
Hello there! I'm sorry to hear that Belle is sick. If she is drooling, has vomited, and doesn't want to move, it sounds like she needs to be seen by a vet as soon as possible. The drooling could indicate nausea, but it could also be a symptom of ulcerations or sores in the mouth or neurologic dysfunction. Is it possible that she got into any chemicals or poisons while you were out? If so, this makes a trip to the vet even more important. If she does not improve significantly within the next hour, you should bring her to an emergency veterinarian immediately. Even if she does improve entirely, a visit to the vet is still in order to rule out other possible problems that could recur (such as kidney failure). A local vet in your area has an emergency professional on call:
Easton Vet Clinic - (410) 822-2282

Good luck, and I hope that Belle gets better soon!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Why does my 8-month-old kitten avoid touch? How to encourage petting?

Oh my! Tessa is really cute! This can be normal behavior for some cats. Some never want to be touched and only want to do their own thing. I would recommend to continue to play with her and also slowly start to try petting her while feeding her a treat if she is food motivated. If you think she is fearful or anxious around you, you could try some feliway diffusers in your house and also the feliway spray on your clothes. This is a cat pheromones that can have a calming effect on some cats. You could also try catnip to see if she becomes more affectionat with it around. She is quite the cute cat and I can totally understand how hard it must be to not want to hold and love on her. Unfortunately, some cats are just stand offish. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My cat is drooling for days. What causes it? Can I treat at home?

Unfortunately, drooling can be caused by a number of issues which is why it is important to seek out veterinary care, especially if it has been ongoing several days. Drooling can be related to nausea caused by stomach upset or illness, problems with the mouth, tongue, or gums such as infections or broken teeth, or issues such as something caught in the throat or mouth. While a bland meal of some boiled chicken may help with minor nausea, the fact it has been ongoing for days is cause for concern and warrants a vet visit. If you're having trouble affording veterinary care, this site can help give you some ideas/options so that Baby can get the help he need: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/having-trouble-affording-veterinary-care

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my kitten drooling after waking up? Is it a health issue?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Milo was drooling that may be a sign of nausea which can be seen with gastrointestinal conditions like gastroenteritis, pancreatitis or conditions such as kidney disease, among others. If it has only happened once, it is fair to monitor him for now as long as he is otherwise doing well with a good appetite and activity level. If this is a persistent issue, or he does not feel well, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

Why is my senior cat drooling thick, sticky, foul-smelling saliva?

Typically excess salivation is either caused by nausea or pain (oral or abdominal), although this is not an all inclusive list. There can still be oral disease present, especially if these missing teeth were not removed but fell out. Cats can get resorptive lesions of their teeth which can be really painful and the changes can be hard for owners to detect. They can also get lesions in their mouth (stomatitis, a mass, ulcers, etc.) that an owner may not see. Additionally diseases of other body systems may cause drooling (kidneys, gi, etc ). I would recommend your kitty seeing a vet for a thourough oral exam and blood work to start. A good oral exam will likely require sedation and perhaps dental xrays. Additional testing may be recommended based on the case. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my cat drooling constantly, even when sleeping, after tuna?

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. She could be dealing with severe dental disease or other disease in her mouth. The drooling could also be a sign of nausea so I would also recommend having her blood tested to see if there are any systemic changes that could be causing the drooling / nausea. You may even consider adding in a probiotic such as Purina fortiflora which can be found online quite easily or at your local pet store. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My cat is licking lips and drooling with white foam. Should I worry?

Drooling, excessive salivation, and licking lips are all signs of nausea in pets. This may be the first signs of a gastrointestinal upset, she may have eaten something she shouldn't have. As this is the only sign Melodie is demonstrating, and is otherwise fine I would continue to monitor her. You could add a probiotic to her diet for gastrointestinal health benefits. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=25718 Signs to be concerned of would be vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and pain. IF you notice any of these please post another question so we can help you further or take Melodie to see her veterinarian.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My cat is drooling, sleeping more, and seems nauseous. Should I worry?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Pou. Drooling is typically the result of nausea, oral pain or ingesting something with a bad taste. He will need to see his veterinarian if his symptoms persist. If he did acquire the respiratory infection from his housemate, then post-nasal drop could be making him nauseous. I hope this information helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share