My cat has a tongue problem. Is it urgent or contagious for cats?

Oh no that is awful! The cat will have to be sedated to remove the tongue and the tongue may need stitches to close the hole. The tongue is an amazing organ and actually heals quite quickly, so I expect it would be a great prognosis. This will be extremely painful to the cat and it's serious he can't eat or drink. This is a medical emergency and he has to see a vet now. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Pappy! I would have the Vet take a look to see if the wound needs to be stitched up and be sure it isn't a growth. It will likely heal faster with an antibiotic. Wounds in the mouth do tend to heal quickly. Good luck!

Oh no poor Honey! Yes she should be seen by a vet because these are very concerning signs. Any history of trauma? These could be signs of pain, nausea, or something wrong inside her mouth (ulcers, stomatitis, a mass, foreign material). I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

From the photo her tongue looks like it may be swollen with a blister on the tip. Excessive drooling for several days can be from a burn on the tongue, something caustic that irritated her mouth, or something stuck in her teeth. Please give her wet food with added water, and continue to give water by syringe if she’s not drinking. I recommend a veterinary exam to find the reason for her symptoms, and get treatment. The mouth has a good blood supply so most mouth problems will heal quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Adee.

I'm so sorry to hear if Miss Meow's accident! I'm glad you were able to take her in to be evaluated and treated. Without seeing a picture of the wound it is difficult to say how much, if any, deformity will remain in the long run. The tongue is a very rapidly healing organ though and I suspect that after a few days Meow will be feeling back to her old self again. You may need to offer her soft/canned foods for a week or so and your vet will likely prescribe some pain medications and antibiotics.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is very likely a malignant tumor unfortunately. Cats are very well known for having a mouth tumor called squamous cell carcinoma which carries a poor prognosis. However, it could still be something else. The only way to know is by doing some sampling via fine needle aspiration or possibly a biopsy. If squamous cell carcinoma is confirmed, it is not likely to respond to medications much other than mild decrease in inflammation. Treatment for squamous cell carcinoma is limited by how aggressive this tumor is though sometimes surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are options. Sorry for the sad news. Let's hope it is more on the benign side. Good luck and have a great day!

Your cat needs to see his veterinarian ASAP. It is possible that your cat has a tooth abscess, severe periodontal disease, something lodged inside the mouth, an injury, or an oral tumor. Regardless of cause, this is a serious medical condition since it is preventing him from eating and drinking normally. Your cat is at risk of becoming dehydrated and developing a condition called hepatic liposis, which can lead to liver failure. Even going 24 hours without food can cause changes in liver functioning.