Why is my cat having trouble closing his mouth and his tongue is out?

I am so sorry that your pet Tucker seems to be having some kind of neurological issue or even just trauma to his face. He definitely needs to see a vet soon to get this looked into. The vet will do a bried neuro exam and determine if he is in pain. If the problem seems to be too involved, then a referral to a neurologist or internal specialist may be needed to help Tucker moving forward. It is best to get him seen quickly, especially since he can't eat. If he seems to be in distress (panting, labored breathing, painful) at any point, then its best to get him seen by an ER vet tonight and not wait until morning. I do hope that Tucker can stabilize his condition soon! Best of luck moving forward and take care.

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.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sam. I recommend that he sees an emergency veterinarian today. He needs to be examined. If there is a smell coming from his mouth, I worry that he has a wound. If he is painful, then he will not open his mouth. There are also other causes of not being able to use the mouth properly such as infectious and inflammatory conditions. The veterinarian will examine him and may recommend some testing. Based on these results, treatment can be started to help him feel better. I worry that he will become dehydrated from not eating and drinking properly. This may need to be addressed as well. I hope this information helps!

I'm very sorry to hear Frankie is having some difficulty. Frankie absolutely needs to be seen by a veterinarian for evaluation. His inability to open his mouth could be related to trauma that occurred during the seizure (i.e. Dislocation of the TMJ joint, etc) although this usually results in the animal stuck with the mouth open. There are also muscle diseases that can cause the same issue; however this is not common in cats. I would also highly recommend Frankie be evaluated, if he has not already, for his seizures. Hopefully this was helpful information and Frankie feels better soon.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. It is possible that Oscar was bitten inside the mouth by an insect such as an ant or bee and this has caused oral pain / irritation. As long as he is eating and drinking ok and the behavior resolves, I would not be too concerned about this. I would monitor him for the next 2-3 days and if the problem resolves, I would not worry about it any further. If the problem persists or worsens, I would have the veterinarian recheck the mouth. He may need to be sedated to have a complete oral examination to make sure something is not stuck in his mouth like a small piece of material like wood, glass, metal, etc. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be happy to help you further.

I’m sorry Oscar is dealing with this. He is quite a handsome guy! Pain opening the mouth can be caused by a few thing including infections or an autoimmune disease called masticatory muscle myositis (MMM). I would have Oscar evaluated by his veterinarian. They may be able to get an idea based on their exam, and they can also do special blood testing for MMM. They can start Oscar on medication as indicated to help him be much more comfortable. In the meantime continue feeding him very soft foods. Hope he is feeling much better soon!

It could just be normal for him but you should have a vet do an oral examination to make sure he doesn't have a dental problem and/or a problem with the his jaw. If your vet doesn't identify a problem and he is eating and drinking fine then it is probably just normal for him.