Why does my kitten drool when I pet him? Is this normal behavior?

This is totally normal! When a cats sleeps, the muscles in their mouth relax, leading to the drooling. This happens with humans too. And some cats can drool when purring. I had a cat as a kid who drooled so much when she was on my lap that I always ended up with a big wet spot. I hope this helps!

The area that I think you are concerned about is the lighter colored and thicker area on the bottom lip. That is a normal part of the bottom lip that is thicker than the surrounding area because it is where the upper canine tooth hits the lip. He should have a similar thickened area on the other side, but the coloration may be different. Cats with Orion's coloration can be varying pigment along their lips and gums, so some areas will be pink while others will be dark. That is not a reason for concern. At 7 months of age, Orion should have all his adult teeth. If you are noticing bad breath, it would be worth having your veterinarian examine his mouth to make sure he doesn't have any retained baby teeth that are causing a problem. Finally, it is very common that cats will drool when they purr, but most cats do it from kittens. If Orion has just started drooling when he purrs and has a change to his purr, it would be worth having your vet palpate his throat, lymph nodes and larynx to make sure everything feels normal. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Some cats are very vocal and that’s how they interact. I’ve also seen deaf cats that meow excessively since they can’t hear themselves. Drooling usually occurs when cats are purring and happy. To me it sounds like you have a happy, social cat. Enjoy! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your cat.

Some cats can become so relaxed when they are happy and purring that their mouth relaxes and it leads them to drool. I had a cat who did this whenever she was relaxed and happy. She would also leave a huge wet spot on your lap! It is common that some cats drool when they are happy and it is normal. I would not worry about it if it only happens when Penny purrs :-)

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!

That could be completely normal, as certain cats (mine as well!) do it when they purr. Unless there are other signs, like coughing, sneezing or having dry discharge on nose, or being inappetent etc etc., I would not be worried at all about it. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Drooling can sometimes be a sign of overstimulation/excitement, and even stress or nervousness. It may not be that Bruce wants to hunt the kittens, but he is very excited/nervous being around it. Continuing to monitor them and only have them together under supervision is best, and if he starts to drool it's time for a time out so everyone (including Bruce) can have some time to relax and calm down. Making sure Bruce and kitten both have a place they can lay down, eat, drink, etc away from each other is also a good idea to help limit stress. Pheromone diffusers can also sometimes help (they make them for dogs), however if the behavior continues or he seems to be upset or anxious, it wouldn't hurt to talk to a trainer or behaviorist in person as well.