Why is my stray cat lethargic, not eating, and drooling brown stuff?

Without a physical exam it's impossible to say what maybe going on. But often times drooling or matter caked on the mouth may be due to oral pain or an oral infection. This could be from ulcers in her mouth from calici virus to a dental abscess or stomatitis. From the picture the black on her nose just appears to be some crusting, so if she's had an upper respiratory infection it may just be nasal discharge and or dirt. As a stray she likely has parasites so may have a bit of loose stool causing her anus to appear black. Typically when adopting a new stray the first recommendation is to perform feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus testing. The vet will also likely recommend an intestinal parasite test or prophylactic parasite treatment. Depending on her general health and the results of these test they may recommend vaccinations or my suggest getting her a bit healthier and starting her vaccines in the future. If concerned about cost I would recommend getting an estimate for initial exam, and testing and start there. If the vet finds any abnormalities on her exam or test results they can discuss options and estimates from there. Thank you for helping this sweet girl. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. So sorry Frank is having this issue. It sounds pretty serious. There are many things that could be going on with him. His symptoms are not specific for any one illness or disease process. All the symptoms don't seem to go together either: increased appetite but drooling and weight loss..... seems odd. Some of the things that come to mind that would be at the top of my list would be: * dental issue (ie: infected tooth, oral tumor) * kidney failure * poisoning/toxicity * liver failure * thyroid disease * cancer I suggest you get Frank to your vet for an exam and some blood testing to start with. Many of the issues I listed above can be ruled in/out with simple blood testing. This is not something that is going to resolve on it's own at home. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hi and thanks for your request. These signs could be due to severe gum inflammation and even infections, with abscesses building up on the dental roots (so sometimes not completely visible. These signs are quite concerning and another check up would be needed as antibiotics may be best given. Multiple dental extractions and cleaning are recommended in these cases. Hope this answer was helpful, but 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. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

There are some contagious viruses such as calicivirus that can cause ulcers in the mouth along with other upper respiratory signs such as sneezing and nasal discharge. It is also possible that both cats were exposed to a toxin or something caustic that injured their mouths if they go outdoors or have access to any chemicals. If their symptoms have been present for more than 24 hours I'd recommend taking them to an emergency veterinarian. They can examine both cat's mouths to look for problems and determine whether or not they may be dehydrated from not eating or drinking.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is very concerning as it is clearly affecting Nibbler's appetite and demeanor. What you describe could be due to things like an oral abscess or even cancer, among other possibilities. I highly recommend that you have Nibbler evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible for further assessment and treatment. I really hope that it is something that she can recover from quickly! Good luck!

Hello. I am concerned that Snowball may have some issues with the tissues deeper in his mouth. There is a condition called stomatitis, which can cause bleeding, inflammation & significant pain. Your cat will be reluctant to eat as it hurts to swallow. Your veterinarian can discover the cause of the blood & hopefully make some recommendations for treating Snowball & hopefully get him feeling better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!