What's going on when a cat drools?

Cat drooling may be caused by upper gastrointestinal diseases such as stomatitis, pharyngitis, and oral foreign bodies. It is necessary to diagnose the cause first and then treat accordingly. When a cat has difficulty eating or swallowing, it is recommended to feed the cat liquid food to avoid exacerbating the condition. Do not feed the cat overly hot or cold food during normal feeding to avoid stimulating the cat's mouth. Also, do not feed the cat bone-containing food; focus on cat food instead.

Firstly, it could be due to stomatitis. The main symptoms of cat stomatitis include red and swollen oral mucosa, drooling, etc., usually caused by sharp foreign bodies, sharp teeth, or eating overly hot food. If there are foreign bodies in the cat's mouth, they should be removed promptly to prevent and treat secondary infections. When there is a secondary infection, antibiotics or antifungal therapy may be needed. During treatment, when the cat has difficulty chewing due to stomatitis, feed the cat liquid or semiliquid food.

Secondly, it might be caused by pharyngitis. Cat pharyngitis is mainly caused by ingesting sharp foreign bodies or eating overly cold or hot food, which stimulates the oral mucosa. Usually, pharyngitis is secondary to oral infections or tonsillitis. The treatment principles for pharyngitis mainly include strengthening care and eliminating inflammation. For cats with mild illness, feed them liquid food and encourage them to drink more water.

Lastly, it could be due to oral foreign bodies. For example, bone fragments inserted between teeth or plants sticking to the cat's oral mucosa. If there are foreign bodies in the cat's mouth, the cat may scratch its cheek with its paws, and in severe cases, blood may flow from the corners of its mouth. When a cat drools due to oral foreign bodies, an X-ray examination is needed to confirm the diagnosis and remove the foreign bodies promptly.