Why do cats always swallow saliva?

Cats constantly swallowing saliva may be due to hairballs. In this case, owners need to carefully observe if their cats are licking their fur frequently. If so, they can feed the cats some hair removal creams or catnip. However, owners must be aware that if their cats exhibit severe swallowing of saliva, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian promptly to check if there are foreign objects stuck in the throat or problems with the respiratory tract, so treatment can be provided in a timely manner.

Hairball syndrome

Usually, when cats frequently swallow saliva, it may be because after licking their fur, some hairs get wrapped around their tongue's papillae and are pulled into the oral cavity. When the cats swallow these hairs, they don't completely pass through the throat, causing this situation. Therefore, when encountering this situation, cat owners should recall their cats' daily fur-licking behaviors. If it's a hairball issue, they can appropriately feed their cats some hair removal creams or hairball control tablets daily, as well as catnip, to suppress the development and formation of hairballs and promote their excretion.

Throat discomfort

Frequent swallowing of saliva by cats may also be due to throat discomfort, such as inflammation of the throat due to a cold or dryness. These respiratory diseases can cause cats to continuously swallow saliva to alleviate the discomfort. In this case, owners should take their cats to the pet hospital to check the respiratory tract and follow the guidance of the veterinarian to treat the condition based on the actual illness.

Foreign object stuck in the throat

Cats may also exhibit the unconscious swallowing of saliva when they cannot swallow anything. When owners encounter this situation, they should check if there is a foreign object stuck in the cat's throat or take them to the pet hospital for confirmation. This prevents the cat from experiencing difficulty breathing or choking due to a stuck foreign object. Cat owners are also reminded not to feed their cats bones or foods that are hard to swallow and digest.

Throat polyps

After excluding the above possibilities, another possible cause for cats swallowing saliva is the presence of polyps in their throats. If this is the case, the cat may also exhibit symptoms such as coughing and vomiting, as the polyps can cause significant discomfort and the cat will try to cough it out. In this situation, it is recommended to take the cat to a pet hospital for professional and regular treatment, and not to self-medicate.