Why Do Cats Smack Their Lips – 7 Common Reasons

Cats are always up to something, doing something strange. You may often overlook the behavior, but when you see and hear your cat smacking his lips together, you can’t help but stare at him. If you don’t understand the habit, it’s normal to wonder, why do cats smack their lips?

Lip smacking is a strange habit in cats, but it can alert you to certain things like nervousness, nausea, or dental problems. The licking does not always mean that your cat is sick, but you should keep an eye on the behavior just in case.

While you don’t always have to worry about lip smacking, you should pay attention to make sure it’s not something more serious. You can learn a lot from this. if you’re someone looking to learn more, keep on reading!

Why Does My Cat Keep Smacking Her Lips

Lip smacking is a strange habit that some cats pick up, but an underlying condition usually causes it.

Cats won’t start smacking their lips for no reason. 

We’re going to get into the reasons more in-depth in a few minutes, but first, I want to make the point that your cat does have a reason for smacking his lips. 

Humans will smack their lips as a habit that can be annoying. Cats don’t do the same thing. 

It can be challenging to know why your cat is smacking his lips but pay attention to what he is doing. You can learn a lot from your cat!

7 Reasons Why Your Cat Is Smacking Their Lips

Your cat smacks his lips for many reasons, but here are seven of the most common reasons why this habit begins. 

Your Cat Just Ate

You’ll notice that your cat will smack his lips after he finishes eating. 

If you think about it, that’s no different from what humans do after eating a meal, right?

Your cat will smack his lips to get the rest of the food out of his mouth.

Dry cat food can get stuck in and around your cat’s teeth.

Wet cat food is less of a mess, but you might see that there is food stuck on your cat’s lip and chin.

Smacking his lips is just one of the last ways your cat can clean himself up. 

Your Cat Is Nervous Or Anxious

Lip smacking can be a symptom of nervousness or anxiety, similar to what can be present in humans.

It could become a habit that your cat does as he walks around or if he is in a situation that makes him nervous. 

You will notice that your cat is timid or shy when he’s smacking his lips, which shows that he isn’t in a great mental space.

You should do your best to remove your cat from the situation that makes him uncomfortable. If possible, change the environment that he is in as well. 

If anxiety is the cause, then you’ll see that your cat presents anxiety and nervousness in other ways too. Cats aren’t able to hide certain symptoms as humans could. 

Your Cat Is Nauseous 

Your cat will smack his lips if he’s feeling nauseous. 

Your cat may not actually start to throw up when he’s feeling nauseous, but the lip smacking could help him feel better.

If your cat is feeling nauseous, he may seem more lethargic than usual. He may be in and out of the litter box too. 

Unfortunately, you can do little for a cat with a stomach ache because you can’t give them medication.

Keep an eye on your cat and make sure that he has fresh, cool water to drink to make him feel better.

There Is A Problem With Your Cat’s Teeth

Dental problems can do a number of different things to your cat’s health, and they may present themselves first as your cat smacks his lips.

There can be many things wrong in his case, like ulcers, tooth problems, or a broken tooth. 

Usually, your cat will be drooling more than usual when he’s smacking his lips like this too. The drool will be the best way to know that something is wrong.

Cats won’t let you open their mouths easily, so don’t try to pry their lips open to see what could be going on inside their mouths. 

You should make sure that you visit your vet if you expect dental problems. 

Your Cat Was Bitten By A Bug

This one doesn’t happen as often, but you should keep it in mind because cats like to try to eat so many things.

Your cat could get bitten by different bugs: spiders, bees, even ants.

You may barely notice that your cat has been bitten, but you might see a small bump on your cat’s lip. 

Most of the time, you don’t have to worry about your cat being bitten by a bug unless it is a bee sting that starts to swell up. 

Cats are so curious that it might get them in trouble one day!

Your Cat Has Something Stuck In His Teeth

Lip smacking may be because he has something stuck in his teeth.

Your cat won’t always have a problem with wet cat food, but dry cat food can easily get stuck in your cat’s teeth.

This is the same with cat treats.

Cats can’t move their tongues around their mouths like humans can, so the best way your cat can get rid of stuck food is smacking his mouth around.

As the pieces get softer, they’ll easily fall out. 

Your Cat Tasted Something Funny Or Bad

Your cat will start smacking his lips if he tastes something that is off.

Since cats are always so curious, he may have gotten something into his mouth that shouldn’t have been there.

I noticed this happens when my cats play with those bugs called “stink bugs.” These bugs will release a disgusting smell that can get in your mouth because it is like a liquid.

Your cat will gag until he starts getting the taste out of his mouth.

As the taste goes away, you’ll see that your cat will walk around smacking his lips. 

Why Is My Cat Smacking His Lips And Drooling

Drooling is one indication that something more serious is wrong with your cat.

If your cat is cleaning food out of his teeth, then you probably won’t see your cat drooling. Like you and me, your cat is simply cleaning up his mouth. 

Drooling usually shows that your cat is nauseous or has dental problems. 

Drooling is how your cat’s body shows that you are sick, but it isn’t very easy to understand why cats do this.

Unfortunately, though, drooling isn’t an indication of one illness, disease, or problem.

Here are some of the things that could be wrong with your cat when drool is present:

• Dental problems
• Stomach problems
• Gum disease
• Inflammation problems
• Tooth abscess 

Keep an eye on your cat when you see him drooling. Make sure to speak with your vet if it continues.