Why Is My Cat Drooling Excessively Suddenly – 7 Reasons

Taking care of your cat is often one of most cat owner’s biggest priorities. It’s normal to be worried if you notice a change in your cat’s behavior or health over time. Drooling might not seem like a big deal, but cats are famously stoic, so that a little extra drool can be a worrying sign. This leaves many wondering; why is my cat drooling excessively suddenly?

Cats drool excessively when they are overheated or dealing with an underlying illness. Other causes include being affectionate during petting, hunger, dental issues, kidney failure, or side effects from medication. Excessive drooling is not normal and should be closely monitored.

Parts of this article might be worrying if your cat is drooling right now. We’d recommend calling your vet for a consultation if you’re worried, but the information here can be important for cat owners, even if your cat doesn’t have drooling symptoms. 

Reasons Your Cat Is Drooling Excessively

This is intended as a quick overview. Drooling has many potential causes, so trust your gut and seek help if you’re worried your cat is in a medical crisis. 

Your Cat Is Enjoying Being Pet

This is the least concerning the reason for your cat to start drooling. A really good pet and scritch session can leave your cat slightly drooly, especially if you rub their cheeks or ears. This kind of drool should clear up within a few minutes of stopping petting. 

Typically drooling will only happen sometimes while you’re petting your cat; if it’s a consistent problem, you might want to take them to the vet to be on the safe side. If your cat shows any other symptoms, there is still reason to be concerned. 

Your Cat Is Overheated

Cats don’t have a lot of ways to shed heat, and drooling is one of them. If it’s a very hot day, your cat is outside, or they have dark fur and were lounging in the sun, it’s likely your cat is overheated.

Monitor them closely while they cool down to make sure the symptoms get better, not worse. If the drooling increases, call your vet for advice on the next steps. 

An overheated cat should be offered water and moved to a cooler area. Don’t force your cat to drink unless recommended by your vet.

If your cat is severely overheated or doesn’t seem to be cooling down, you can mist them with some tepid water or rub them with a damp washcloth to help. Don’t use cold water; it can make the problem worse. 

Remember that heatstroke is always an emergency, so you should also contact your vet while you’re cooling your pet. It may be best to take your cat straight to an emergency hospital rather than your regular vet in severe situations. 

They Might Have An Illness

A lot of illnesses can cause drooling, including viruses, bacteria, and even some parasites. Usually, your cat will have some other symptoms along with drooling, but persistent drooling on its own can still be a cause for concern. 

That’s because persistent drooling can be a symptom of chronic kidney failure, oral health issues, and other problems. Foreign body obstructions are another common cause of excessive or sudden drooling.

Those are extreme cases, but also unfortunately reasonably common. We mention them because it’s important not to dismiss excessive drooling in cats just because there are other less problematic causes of excessive drooling. 

Your Cat Smells Appetizing Food

Drooling can also be easily explained if you’ve just cracked open a can of wet food, there’s an open bag of kibble nearby, or even if your dinner smells particularly good.

Drooling at the scent of food can also be a sign that your cat isn’t getting quite enough food on its regular diet.

It might be a good idea to consult with your vet to see if a different brand or a slight increase in your cat’s food might help. Of course, you should also check your cat’s weight before making any significant changes to their diet. 

Your Cat Might Be Injured

Some injuries can make your cat drool excessively, either to soothe the discomfort if it’s an oral or facial injury or as a pain reaction. If your cat is drooling and limping or shows other signs of a possible injury, it’s essential to get them to a vet as soon as possible. 

Hiding from you can also be a common sign of injury in more social cats. Cats are prone to hiding injuries, so it’s essential to check them over if you suspect this may be the cause.

Be gentle, and pay close attention to your cat’s reactions as you run your hands over them. Take particular care to check the sides of their chest (for sore ribs) and their legs and tail since cats can sometimes hide sprains and fractures in those areas. 

Unfortunately, your cat may try to bite or scratch you while you check, so it’s essential to have a good hold on them, and you may want to wear long sleeves and layers to help protect yourself. 

They Might Need A Dental Appointment

Drooling can also be a sign that your cat has an abscessed tooth or other dental problems. Excessive drooling for dental issues can be a sign that your cat’s teeth need urgent attention.

Dental problems are relatively common in cats since they don’t have a good way to clean their teeth naturally. 

Fortunately, most vets can offer cleaning and extraction services as needed. You can also talk to your vet about dental care options to help keep your cat’s teeth and gums healthy and help prevent repeat issues. 

Drooling May Be A Side Effect Of Your Cat’s Medication

If your cat has recently started a new medication drooling may be a side effect of the medication. Most vets will warn you if that’s the case, but you can always call and double-check if it’s an unexpected side effect. 

Even if medication is causing your cat’s drooling, it may still be a symptom you need to manage if your cat stays on the same medication. Helping your cat avoid dehydration and otherwise managing their drooling can help keep them healthier and happier. 

Is It Normal For Cats To Drool A Lot

Excessive drooling isn’t normal in most cats, though there are a few exceptions. Usually, if your cat has excessive drooling, it’s essential to establish why and talk to your vet about options.

Drooling can even be one of the symptoms of kidney failure, a relatively common problem in older cats. If your cat is a consistent drooler, your vet should be able to tell if that’s just normal for them with a few tests. 

New or unexplained drooling is usually worth a vet appointment to check out. 

What Does It Mean When A Cat Drools

Cats can drool for a wide variety of reasons, including good food, petting, and other exciting stimulation. However, usually drooling is a sign that your cat is stressed or has a medical issue.

That’s because cats usually behave to conserve their bodies’ water since they get most of their water from their food rather than from drinking. Drooling a lot is a good way to waste a limited resource, so it’s usually a sign that things aren’t quite right. 

Is Cat Drooling An Emergency

Sometimes, but not usually. Cat drooling should be followed up on with a vet appointment relatively quickly, but it doesn’t always mean you need to rush your cat to an emergency room.

If it’s during normal working hours, call your vet for some advice. They’ll ask about your cat’s condition and other possible symptoms to help you decide if you need to take your cat in right away. 

If you’re consulting about your cat’s drooling, you should also ask about what signs and symptoms are most worrying and could turn a stable situation into an emergency. 

Is Drooling A Sign Of Pain In Cats

Yes, drooling is a relatively common sign of pain in cats, though it’s not a universal signal. Cats can be in pain without excessive drooling or might drool for other reasons that have nothing to do with pain. However, if you suspect that your cat is in pain and notice that they are drooling, something is likely wrong. 

Is Drooling A Sign Of Rabies In Cat?

Yes. Drooling can be an early sign of rabies in cats, but this isn’t a common reason in places with widespread rabies vaccinations. However, a single rabies vaccine isn’t always enough to protect your cat.

Your area might mandate booster shots, especially for outdoor cats and indoor/outdoor cats, or in areas with a high incidence of rabies in other animals. For instance, areas with rabies in skunks and raccoons might have stricter rabies vaccination requirements. 

Why Is My Cat Drooling And Not Eating

Drooling and not eating can be caused by many different problems, so it’s important to get your cat to the vet for a proper diagnosis. Dental problems are a widespread cause of drooling at not eating.

Oral ulcers, abscessed teeth, and gingivitis are common causes since your cat won’t want to eat foods that increase their oral discomfort. 

Your cat might also stop eating and experience excessive drooling if they have a digestive obstruction or an illness or injury that decreases their appetite. 

Is It Normal For Cats To Drool While Sleeping

Yes, this is fairly normal since your cat is very relaxed, and extreme relaxation can cause drooling. However, sleep drooling should be relatively minimal, maybe a small damp spot near their mouths.

If the drooling is excessive, doesn’t stop when they wake up, or seems to get worse, your cat might have other problems contributing to their drooling. Testing for the most common causes of excessive drooling is a good idea in those cases. 

Is It Normal For A Cat To Drool While Purring

Sometimes your cat might drool while purring for pretty much the same reasons they drool while being petted. Extreme relaxation, which often comes with purring, can cause minor drooling. 

However, purring isn’t always a sign of happiness in cats. A sick or injured cat might also purr in an attempt to calm themselves or to ask for attention and help from other cats or nearby people. Excessive drooling and purring, especially if your cat doesn’t want to move or seems lethargic, can signify that something more serious is happening.

Just pay attention to your cat’s normal behavior. If drooling while purring is typical, it’s probably nothing to worry about if it’s an entirely new behavior you might need to be concerned about. 

What To Do If A Cat Is Drooling

If your cat is drooling suddenly, monitor its behavior carefully. Ensure they have access to plenty of food and water and check to make sure they haven’t gotten overheated (feel their fur, check ear temperature, check for excessive gum or tongue redness).

Once overheat is eliminated, watch your cat for signs of pain or discomfort, including hiding from you. 

Once you have a good grasp of your cat’s other symptoms, call your vet and talk with the receptionist or a vet tech about your cat’s symptoms.

They’ll help you evaluate whether the drooling is normal, a reason for concern, and an immediate emergency. From there, you’ll be able to decide if you need a vet appointment, an emergency room visit, or if your cat is alright. 

Things To Consider

There are many reasons to worry about your cat drooling, but we want to make sure you know that drooling isn’t always a bad thing.

We have cats that get a little drooly during a nap, good petting, or even during mutual grooming with our other cats. It’s easy to think that your cat is having an emergency when really everything is alright. 

We haven’t talked about that food allergies can sometimes cause drooling and oral irritation. Mainly if you’ve already eliminated other problems, it might be time to consider allergies in excessive drooling.

Chances are, if your cat has a food sensitivity or an allergy, you’ll need to work closely with your vet to identify it and find a good food option for your cat. 

Sometimes, allergies can be hard to avoid. For instance, we’ve had a cat that had a corn and a rice allergy. Between those two, it was a real trick to find food options that provided complete nutrition without allergens.

If you have that kind of allergy, a single food change might not solve the problem. Don’t worry, though; there are options available, from grain-free foods (we recommend waiting for a vet recommendation before using those) to homemade diets that can be completely customized to your cat’s needs. 

Remember, the vast majority of issues we’ve discussed in this article are treatable or reversible if caught early enough. Paying attention to your cat’s normal behavior and catching excessive drooling quickly can make the problem a lot easier (and more affordable) to manage.