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Drooling in cats

Hi there! We’re sorry you’re here, but we’re happy to help. When your cat starts drooling, it can be startling. After all, cats aren’t usually the drooling type. Occasional drooling may not be serious, but persistent or sudden drooling may be a sign of an underlying problem. Here's what you need to know.

What’s Going On With Your Cat?

What Are the Common Reasons for Cat Drooling?

Cats will drool for several reasons. It might be something harmless, like a reaction to medication or stress. But drooling can also be caused by nausea or irritation in the mouth from dental disease or a stuck object. If your cat just took a medication, the taste alone may be triggering temporary drool. That should resolve quickly.

Is Your Cat Showing Other Symptoms?

If your cat is hiding, pawing at their mouth, refusing food, or acting unusually quiet, drooling may be part of a bigger issue. These signs could indicate discomfort, pain, or illness that needs to be checked out by a vet.

What Can You Do at Home for a Drooling Cat?

Start by offering fresh water. If the drooling is due to a bad taste, drinking may help flush it out. If your cat is cooperative, you can try gently squirting 5–10mL of water into the side of their mouth using a syringe. That said, cats are notoriously uncooperative with oral treatments. If your cat resists or if you’re unsure about what’s going on, it’s best to skip this step and seek veterinary care.

Does Your Pet Need Urgent Care for Drooling?

If your cat’s drooling doesn’t stop after five minutes, visit urgent care. While the cause could be minor, persistent drooling can signal more serious conditions that need medical attention. Common causes include oral irritation from a foreign object, dental disease like gum disease or oral ulcers, nausea from motion sickness or illness, ingestion of toxic substances, oral masses that affect swallowing, and infectious diseases. If drooling happens repeatedly, have your cat examined by a veterinarian to determine the cause.

What do vets do for cat drooling and what can you expect from your visit?

Your Scout veterinarian may recommend:

Oral examination: In addition to a general health check, your veterinarian will carefully examine your cat’s mouth. Sedation may be used to ensure a safe and thorough evaluation.

Oral flush: Your Scout veterinarian will likely flush the mouth out after the exam to ensure any irritants are removed.

Topical treatments: If any ulcers are noted, your Scout veterinarian may recommend a topical mouth wash to help with comfort and healing.

Oral medications: There are some cases of feline salivation that might require pain medications or additional therapy that a pet will take orally.

Follow up appointments: If the abnormal drooling resolves after your visit, no follow-up is required. However, if your cat is still drooling, we will recommend that you come back in or see your cat’s primary care veterinarian. Sometimes drooling may be a sign of nausea, and more diagnostics (blood work, x-rays) may be needed to find the underlying cause.

Remember that you are the best advocate for your pet. If you think it’s a problem, it probably is! We are here for you in your time of need.

Why Choose Scout Veterinary Urgent Care?

You know your cat best, and if something feels off, it’s worth checking out. At Scout Veterinary Urgent Care, we’re here to help you make the right call. We provide high-quality, compassionate care from experienced veterinarians who know how to handle even the trickiest feline cases.

We’re open seven days a week with extended hours, so your schedule doesn’t have to wait. With clear communication, fair pricing and conveniently located clinics in Lincoln Park, West Loop and our newest location in Skokie, expert care is always close by. Don’t wait and wonder. Reach out today with any concerns about your cat’s health.