5 Reasons Why is My Cat Drooling and Not Eating

As a Veterinarian doctor, I am used to the questions, ’why is my cat drooling and not eating’’? Is there any ways to stop my cat from drooling and plenty to highlight. There is normal drooling as well as abnormal drooling in cats.

What is Normal Drooling in Cats?

Your cat may drool when they are putting or kneading. Drooling in cat refers to the sign of contentment and relaxation so generally, cat drools when they feel relaxed and happy.

In some cases, due to fear and stress, cats may start to drool, and this may be during any loud events, vet visits or car rides. If you notice that your cat often starts to drool due to stress, then you might call your vet to establish whether it is a usual drool.

What is Abnormal Drooling in Cats?

If you feel your cat drools continuously and fails to eat, then you should consult a veterinarian as it may be due to the health problems. Always make sure to take your pets to the doctors at least once in a year to know whether they are healthy or not.

Other Health-related Reasons Why Your Cat Drools

There are different reasons as to why a cat may drool, and they can be classified into three fundamental categories namely;

• Irritations;
• Pathologic conditions which result in pain and inflammation or the inability to swallow, and
• Emotional Stimuli;

The following are other few reasons for your cat may drool, along with suggested treatments from a veterinarian-

1.    Tooth Decay and Mouth Diseases:

Tartar build-ups are known to cause tooth decays or mouth diseases in cats. You need to check your cat lip to confirm whether the cat has some problem with the lips. Especially check if the lips look brown. Are the gums swollen, bleeding or red? Does her tooth look like concrete? If you notice any of these signs, then you can follow the below treatment.

Start with a professional cleaning; make sure you brush your cat’s teeth daily. If that does not appear to work, take your cat to the vet to check for gingivitis, mouth ulcers, and tumors.

2. Trouble in Swallowing:

Things like toys, strings, and other solid matter are known to get wrapped around cats’ tongues or in their mouth while they are playing. In this case, they may feel trouble in swallowing and may start drooling and refuse to eat. It is essential to act with speed to rescue your little feline friend. If it is not something you can do, remember a vet is always a call away.

Still, on swallowing, the other reason why your cat may start to drool and stop eating is when they find the taste of food unpleasant. It may be due to the medicine they swallowed or as a result of licking other badly-tasting food.

3. Motion Sickness

Most cats are often driven in a car when taking them to the vet for injections. This may be an important reason for your cat drooling. It would be a bad experience for your cat and thus causing them to get nauseous or nervous.

To make your cat more comfortable, you can try to put them in a carrier and hold them in the backseat but do not drive at the initial stages. Start driving slowly and repeat the routine so that your cat can gradually rise above motion sickness caused by car rides.

4. Poisonous Plants:

Common plants like Tulips, Azaleas, and Chrysanthemums can make your cat drool, and there is also a high chance that they could make your cat fall sick. So, ensure such plants are not within reach of your cat and should you find out they have nibbled on them, seek urgent remedy.

5. Heatstroke

Persian Cats and other pets with flat faces mostly get heatstroke. If your cat lacks enough water or absorbs so much heat from the sun, heat strokes may manifest. For this, you need to make sure that your cat is consuming clean and fresh water. Ensure she spends most of her time in shady places. During hot days, you can keep them indoors to secure them from over-heating.

Conclusion

I hope we have now settled the question ’why does my cat drool? If you still have a few problems with your cat drooling, you can contact your vet. They will be able to let you know whether the drool is usual or if there is an underlying medical condition.