Sometimes cats exhibit hypersalivation. Is this a sign of emotion? A symptom of a pathology? Here are some tips to help you understand the reasons for their oversalivation.
You notice that your cat is drooling. This salivating behavior can result from several causes. Knowing and identifying them allows you to adopt the right actions to solve the problem if necessary.
An emotional cause (stress, fear, etc.)
Cats, like humans, go through emotional states depending on what happens to them in life. Moving, changing environments, traveling by car, conflict with other animals are all reasons that can stress your feline. In this case, one of the cat’s responses may be to drool. The best reaction is simple: calm your cat down. Some solutions are very effective, such as catnip.
But it is also possible that the emotion is positive. For example, if your cat drools while purring, when you pet it or when it sees prey, this is a positive emotion and therefore should not worry you. This over-salivation simply indicates that it is happy.
Food poisoning
Another cause of excessive salivation in cats is food poisoning. Whether it is inside (household products, medications, etc.) or outside (insects, plants, etc.), the dangers exist. If your cat has ingested something that is causing it to drool profusely, start by trying to find the cause of the problem in order to determine its severity. If the salivation is accompanied by vomiting, a dry cough, or even tremors, go to your veterinarian quickly.
A dental problem
It is not uncommon for hypersalivation to be caused by a dental problem. Our feline friends are used to experimenting with what can be eaten. So a foreign object may be stuck in their teeth, causing excessive salivation. Open your cat’s mouth to check that nothing is bothering them. It could be a piece of food, a bone, or any other foreign object that has gotten stuck.
If there is no apparent discomfort, it is possible that excessive tartar is the cause of the drooling. As in humans, tartar can cause pain in cats and eventually bleeding in your pet’s mouth. In this case, you can offer your cat anti-tartar treats to make the problem disappear. If the tartar persists, do not hesitate to go to the vet.
A pathology
If you regularly notice that your cat starts drooling for no apparent reason, it may be a symptom of a more serious cause, namely an illness. The causes can be numerous, but a few clues can put you on the right track. In the case of an abscess, ulcer or other internal problem, the drool will be pink or even red in color and will give off an unpleasant odor. In this case, you should consult your veterinarian as soon as possible. He or she will be able to determine the cause of your cat’s disorder.
Unless the phenomenon is very occasional and linked to moments of joy, excessive salivation in cats should always be monitored, as it may be a sign of a deeper disorder.
