April 17, 2025, 8:28 am | Read time: 6 minutes
If a cat suddenly starts drooling, many pet owners become concerned. However, in most cases, drooling is harmless. PETBOOK explains the causes behind increased drooling and when it’s necessary to visit a veterinarian.
Unlike dogs, cats rarely drool. Most owners worry when their pet suddenly starts drooling, and rightly so. If a cat begins to drool heavily from one day to the next, it usually has a serious cause.
How Much Drooling Is Actually Normal?
Cats drool mainly when they produce more saliva, such as when eating. Often, just the smell of their favorite food is enough to make them drool with anticipation. Cats also produce more saliva when grooming, sometimes so much that wet spots appear in their fur.
How much a cat drools is very individual. Some cats drool a lot when cuddling or relaxing, especially if they are missing a few teeth. However, if a cat suddenly drools excessively and saliva drips in strings from its mouth, this is not normal and should be investigated.
Reasons Why Cats Drool
Moderate drooling in cats usually has harmless causes. However, there are several other reasons that can trigger increased salivation: from dental misalignment to inflammation to poisoning.1
Cat Drooling During Relaxation
Many cats drool when cuddling, especially when they purr loudly. Relaxation often causes them to open their mouths slightly. Some cats also suck on blankets or fabrics, soaking them with saliva.
Some cats are so relaxed while sleeping that saliva runs from their mouths, leaving a wet spot in their fur. Often, their tongues hang out as well. If your cat only drools during such moments of relaxation, there is usually no need to worry.
Catnip and Valerian Stimulate Saliva Flow
Catnip and valerian are both plants that can have a stimulating effect on cats. Not all cats react to them, but if they do, it can lead to increased saliva flow. If you notice your cat drooling while or after playing with a valerian pillow, there’s no need to worry.
Cat Ate Spicy Food
Like humans, spices cause increased saliva production in cats. Spicy food is not part of a cat’s natural diet, but every cat owner knows: cats are curious. My cat Kimmie once stole a noodle from a very spicy ramen soup. She sat drooling and licking her mouth for a while afterward.
Usually, the saliva flow stops on its own. However, it becomes dangerous if cats swallow dried chilies. In this case, you should go directly to the vet.
Cat Drooling Due to Nausea
Cats can drool when they feel nauseous or just before vomiting. You should definitely investigate the cause, especially if diarrhea accompanies the vomiting. If the cat is just coughing up a hairball, there’s no need to worry, as this can happen more frequently during shedding season.
Injury, Foreign Object, or Inflammation in the Mouth
A common reason cats drool is inflammation in the mouth. This can be due to illness or injuries. Especially if the cat likes to nibble on houseplants, harder stems can get stuck between the teeth or pierce the gums. Cooked poultry bones can also cause mouth injuries, as they splinter easily.
Foreign objects, injuries, or inflammations are usually visible with a look into the mouth—if the cat allows it. Often, cats also lick their lips or make swallowing movements. If you observe this in your cat, you should definitely visit the vet.
Dental Misalignment or Missing Teeth
A relatively harmless reason why cats drool is missing teeth. Owners may not even realize their pet is missing a few teeth, as many cats continue to eat happily. Missing canine teeth, in particular, can cause saliva to run from the mouth. Keep this in mind if teeth need to be removed for health reasons.
Dental misalignments are somewhat rarer. These can prevent the cat from closing its mouth properly, causing saliva to escape. Often, the tongue also slips out. If this happens suddenly, it’s time to visit the vet.
Dental Inflammation and FORL
If the teeth are inflamed, many cats start drooling more. Especially with “Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions”—or FORL—entire teeth can fall out, leading to increased saliva. In this disease, the cat’s immune system attacks the substance of the permanent teeth.
Foreign Object in the Throat
If a cat regularly eats grass, a blade can get stuck in the throat, causing the cat to drool heavily. This is often accompanied by increased swallowing or gagging. Sometimes offering the cat water or, better yet, lickable paste can help. With luck, the foreign object will dislodge. If the problem persists, a vet must remove the grass blade under anesthesia.
Poisoning
Increased saliva flow is often a symptom of poisoning. Usually, other symptoms like trembling, seizures, or disorientation accompany it. If you observe these signs in your cat, you should get to the vet or, better yet, a clinic as quickly as possible—poisoning is always an emergency.
Side Effects of Medications
Medications can also cause side effects in cats, including increased saliva flow. If the cat starts drooling more after a new medication is administered, you should always report this to your vet. In the best case, it’s a harmless side effect. However, it could also mean the cat doesn’t tolerate the new medication or is allergic to it.
Cat Is Sick
There are also some serious illnesses that can cause cats to drool more. For example, the feline calicivirus leads to the formation of ulcers on the lips and palate. Almost a quarter of cats are affected by this viral disease.
What Can I Do if My Cat Drools?
If drooling is due to harmless causes, it can help to place towels under the cat while sleeping or cuddling. If the cat suddenly starts drooling, the first thing to do is check its mouth. Are there any foreign objects? Is the gum bleeding, or are any teeth loose? You should never try to remove the cause yourself, as you might do more harm than good.2
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When Should I Go to the Vet?
If you find a foreign object or other causes for the drooling, you should always have it checked by a vet. If the drooling lasts more than a day, the cat needs medical help. If other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and trembling occur, or if the cat stops eating, it becomes critical. In such cases, don’t wait for an appointment the next day; go to the animal clinic immediately.
My Experiences with Drooling Cats
I’ve had both of my cats suddenly experience increased saliva flow, and both times the same cause was behind it: a blade of grass. Both managed to get a blade stuck in their throats while eating cat grass. With Nairobi, I was able to get the blade to dislodge on its own with a lot of liverwurst paste, but with Sweety, I had to go to the animal clinic, where the piece of grass was removed under anesthesia. That little blade of grass cost us over 600 euros back then.