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by Rachel on December 29th, 2006

Rachel

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Why does my cat drool?

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Answers. 36 helpful answers below.

  • by Universe Of Life on January 8th, 2007

    Universe Of Life

    Because he wants your dinner

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  • by catlovr on December 29th, 2006

    catlovr

    Ah yes, I have a drooler. I don't know if this is across the board for all cats, but in our particular case, my cat drools when he is extremely relaxed. His face muscles go slack and mouth opens slightly and the drool just comes out.

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  • by Mary Margaret on January 18th, 2008

    Mary Margaret

    My 12 year old cat, fattie, has drooled since he was a kitten. I don't thing there is anything wrong with him physically. He seems to drool more when I brush him or just when he is cuddled up close to me. But, when he sneezes and I'm not expecting it, the drool really flys! I woke up one morning, he was looking at me sleep, and drool dripped in my eye. ewww.

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  • by Ruby Doomsday on November 17th, 2007

    Ruby Doomsday

    happy drooling is usually accompanied by paw kneading. I had a cat who used to do this, and she drooled buckets. So gross. I was told that it was a carry-over thing from kittenhood. I guess petting them brings on a bunch of involuntary reflexes such as kneading (to stimulate milk flow in their mothers) and drooling (in response to the anticipated milk). Because petting is sort of reminiscent of being groomed by their mothers, almost all cats hold their tails upright in response so that every part of them is accessible, even their butts. But it's all totally reflexive and involuntary... the cat doesn't even know why it does these behaviors, it's a simple matter of reflex! on the downside, it is pretty much impossible to discourage or train out a reflex.

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  • by Wendora on January 2nd, 2007

    Wendora

    When I picked up one of my cats at the shelter, he was quite the drooler for a few days. After that, the drooling subsided. I do think it had something to be with him being relaxed and comfortable. He was only at the shelter for 2 years and 3 months, who would think he would want to leave with me?

    Sometimes I will wake up to a saliva soaked spot on my pillow, so I can drool too when asleep.

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  • by Anonymous on November 17th, 2007

    Anonymous

    I wish I knew why your cat drools. Mine also drools when she is sleeping and if she gets a good scratch behind the ears or the neck. She is getting very heavy as she was a stray and now she goes to everyone the neighbor's house to eat! She is an outdoor cat but she seems to only drool when she is happy. She has been vet-checked lately for shots and stuff and has her check for feline leukemia and is fine. Luckily she doesn't drool alot.

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  • by Anonymous on November 20th, 2009

    Anonymous

    I have a drooly kitten, when he's all relaxed he sticks out his tongue and drools. He leaves a pool of slobber.

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  • by sarah03 on August 12th, 2009

    sarah03

    One of my cats drools, but only when he is burying himself in my lap or kneading me. I don't think it's an issue unless it happens for no reason.

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  • by Bob on August 16th, 2008

    Bob

    my adult cat drools when being affectionate, kneeding. i always thought it was because salivation is natural and his teeth are, well, we're from the blue ridge mountains where teeth are a prized commodity ...

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  • by Anonymous on July 16th, 2008

    Anonymous

    Hello people ??!! Drooling in adult cats can be a perfectly normal thing. When they're very relaxed and happy, for instance when they're being held and petted, they may also knead with their paws. This is an involuntary instinct associated with nursing. When your cat was a kitten, it kneaded its mother to stimulate milk production, and drooled in anticipation of a good meal at the same time. If your cat is healthy, happy, kneading and drooling all at the same time, chances are it thinks you are "mom".

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  • by Cat Woman on May 16th, 2008

    Cat Woman

    Well I believe my cat is perfectly normal and extremely happy thank to many of the posts on this site. He does knead at the same time so I guess it's just reminiscent of childhood

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  • by Harro Mique on May 11th, 2008

    Harro Mique

    Mine does the exact same thing!!!,but i hear its normal.

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  • by tahoemom on October 21st, 2007

    tahoemom

    I just had my cat evaluated for excessive drooling that started yesterday .VERY excessive, causing towels to be soaked .
    After $500 worth of tests, no conclusions were reached.
    Today drooling is a lot less after a shot of Atropine sulfate which dries it up somehow.

    I have antibiotic which I will start tomorrow if it isn't gone by then.

    There has been nothing cute about this. It has been scary, upsetting , and costly.

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  • by Purr-pal on May 11th, 2008

    Purr-pal

    Hi all,

    Check out this link: http://www.pets.ca/pettips/tips-61.htm

    Our cat is also a drooler, and there is nothing wrong with her. I just find it annoying because everytime I pet her, she starts drooling and it's just gross.

    If your cat does it when they are relaxed/petted, then it's nothing to worry about...just dam annoying!

    Hope this helps!

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  • by Esteban-- Smart ass Pumpkin on May 11th, 2008

    Esteban-- Smart ass Pumpkin

    he needs to get his drool plug replaced.

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  • by FionaFriesiana on August 11th, 2009

    FionaFriesiana

    Hello there,
    We have a cat rescue therefore I work with cats a lot, and have learned a lot from it. It's one thing for your cat to drool a little bit when it's really lovey, happy and purring and another for it to drool all the time. If most of the time it has drool hanging from it's chin, you have a problem and should have it checked by a veterinarian. Try to look in it's mouth and see if it has any loose or missing teeth, particularly the 4 front longest teeth. Also, are it's gums red or a dark pink? If so that would indicate inflamation. The gums should be a healthy pink, but not a dark pink to red. Your cat may be having tooth/gum problems if it is an older cat, or is not neutered and fights with other cats outside, or it could be your cat has contracted FIV(Feline Immunodeficiency Virus)comparable to AIDS in people but is feline specific(so don't worry,you can't get it from your cat!). Have your vet do an FIV/FeLV combo test. Costs about $35.00 here. One common symptom(of FIV) is an inflamed mouth with periodontal disease and loose teeth. "Examples of other problems include: blood disorders, anemia(pale gums), bacterial infections,skin eruptions and infection, persistent mange(skin parasites), chronic diarrhea(and wasting away), inflamation of the interior of the eye, fevers, lymph gland enlargements, chronic abscesses,recurrent urinary tract infections(cystitis),and loss of appetite and weight." A cat may or may not have any of these other symptoms, and still have FIV or FeLV. Sometimes they don't show any symptoms at all. A cat that is carrying either one of these viruses can still live a long happy, healthy life, so never euthanize a cat based on a positive result regardless of if your vet recommends it, unless your cat is actually an advanced case, and is no longer having an enjoyable life. Euthanasia is merely the easiest solution for a vet to give you, it's a quick-fix. Besides you can always just get another cat right?!. - No! Each one is their own unique individual, you will never find another one who is the same.) If your cat does happen to have either one of these viruses, you can read up on them more online. This is one good article:
    http://www.bestfriends.org/theanimals/petcare/cats_fiv.cfm.
    Answer numbers 3 and 7 to your question are also good info you might consider. FVR(Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis symptoms include: "sneezing attacks, coughing, drooling of thick saliva, fever, and a watery discharge from the eyes"), as well as FCV(Feline Calicivirus symptoms include: "pneumonia, and ulcers of the tongue, the roof of the mouth, and the end of the nose,above the lip)can also cause some drooling, but will definately have other symptoms along with it as well. Another thing you might consider is liver disfunction. Cats will just sit drooling when they're sick to their stomach because of liver problems. I have had this before myself, makes you salivate and want to throw-up.
    Best to take your cat to a skilled veterinarian for an examination. Then you will feel that you have done everything you could have done for your cat, and not suffer from guilt in the event that there IS something wrong with your kitty and you not do anything for it.
    Best of luck!

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  • by Skittleshanks on March 31st, 2009

    Skittleshanks

    My kitty has been drooling since I got her about 5 months ago. It only happens when I am petting her, or when she is showing affection, so I don't think there is anything to worry about. My best friend had an adult cat that drooled when it was hot/humid outside, or when she was getting some attention. It is pretty annoying because my kitty is very affectionate and likes to lay right by my face, and therefor the drool goes all over my neck (ewe!!!). I have to shower everytime she wants a petting! She's not going to grow out of this is she?

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  • by obsidiandark on January 6th, 2011

    obsidiandark

    My kitty is about 10 months old now, n she's always been a drooly kitty. When we got her from the vet she was pretty much normal, then we got home and started playing with her, and she was drooly everywhere. For the most part, we have concluded that drooly kitty is also very stupid. the drooling behaviour is relevant with the stupid. she only drools generally when being loveled and such, but we gave her some allergy medication by mouth and she's been spitting a lot, which is like super drool for her, to get the taste out of her mouth, if your cat super spit drools, she might have a bad taste in her mouth. either that or kitty is a drooly kitty by nature, not choice.

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  • by Athena_B on December 26th, 2010

    Athena_B

    wow my 8 yr old cat was jus in for a vet check up and was perfectly healthy, and i jus got her from the humane society where they said they did all kinds of test to make sure she was adoptable, but i was jus holding her n petting her n she drooled a huge glop on me ! i was worried til i saw this n im guessin its normal lol

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  • by JayT86 on November 16th, 2010

    JayT86

    It thinks it's a dog.

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  • by obsidiandark on January 6th, 2011

    obsidiandark

    Share your answer...

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  • by Dmanb90 on January 6th, 2011

    Dmanb90

    it is too lazy to care lol.

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  • by ana c on October 28th, 2008

    ana c

    Please, get your cat checked by a vet soon. I had a drooler once, and he had a condition named panleukopoenia (sorry if I misspelt this) that ulcerated his mouth. I had to take care of him for two years and saw him suffer a lot until he died. Drooling was the first symptom of this disease (a sort of immune defficiency)
    Of course there may be other reasons, but better safe than sorry.

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  • by Sheriff Raff -Answerhag on June 3rd, 2007

    Sheriff Raff -Answerhag

    i believe a cat can drool when they are breathing through their mouths because of some kind of respiriatory problem

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  • by Sunnie on October 28th, 2008

    Sunnie

    Wow, what a variety of answers for drooling cats!! I'm experiencing a cat drooling only on while on lap and being petted. She is a lovely long haired, (her decision) outside cat. I suppose it is time to go to the vet... Thanks for all your responses.

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  • by NarcissisticBtch on August 16th, 2008

    NarcissisticBtch

    Some adult cats will drool while they are being petted or while nuzzling into fabrics. This drooling is often accompanied with the kneading of the cat's front paws. This paw kneading is the same action that is performed by nursing kittens and it is this behavior that the cat is reproducing in adulthood. Adult cats that do drool/knead, often choose sweaters, coats or other clothing that reminds them of their original suckling environments. There, the nursing kittens kneaded their paws on their mothers, to stimulate milk flow from their nipples. The anticipation and smell of the milk caused the kitten to produce saliva and drool.

    The reason cats drool and knead is in response to the warmth and good feeling they're getting from the petter or sweater, some people find that this is a behavior that they'd like to stop. This is difficult since it is so primal and involuntary. It would be like trying to correct a human being for salivating at a summer barbecue. If the cat drools on you, place a dishtowel on your lap.

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  • by proudtobedifferent on July 7th, 2008

    proudtobedifferent

    He's sick of what your feeding him so he is imagining great amounts of tuna and chicken!

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  • by Mastodon on May 16th, 2008

    Mastodon

    Because dogs rule and cats drool XD

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  • by Cat Woman on May 16th, 2008

    Cat Woman

    I also have no idea why my cat drools. He is 8 months old and only seems to drool when he is asleep on my shoulder (though he's getting far too big for that). It is something he has always done when he is relaxed. He prefers to sleep on my hair whilst on my shoulder....I need to wash my hair frequently as you can imagine!

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  • by NarcissisticBtch on August 16th, 2008

    NarcissisticBtch

    Some adult cats will drool while they are being petted or while nuzzling into fabrics. This drooling is often accompanied with the kneading of the cat's front paws. This paw kneading is the same action that is performed by nursing kittens and it is this behavior that the cat is reproducing in adulthood. Adult cats that do drool/knead, often choose sweaters, coats or other clothing that reminds them of their original suckling environments. There, the nursing kittens kneaded their paws on their mothers, to stimulate milk flow from their nipples. The anticipation and smell of the milk caused the kitten to produce saliva and drool.

    The reason cats drool and knead is in response to the warmth and good feeling they're getting from the petter or sweater, some people find that this is a behavior that they'd like to stop. This is difficult since it is so primal and involuntary. It would be like trying to correct a human being for salivating at a summer barbecue. If the cat drools on you, place a dishtowel on your lap.

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  • by Rebecca_S3764 on November 16th, 2010

    Rebecca_S3764

    Your cat was separated from its mother too early so it is exhibiting normal kitten behavior. Nothing to worry about and its normal. She/he is simply showing you love and affection.

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  • by bagicide stayed 10 months too long on September 3rd, 2008

    bagicide stayed 10 months too long

    Mine do it when they are so happy and purring so hard that they forget to swallow their spit.

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  • by elphie on September 3rd, 2008

    elphie

    My cat drools too. He is only six months old and also has had trouble swallowing since birth. Any advice?

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  • by Armed and Dangerous on August 16th, 2008

    Armed and Dangerous

    My cat used to do it alot,he is really old he is 16.We took him to the vet for a check up and the vet said he had plack build up,so we took him in to have it removed after they did this he didn't drool no ware near as much as he did before.He still does when he sleeps.

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  • by needtoknow on August 16th, 2008

    needtoknow

    Mine only drools when she's purring hard..makes me sick. I thought it was because she just gets so excited.

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  • by CaptainHarley adores his life penguin on October 28th, 2008

    CaptainHarley adores his life penguin

    Cats who were petted while they ate will often drool while being petted. It's a Pavlovian response.

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