Why is my cat drooling while sleeping? If you’ve ever owned a cat, you’ve seen one drool while sleeping at some point. We know it’s weird, but many possible explanations exist for why your cat might be drooling while sleeping. In this article, we’ll explore 10 common reasons your cat might be drooling while napping, from heatstroke to allergies and everything in between.
1) Stress
Cats can get stressed just like people, and drooling is one of their body’s natural reactions. If your cat is stressed, you might notice excessive grooming, hiding in corners or cages, aggression, or an increase in vocalization. When cats are nervous or upset about something, they lick themselves as a form of comfort. If your cat is drooling while sleeping because she’s feeling anxious about something—like maybe a new pet in the house—it’s essential to find out what that thing is and take steps to ease her mind.
2) Teeth Issues
Many people don’t know this, but cats can have dental issues too. Cats are carnivores, so they’re constantly biting and chewing on meat. This can lead to tartar buildup on their teeth, which causes them to drool while they sleep. The best way to prevent this is by brushing your cat’s teeth at least once a week with a pet toothpaste with fluoride or by using a product designed specifically for cats, like the Petrodex Dental Kit for Cats with Tartar Control Formula. If your cat already has dental issues, then you’ll need to brush its teeth every day until you get the tartar buildup under control.
3) Dry Mouth
The most common cause of drooling in cats is dry mouth, which sounds like a terrible diagnosis but is just a symptom. Cats’ mouths and tongues don’t contain many glands that secrete saliva in humans, so they often have dry mouths, especially after waking up. Fortunately, there’s nothing you can do to fix your cat’s anatomy here; but you can alleviate symptoms by placing food or water near where he sleeps and wiping off his mouth after he wakes up. This will go a long way toward keeping his saliva flowing normally. If your cat continues to drool while sleeping, consult your veterinarian because it could indicate a more severe problem.
4) Allergies
Allergies are a common reason for cats to drool while sleeping. If you have a cat, it’s likely that at some point, your house has been covered in cat hair and dander (dead skin), and your nose was affected by them. A protein causes cat allergies in their saliva, so if your drooling cat is lying on or nearby her favorite blanket, she could make you sneeze and itch. You might also find that certain plants or fruits trigger allergy symptoms in cats; if you notice that after eating strawberries, your feline starts dripping saliva—she might have developed an allergy to them!
5) Tumors in the Mouth
It’s not always easy to tell if your cat has a tumor in the mouth. Tumors can cause drooling and a loss of appetite, but they may also cause an increased appetite. If your cat is drooling excessively while sleeping or has wounds in its mouth, this could be a sign of oral cancer. The good news is that it’s possible to detect oral cancer early on and have it surgically removed before it spreads. To help prevent oral cancer, make sure your cat eats healthy food and gets regular checkups with its vet!
6) Infections
When a cat is sick and his immune system isn’t functioning at its best, there’s a greater chance he’ll develop an upper respiratory infection. This can sometimes make him drool when sleeping because of excess salivation caused by inflammation in his mouth. If your pet has been exposed to other cats or even people who may be sick, it’s essential to keep him isolated from your other pets until you can determine if he is infected with a virus or bacteria. Take him to his veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.
7) Pain
This is probably one of your biggest concerns, particularly if you’ve noticed your cat drooling while sleeping and feeling pain in her mouth. Although it can be hard to pinpoint what’s causing your cat to drool while sleeping, some telltale signs could help you track down what’s going on. For instance, does your cat have difficulty opening her mouth wide, or does she generally seem uncomfortable when trying to eat? Does she lick at any specific area of her body before bedtime, or does she wake up with an open sore on her mouth from licking? These are all signs that indicate some pain or discomfort could be present and needs immediate attention from a veterinarian.
8) Dehydration
Your cat may be dehydrated. If you’re providing fresh, clean water for your pet, it should be enough to keep them hydrated and prevent dehydration. However, it could mean they’re dehydrated if you’re not giving them adequate access to clean water and they’re drooling while sleeping or eating. Make sure your cat has plenty of fresh water at all times. You can also give them a bit of water with some electrolytes (Pedialyte) to help boost their fluid intake while they rehydrate. Food: Your cat may drool while sleeping because they’re hungry!
9) Foreign Bodies In The Mouth
If your cat is drooling while sleeping, it may have a foreign body in its mouth or throat. Cats are known to eat anything; sometimes, they accidentally swallow something too big to chew. If it’s food that is stuck in the mouth or throat, it will usually come back up when your cat tries to cough. Otherwise, you’ll want to take your cat to the vet as soon as possible so it can get checked out and removed from the mouth or throat if necessary.
10) Congestive Heart Failure
It is also essential to know that congestive heart failure can cause cat drooling. This condition develops as the heart muscle becomes weak and unable to pump blood efficiently. This results in a backup of blood in the veins, which causes fluid to leak from the blood vessels into tissue spaces. The excess fluid can then collect in the chest cavity and lungs, leading to coughing or difficulty breathing. Other symptoms of congestive heart failure include shortness of breath, weight gain, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and drooling.
11) Diabetes Mellitus
If your cat is drooling while sleeping, it could be a sign of diabetes mellitus. Cats with diabetes mellitus have too much sugar in their bloodstream, which causes excessive drooling and thirst. The excess sugar in the bloodstream can also cause dehydration, weight loss, and increased appetite. If you suspect your cat has diabetes mellitus, take them to the veterinarian for a checkup immediately. Your veterinarian needs blood tests to confirm that your cat has diabetes mellitus.
12) Fever
Cats will usually drool when they have a fever. An elevated temperature in cats can be caused by many things, including infection, kidney disease, and an abscessed tooth. Other symptoms of fever include lethargy, loss of appetite, and vomiting. If your cat shows any of these symptoms, it may be time to take them to the vet for examination.
13) Periodontal Disease
Bacteria, parasites, fungi, and viruses can cause respiratory diseases. Viral infections are the most common cause of respiratory disease in cats. These include influenza (FIP), calicivirus infection (HCMV), and panleukopenia. Bacterial infections can be either bacterial upper-respiratory disease, usually caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica, or lower-respiratory illness, which is generally caused by mycoplasma or chlamydophila pneumonia. Fungi such as Cryptococcus neoformans or Histoplasmosis capsulatum cause respiratory disease in cats, while parasitic infections are typically due to Toxoplasmosis gondii.
14) Overweight cat
It’s widespread for overweight cats to drool while sleeping. They can’t tell when they’re drooling and have less control over their saliva glands than other animals. The excess weight also puts pressure on the cat’s mouth, making it difficult to get enough air through its lungs during sleep. Drooling is a natural reflex that helps keep your cat’s mouth moist and prevent dry mouth syndrome.
15)Overheating
Cats have a much higher body temperature than humans, and drooling can indicate that their body is too warm when they sleep. The cat’s tongue acts as a cooling mechanism. When the saliva evaporates from the cat’s language, it cools down the area around the mouth and throat. If your cat is sleeping on a bed or other soft surface, try adding a towel or something else that will absorb excess drool so it doesn’t make a mess.
16) Strep Throat or Infection
If your cat is drooling while sleeping, it could be due to various reasons. One of the most common causes is strep throat or infection. If your cat has been exposed to other cats with these conditions, he may also suffer from one. The symptoms of a strep throat infection in cats include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and discharge from the eyes and nose. If your cat is experiencing any of these symptoms and drooling while sleeping, you should take him in for a checkup.
17) Arthritis
Cats who suffer from arthritis may drool while sleeping due to discomfort. Arthritis can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in joints. This may make it hard for your cat to sleep comfortably. Increasing saliva production is one way your cat’s body can try and deal with this pain. Many different types of arthritis can affect cats, so if you notice excessive drooling from your feline friend, you must have them checked out by a vet as soon as possible.
18) Nervous Vocal Cord Tension
Nervous vocal cord tension is one of the most common reasons cats drool while sleeping. If a cat has this condition, its throat will be so tense that it may cause the cat to drool excessively. For example, if you touch your cat’s neck and they startle and snap at you with a hiss, then there is a good chance that they have nervous vocal cord tension. You may also notice that the cat will be hypersensitive to sound and light.
19) Teething
Teething is a common cause of drooling in cats. When the baby’s teeth grow out, they may cut through the gums and create irritation or infection. The cat will chew on anything nearby to relieve the discomfort, often drooling excessively. In rare cases, teething can lead to loss of appetite or weight loss.
20) Ageing
A common reason cats might drool while sleeping is that they’re getting old. As cat ages, some of the muscles in its throat will weaken and may not close properly when they eat or drink. This can cause food or water to leak onto the chin and eventually drool. The risk of this happening increases with age, so if your cat’s spitting up more than usual, it could be due to old age.