Friday, May 21, 2010

My 11 year old calico cat drools excessively. She'll just be sitting around and this happens. Any ideas why?


Answers:
Abnormal drooling happens for two major reasons: problems occurring inside the mouth, and those occurring elsewhere in the body. Pain or nausea stimulates drooling. Oral problems or neurologic conditions can interfere with swallowing, causing saliva to overflow.
She may be having a toothache or has a sore in her mouth. Is she eating OK? Have a vet check her mouth - if she is 11 years old, there's a good chance she has dental issues.
My cat does the same thing. He has a slight underbite, so his top lips overlap his bottom, and when he is relaxed he drools. It's pretty funny. Not too much to worry about though.
I think your cat needs to see a Veterinarian.
It sounds to me that she might have a problem with a tooth or salivary glands. She is becoming a senior cat and this is when they start having problems with their teeth. Your Vet will check out her mouth and look for anything caught in her teeth or any kind of abscess that might be causing her discomfort.
I hope everything turns out alright for her and she is made more comfortable.
How long has it been since your cat has seen a vet (or rather since the vet has seen her). She probably has something going on in her mouth -- inflamed gums or plaque buildup on her teeth. She is definitely a "senior" cat and should have an annual exam and blood work done by a vet to detect any possible conditions associated with older cats -- problems in kidney function, thyroid function, etc.
I had a cat that drooled alot. But my cat live 'till he was 22. so maybe your cat is prematurely getting old. This stuff happens.
Need to have the vet check her for dental problems,, Also a big concern is if she has something stuck in her mouth or throat.
This is not something that can wait til next week. Call the vet and have her seen today!
Sometimes they get more relaxed as they get older. There may be a problem with her teeth, excess plaque, loose tooth, or something, so next time you take her in to the vet it is good to check on it.. but I wouldn't think it would be an emergency or warrant a trip for that alone.

I know my older cat used to do the same thing, especially when she was sleeping or being pet.

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