Does your cat DROOL during petting? What’s up with that? I’m fortunate that Karma-Kat doesn’t do this, but for some cats, petting ends up drenching the cat AND the person. You both end up needing a bath, not that cats enjoy bathing.
WHY DOES MY CAT DROOL, EWWW!
How many folks have experienced a drooling, bubble-blowing saliva-spewing kitty? Since they’re much smaller than dogs, the drool factor may not be quite the same level as, say, a St. Bernard. Lovers of drooly dogs invest in drool-resistant attire and regularly hose down walls, furniture, or anything else within drool-flinging range.
I exaggerate, but not by much.
Cats also can turn on the waterworks. Sometimes a drooling cat is a sign of dental issues or sore mouths. While the sight of something tasty can get my Bravo-Dog soaking wet with slobber-icity, the same thing rarely seems to happen with cats.
Cats (and dogs) do sometimes suck on weird objects, though. And when a cat feels stressed, excessive grooming may be a way he helps calm himself. That could require increased salivation, but I’m not aware of a direct link between drooling and stress.
Why Cats Drool During Petting
But some cats salivate when petted. The more they get petted, the greater the drippy flow. I really don’t know why some cats drool and blow bubbles while others don’t. They must simply be wired differently.
The mechanism to turn on the waterworks has to do with the same pleasure triggers that prompt petted cats to knead/tread in satisfaction. Cats’ impulse to knead hearkens back to the sensation they felt when nursing, and eating would trigger salivation. So it’s not a huge jump to attribute salivating and drooling to these same pleasurable sensations. Drooling when petted is one more way cats show us love.
Do your cats drool? What are the circumstances? I’m curious if cats in the same household might “copy cat” behavior and more than one do this or is it primarily an individual issue? What are some other ways your cats show you they LIKE something? What else have I missed in the Ask Amy video below? Please share!
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Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE! Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!
Great article! I’ve always wondered why my cat drools when I pet her. Now I understand it could be a sign of contentment or relaxation. The video featuring Amy was especially helpful! Thanks for the insights!
I found this post really insightful! I had no idea that drooling could be a sign of contentment in cats. My cat tends to drool a little when I pet him, and now I understand it’s a good thing! Thanks for clarifying this and sharing the video—definitely made me feel more connected to my furry friend.
I loved this post! It’s fascinating to learn about the reasons behind my cat’s drooling during petting. The connection between relaxation and drooling really makes sense, and I appreciate the insights from the Ask Amy video too. I never realized how much our pets communicate through their body language!
This post was so enlightening! I never realized that drooling could be a sign of blissful contentment in cats. My kitty often drools when I give her some extra love, and now I understand it’s just her way of showing how much she enjoys it. Thanks for shedding light on this adorable behavior!
Hi Amy
Are you a mind reader?
I noticed my four year old cat drooling the other day, I was worried he had teeth problems and have been keeping an eye on him. He is eating fine, well for him anyway as he is fussy. So i am relieved to hear it can be normal.
When I have a cuddle he likes to lick my bare arm and pound/knead (yes ouch) my arm at the same time which is when I noticed my arm was getting wetter than usual. When he settled down and started to go to sleep I also noticed he was drooling a little bit. It went on for a couple of days but haven’t seen it since, although still keeping a close eye on him, just in case.
I have been around cats and dogs all my life but still find out something new from you emails which are interesting and helpful and of course I love your books.
😺
I never had owned a drooling cat interesting they drool
I do have a question my Cats were the kind they scratched and groomed all the time it was so bad with my last Cat to the place where the place around her mouth was completely down to skin no whiskers left tried to use stuff on store but noticed the warning said don’t use on face and around mouth and it could be toxic to say least never used those items from store but what could prevent and or solve that problem?
A number of things might cause itching or hair loss around the cat’s mouth. The vet would need to run tests to determine the cause. For instance, an itchy face could result from food allergies, or from tiny skin mites, or even stress, among other things. So frustrating, so sorry you both went through this.
I’m wondering if you know why my cat drools all over me while I pet her but not on my husband. She was my husband’s cat first, had her for 2 years before I came along. We’ve been living together for 3 years and she started this like a year ago.. Thanks!!
Hi Jessica,
I’m not sure why your cat would drool for you and not your husband. I wrote a blog on this a while back: https://amyshojai.com/2012/04/13/feline-friday-ask-amywhy-cats-drool-during-petting/
It may be that something about how you pet her, your touch or tone of voice, or even the scent of the lotion you wear triggers this behavior. Typically the drooling is accompanied by paw treading, too.
Hello
I love your article! And I love cats! I think drooling when a cat is kneading is a sign that the cat was taken from its mum too early and never had the chance to grow out of the habit naturally. My cat drools as well, only when he kneads, and he makes a lot of noise when he wants attention.
Thanks for visiting the blog. You certainly may be right about the kneading. 🙂
One other thing, Amy. Don’t know if this is typical, but I’ve found that male cats are far more affectionae than females. Is that just my experience or is that ypically the way it is?
Ya know, I’ve heard other folks suggest that, too. But there’s really no survey to support the notion and I suspect it’s pretty equal between girl and boy cats. But the boys may show affection a bit differently, since they tend to be larger and maybe therefore not as concerned about being “man-handled?” That’s just a guess, though.
Oh that would make sense, Amy. Rocky is a big boy. Thanks!
Thanks goodness my Rocky doesn’t drool. 🙂 He does love my hugs, though only mine. He’ll rub on my hubs when hubs gets down on the floor to play or to find toy mice under the furniture for him. I can pick him up and hold him like baby and get all in his face and he loves it. When my hubs and I are sitting and talking after a meal, Rocky reaches out a paw to ‘ask’ if it’s okay to get up in my arms. He loves being held. Gives me a warm feeling, too. 🙂
It’s magic when they DO enjoy it, yes! Rocky sounds like a sweetheart. And they are very particular about who they grant the privilege.
As a teenager my family had a St. Bernard (dry mouth, thank you very much) but she could still spray down the walls. The only drooly cat I’ve had let the waterworks loose after I returned from an extended absence. I always assumed she was happy to see me again. Such a sweet kitty.
Leslie, my last German shepherd could really spray the walls, too. *s*
What does this kitty’s body language say? Look at the ears, the whiskers, the eyes…
“That’s nice. Where is my treat bowl?” 😉
Anubis, on the other hand, LOVES hugs. Hugs, kisses, whatever, as long as it comes from one of “his” people. He seems to adore even full-on snuggles, and apparently we invented a new Best Thing Ever when we created what we call the “snuggle sammich”, where I pick him up and hug him, and James hugs me, so it’s a big group hug with the fluffball in the middle. He purrs his fool head off, curls his tail in that way he does when he’s pleased, and just eats it up (unless he’s grumpy or his tummy isn’t feeling so good, then he just wants down).
Simba it just weirds out. LOL She’d rather just lay next to you in bed. Or sit on top of your head when you’re napping on the couch. She does that one a lot.
My parents used to have a cat (named Sharky because he was gray and white, circled like a shark, and ALWAYS pounced any bare toes he saw to lick them LOL) who drooled like a mastiff when he was happy. He would leave huge puddles of wet on your knee. Of course, this was the same cat we’re determined thought he was a dog. Played with the dog’s toys… once tried to chase down a deer… unfortunately he was one of our coyote victims. : Just glad I wasn’t the one who found him… it apparently was NOT pretty… they figure after being torn up he dragged himself back to the barn with whatever strength he had left… poor guy. I still miss him. Note, he was the only one of the cats that drooled, so it doesn’t seem to be a copycat behavior. In his case it seemed to be sheer relaxation causing it. I think we always just kinda left a tissue nearby when petting him.
Wow, Karyl, that “snuggle sammich” would make Seren go balistic!
It would make MOST cats I’ve known go ballistic, Simba included. LOL But Anubis, if he trusts you, is what I call a “marshmallow kitty” – he adores being picked up and cuddled. I’ve known a tiny handful of other cats like that. I blame the Main Coone in his lineage – I’ve known a lot of cuddly Maine Coons. It is a bit ironic, though, considering what we (and his vet) suspect the OTHER part of his heritage might be, but that would only account for about 1/4 of his makeup if we’re right. He displays wild behaviors in several aspects (which makes him quite the challenge to live with at times) and yet if you’re one of The Chosen Ones he’s an absolute cuddle-bug.
He’s still no Chester – Chester belonged to my aunt and uncle down the road and was an absolute teddy bear. If you were touching him, giving him any kind of attention at all, it was great. Haul him around, flop him upside down and hold him like a baby – didn’t matter, he’d purr his head off and when you put him down he’d run right back for more.
Chester sounds very like a Ragdoll (not in looks necessarily but in temperament). Big fluffy lap-loving kitties that “forgive” a lot of handling, LOL!
And here I am remembering that silly line from the remake of “The Incredible Journey”
Cats Rule and Dogs Drool
Didn’t know it was the other way around sometimes!
Wayne
ROTFL! Lots of people ascribe to that notion, Wayne. But the cats would argue that they rule whether they drool or not.