What is Foaming at the Mouth and why Occurs in Cats
It is unattractive and sometimes frightening to see your cat foaming at the mouth. This occurs as a result of the cat’s excessive salivation, which causes her saliva to foam up when the cat is inhaling and chewing. Both adult cats and kittens exhibit foaming. Understanding that this never occurs without a specific cause is crucial in this situation.
There are a number of possible causes for your cat to be drooling, ranging from a routine bodily process with no cause for alarm to a possibly more serious health issue. While some drooling is common, you should look out for excessive drooling or mouth foaming. Drooling can be caused by a variety of natural factors, such as excitement or a growing appetite. When given catnip or drugs with a bitter taste, cats may also drool. However, cats don’t often drool, and mouth foaming could be a sign of a problem.
The following are a few potential causes of mouth foaming.
- Fear, anxiety, or extreme excitement
- Dental disease
- Toxic ingestion
- Epilepsy
- Viral infections
- Foaming at the Mouth Occurs
Drooling every now and then may be natural, cat foaming at mouth could be signs of a more serious health problem. If your cat is scared, drooling may also be a response to their state of mind. When not linked to a psychosomatic event like dread or anxiety, drooling and mouth foaming may be a response to a sickness or hazardous intake.
Fear and Anxiety
Your cat may be fearful and anxious if the foaming at the mouth is followed by abnormal behaviors like hiding, excessive grooming, destruction, or obvious trembling. Unfamiliar stimuli, conditioned reactions to unpleasant events, and possibly illnesses and injuries can all cause anxiety. Creating a secure and nurturing environment helps to lessen anxiety-provoking pressures.
Dental Disease
Cats are susceptible to developing dental problems like gingivitis, a periodontal condition brought on by plaque accumulation, and tooth resorption, especially as they get older. Your cat might stop eating, which would lead to weight loss, or it might toss its head and slobber and foam at the mouth excessively. The main cause of dental disease that affects your cat’s teeth and gums is their food. Plaque accumulation and bacterial development will result from food being left on your cat’s teeth.
Toxic Ingestion
A toxin ingestion may cause drooling and mouth foaming, which may be followed by nausea and vomiting. Many everyday items are hazardous, and some pet products can also have adverse effects if used improperly or on a cat who is particularly sensitive to them. Insecticides with pyrethrin bases, which are frequently used to treat flea and tick infestations in both dogs and cats, can be hazardous to cats if consumed and can result in severe drooling and foaming at the mouth.
Viral Infections
Although developing rabies in a vaccinated cat is exceedingly uncommon, it is conceivable. Other viral illnesses, such as calicivirus, an upper respiratory infection comparable to the common cold, can also make cats excessively drool or foam at the mouth.
What to do if your Cat is Foaming at the Mouth
Excessive drooling and mouth-foaming are typically accompanied by other signs and symptoms. If your cat exhibits frantic behavior, a lack of appetite, vomiting, or tremors, you should seek quick medical assistance. A little mild drooling might not be cause for alarm. Use Puainta it’s a Multifunctional Pets healthcare product commonly used for to get rid of skin allergies, rashes and many harmful diseases.
Variety of Possible Causes
Therefore, it is best to consult your veterinarian to determine the best course of action. To identify the most likely reason of the excessive drooling, your veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical examination, inquire about your cat’s medical history, contact with other animals, and exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals. If dental disease is identified, your cat’s teeth will be cleaned by your veterinarian.
In some instances, a tooth must be extracted due to advanced dental disease. It is best to bring a sample of the item you know or suspect may have poisoned your cat if you notice your cat foaming at the mouth after ingesting a toxin, as this necessitates rapid veterinarian attention. If poisoning is suspected, your cat can be given charcoal to help the stomach absorb toxins or be made to induce vomiting. In addition, intravenous fluids may be used to assist your cat recover after ingesting a poison. Your veterinarian may request blood testing and x-rays if a respiratory infection is suspected in order to assess the severity of the condition.
In order to prevent the transmission of the illness, your vet will also want to know if your cat recently interacted with other cats. During the infection, your cat will be kept away from other animals. To prevent or treat a secondary bacterial infection, antibiotics may be administered along with restorative fluids. An upper respiratory viral infection may be treated with rest, a balanced diet, and oxygen therapy.
Prevention of Foaming at the Mouth
By being a responsible cat owner and keeping your cat in a safe environment, you can avoid many health-related foaming at the mouth problems. Avoid intentionally frightening your cat or allowing others to do so. To avoid concerns related to fear and anxiety, create a secure, caring environment where your cat feels at home.
Follow the guidelines and only use anti-flea and anti-tick medications designed exclusively for cats. Higher dosages in dog-specific formulas could be hazardous to your cat. The majority of topical treatments are applied to the neck behind the head where your cat cannot ingest them by grooming, but if you have more than one cat or even a dog that needs treatment, be cautious of indiscriminate grooming.
