Why Your Cat’s Drooling When Purring

• Cat drooling when purring is usually a sign of happiness and relaxation, and most often comes about as your cat seeks affection, expresses contentment, self-soothing and investigating smells.
• Some cats drool due to health issues such as foreign objects trapped in their mouths, an encounter with toxic substances, or an oral health issue.
• If your cat’s drooling is sudden, heavy and continuous, and is accompanied by unusual behaviour like a change in eating habits, trembling, vocalisations, panting, rapid breathing, or your cat seems unwell or withdrawn, you should take them to see a vet.

As a cat parent, you’ve probably heard your cat purr countless times and know that the reason why cats purr is usually because they feel happy. However, what you may not have noticed before is your cat drooling when purring. You may even be surprised to see this, especially if you’re accustomed to the idea that only dogs drool. In actuality, cats can drool when they purr for a number of reasons - with the most common being that your cat is truly content. In this article, we explore the various reasons why cats drool when purring, alongside possible health-related causes that may require veterinary attention. We also cover some FAQs at the end of the article. It’s important that cat parents understand their cat’s behaviour in order to correctly interpret how they are feeling and respond accordingly, as well as to rule out any serious underlying issues.

Why do cats drool when purring?

The reason why cats drool when purring is usually because they’re extremely happy. They could be happy with your company, the attention they’re receiving, or the homely environment you’ve created for them. Purring is a way for cats to communicate their happiness, and if your cat also dribbles when they purr, it’s simply a magnification of how happy they are. Below, we look at some positive reasons that can make your cat drool when purring.

Expressing contentment

As you know, one of the reasons why cats purr loudly is because they’re happy. But if you see cats dribble when purring, this is likely because their state of contentment has caused muscles in their mouth to relax and lead to excess saliva. You can be rest assured knowing they are very content with the life you have provided them.

If you want to confirm whether your cat is drooling when purring because they’re happy, you can observe their body language and other behaviours. We’ve listed some positive signs below:

• Relaxed body posture
• Upright and slightly curved tail
• Ears upright and whiskers forward
• Slow blinking or half-closed eyes
• Kneading or head-butting you

Showing affection

Cats can show love and affection in different ways. When close to you, your cat may dribble when purring because they enjoy your company and want to show their deep affection and attachment to you. This could also be the reason why cats stick their tongue out - another interesting behaviour.

Enjoying attention

If you’re grooming or petting your cat, don’t be surprised if your cat begins to dribble when they purr. This is because the sensation is pleasurable for many cats, and your cat is likely enjoying all the attention from you. Your cat may also drool when purring because they’re communicating their satisfaction, and don’t want you to stop!

Feeling relaxed

When cats are in a state of relaxation, their whole body will relax too. One of the reasons why cats dribble when purring is because the muscles in their mouth are relaxed, which allows some saliva to escape. This is the same for when your cat is sleeping. You may also notice your cat yawning when they are relaxed - either before or after their naps.

Self-soothing

Sometimes, the reason your cat dribbles when purring is because they are trying to comfort themselves from stress and anxiety. This behaviour may be a coping mechanism for your cat in difficult situations. Since purring releases serotonin, your cat may be self-soothing themselves with this behaviour.

Investigating smells

Cats have an incredible sense of smell. If your cat notices a particularly pungent smell, they may continue to try and sniff it. As they focus on sniffing, your cat may even drool when purring. However, this should usually stop after a few minutes once your cat stops investigating.

Health related reasons why cats drool

Usually the behaviour of a cat drooling when purring is not concerning, especially if it’s a small amount of saliva and happens occasionally. However, if your cat’s drooling is new, excessive or continuous, it can sometimes be an indicator of an underlying health issue. You’ll know if it’s too much if your cat has wet fur or drool hanging around their mouth, or if there are little pools of saliva when your cat moves from their place. These situations are concerning and will need to be investigated by a veterinarian. We look at some health-related reasons why your cat drools when he purrs below.

Oral health issues

If your cat is drooling excessively, they may have a problem with their oral health. They may have developed gum disease, which can cause pain and lead to excessive drooling. It’s also possible your cat has tooth pain due to an injury or infection, or a condition affecting the mouth. If your cat has any symptoms that may suggest an oral or dental health issue, including if your cat is not eating, showing signs of discomfort, shying away when you stroke their head, or being quieter and more subdued than usual, contact your veterinarian for an appointment. 

Foreign object

Since cats are curious creatures, they may sometimes swallow inappropriate items. If your cat swallows a foreign object, such as a part of a toy, this can cause a lot of pain and discomfort for them - as well as a gastrointestinal blockage. If this is the case, your cat may be lethargic, have difficulty eating or might drool excessively. However, the main sign of intestinal blockage is vomiting, regurgitation of food or lack of faeces. If you suspect your cat has swallowed a foreign object, consult your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Toxic substance

Besides random objects, cats may also accidentally consume something toxic to them. In fact, cats often drink from puddles outdoors, and it can be extremely dangerous if they do this underneath a car as there may be antifreeze solutions present, which is highly toxic for cats. It’s also possible that your cat has brushed against a toxic substance outside, and accidentally ingested this whilst grooming themselves. Excessive drooling is one of the first symptoms that your cat has consumed a toxic substance, as well as pain, lethargy and nausea. It’s essential to take your cat to an emergency veterinarian quickly to avoid potentially fatal consequences. 

Heat stroke

In rare cases, excessive drooling in cats could be a sign of heat stroke. This can occur if your cat is exposed to extreme temperatures for too long and therefore struggles to regulate their body temperature. If your cat becomes overheated, they can quickly become dehydrated, which may lead to excessive drooling. If you suspect any signs of heatstroke in your cat, consult your veterinarian as a matter of urgency.

Cat parents will know how special and strange our feline friends are. While cats can sometimes be aloof about their love, they will show their affection in various ways when they choose to. Besides a cat drooling on you when purring, they may even go as far as to lick you! There are many reasons why cats lick you, and while most of them are positive, it’s best to learn more about your cat’s curious behaviours to really understand them.

Cat dribbles when purring: normal or concerning?

Drooling while purring is usually a completely normal behaviour in cats, and the reason why cats dribble while purring is most often simply because they’re relaxed or happy. Occasional, small amounts of saliva are a common, harmless occurrence, especially if they only happen during relaxed or affectionate moments. 

Dribbling becomes an issue if it is sudden and new, heavy or continuous, and accompanied by other symptoms. Keep an eye out for wet fur on the chin, pooling saliva, bad breath, pawing at the mouth, and changes in eating habits. Additionally, if it is accompanied by withdrawn behaviour or you notice your cat seeming unwell, you should consult a vet.

For more information, check out our tips and advice for caring for a cat.

Cat drooling when purring FAQs

Do cats drool when they're really happy?

Yes, cats most often drool when they feel relaxed, happy, and affectionate. Their love for you creates a state of euphoria, in which they feel so safe and secure that they can completely relax. This may cause your cat to lose control over their mouth muscles and lead to drooling.

Why is my cat drooling when we cuddle?

The reason why your cat drools when you cuddle them is because they are really enjoying the attention and affection from you. This allows them to become incredibly relaxed, which causes the muscles in their mouth to also relax and therefore leads to them drooling.

Do cats drool when they are comfortable?

Cats drool when relaxed, during petting and grooming, or while sleeping somewhere comfortable, because their mouth muscles loosen when they're relaxed. Cats often drool when they're comfortable and content, but excessive, constant drooling, or drooling alongside other abnormal behaviour, is a warning sign.

When should I worry about my cat drooling?

When drooling is excessive, sudden, and continuous, especially if it is accompanied by unusual behaviours in your cat, you should consult a vet. These behaviours may be a change in eating habits or your cat acting more withdrawn or unwell.