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Why is my old cat drooling and having trouble eating? Vet needed?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

My grandmother's cat has been drooling for a few weeks now. He is 11-12 years old and lost his teeth a while ago but never drooled. She was hoping the problem would go away on its own but he is also having trouble eating. Is there anything at the pet store that can help? Does he need to get checked out by the vet? I don't want him miserable just because we aren't sure what to do.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on October 3rd, 2017

I am sorry to hear about your grandmas kitty. If the teeth weren't extracted by a vet we could potentially have an infected tooth root causing this issue. We can also see drooling as a result of nausea due to GI disease or secondary to other diseases such as kidney disease. We also worry in older cats about growths/tumors in the mouth/neck that can cause difficulties swallowing, leading to drooling. A vet examination is definitely recommended to determine the cause and best course of action.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Dayna, DVM, CVA

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on November 27th, 2017

    Many problems could cause these nondescript signs. However the drooling concerns be about possible oral/ dental pain or infection or also possibly nausea. If this behavior continues then I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by a veterinarian soon. Older cats commonly become nauseated with kidney disease, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease among others. They may recommend lab work or even an x-ray to help identify the problem. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on May 24th, 2017

    Wendy is a very pretty girl! :) I'm sorry to hear that she isn't feeling well. Drooling can be a sign of nausea, or could be caused by a dental problem like a broken or infected tooth, or even a tumor or foreign body of some kind in her mouth. These problems could also cause her to not want to eat. If she will let you, you can try opening her mouth gently and looking inside to see if there are any obvious problems you can see. If not, I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam - if needed, he/she can sedate Wendy to do a more thorough oral exam, and may also recommend blood work or other testing to help check for an underlying illness that could be making her feel nauseous.

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