Locking up your cat at night in a room, bathroom or in the toilet

Cat that salivates a lot at night - Why does my cat drool when he sleeps?

You are worried because you have noticed that your cat saliva a lot at night and you would like to understand why does your cat drool when he sleeps ?

Don't panic, just as some people can drool in their sleep, cats also drool when they are deeply asleep.

However, we must remain vigilant because excessive salivation can be a symptom of serious pathologies or a health problem that should not be overlooked.

This is what we will see below so that you can measure well if your cat drools in a normal way when sleeping or if you need worry about salivation that would be excessively important.

my cat drools when he sleeps

What is salivation in a cat?

Salivation in a cat is a natural process in the body that allows the animal to:

  • Facilitate swallowing by coating the food it will ingest with saliva to facilitate their transport in the digestive system and facilitate their digestion thanks to certain enzymes contained in saliva.
  • Play the role of cleaner and disinfectant. Indeed, in cats, saliva makes it possible to wash daily by disinfecting the wounds if necessary.

Why does my cat drool a lot all the time?

Salivation is a normal physiological phenomenon that regulates itself.

But, sometimes a cat can start to drool more than usual and in excess. This is called thehypersalivation.

If you notice that your cat is drooling a lot and all the time (morning, noon and night), you will need to be concerned because the causes can be serious:

  • Your cat can be poisoned: Indeed, certain toxic substances cause strong salivation after ingestion. He must then be taken urgently to a veterinarian.
  • Your cat may have swallowed a foreign body: If he has ingested, for example, a small object, hair or tissue fibers that cannot pass into his esophagus, then he will start to drool.  Your cat should be taken to a veterinarian quickly.
  • Your cat may have teeth or gum pain: If they have a mouth infection, gingivitis, or a lesion on their tongue, your cat is going to drool all the time. There too, a visit to a veterinarian is required.
  • Your cat may be sick et have fever : Excessive salivation can be a sign of many pathologies. Your cat will need to be examined by a vet.

Why does my cat drool when he sleeps?

The cats sleep on average between 16 and 18 p.m. per day by alternating phases of light sleep with phases of deep sleep.

The phases of light sleep tend to take place in days. Indeed, often the cat "sleeps only with one eye" because it is on the alert in case there is a prey which would pass, in case there would be a danger which would arise ... Generally, during these phases of light sleep, a cat does not drool while sleeping.

On the other hand, during the cycles of deep sleep which are phases of shorter periods, your cat may drool.

Normally cats also salivate while sleeping, although they produce much less saliva than during the day. However, generally this saliva is naturally swallowed and it is therefore rare for cats to drool while sleeping.

But when they are sleeping very deeply, when they are in total relaxation and depending on the position in which they sleep, saliva can still flow down the side of their muzzle and cause that some cats drool when they sleep (but not in large quantities).

If your cat is drooling a little and only at night, don't panic, it's not dangerous. On the other hand, if your cat drools a lot, you will have to be alarmed (see below).

My cat drools a lot while sleeping - should we be concerned?

If your cat drools a lot or drools a lot more than before when she sleeps, there may be several reasons that should worry you :

  • Your cat has an excessive production of saliva by the salivary glands which would be due to a dysfunction of the salivary glands or diseases impacting its digestive system;
  • Your cat has difficulty, discomfort, or an obstruction in swallowing. 
  • An upper respiratory infection can also cause inflammation in the throat or nasal system, prevent saliva from passing through the throat, and cause saliva to flow through the mouth. 
  • Your cat may have an anatomical abnormality in the mouth or digestive tract that causes a blockage to the normal passage of saliva through the throat. 

My cat drools when he sleeps - What to do?

If your cat drools a bit from time to time when he sleeps at night, there is no need to panic.

On the other hand, if you notice:

  • a change in his appetite,
  • difficulty swallowing
  • of vomiting or regurgitation of food,
  • fever…

then, I advise you tobring your cat to his vet for a full examination and diagnosis.

See also: My cat is drooling, is it normal to drool like this?

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