I can do many things for my cat but the one thing that I truly dread is feeding my cat medicine.
That’s right.
It is definitely a lot easier for me to extract my own wisdom tooth than to force a pill or liquid medication down my cat’s throat.
When it is time for medicine, my cat turns from a sweet baby to an evil monster.
And I’m sure I’m not alone on this.
Another thing that many cat owners would have noticed after feeding their cat oral medications is foaming around the cat’s mouth.
A cat foaming at the mouth after taking liquid medication or a pill is a natural reaction. This is more likely to happen if the medication taste has a bitter taste. Foaming at the mouth also is also a cat’s way of purging toxins.
Let’s take a deeper look at what would make a cat foam at the mouth and the right way to feed your cat medication.
Why Is My Cat Foaming After Taking Medicine?
When feeding your cat any form of medication, it feels very much like trying to give a kid medicine.
Then again, it has been said that cats have a mentality of a 2-year-old child. So we can expect most cats to put up a struggle.
Many pet owners will notice their cats foaming at the mouth after swallowing the medicine. This happens more often with liquid medicine as the cat is able to taste it.
There are two reasons that can explain this natural reaction.
Firstly, the majority of medication tastes bitter even though pharmacies try to make it more palatable for pets.
And bitterness isn’t part of a cat’s diet hence the foaming helps to remove the taste from the cat’s mouth.
Secondly and more importantly, when a cat eats or is fed bitter-tasting substances, that signals to the cat that it could be toxic or poisonous as most dangerous substances have a bitter taste. Your cat’s natural defence is to start foaming at the mouth to purge as much of the dangerous substance as possible.
This can also be accompanied by regurgitating whatever it has recently eaten to try and minimize toxic poisoning.
Your cat doesn’t get the necessity of taking its medication and treats it as something bad due to the taste.
How To Feed My Cat Medication?
The method of feeding differs on the type of medication.
If you need to give a difficult cut liquid medication, using a syringe and a blanket to secure it firmly would make the job a lot easier.
Tilt your cat’s head up and syringe it from the side of its mouth.
For pilling your cat, it can be easier if your cat is food motivated.
Hide the pill in a treat or a pill pocket and feed it to your cat. The treat will help to disguise the smell of the pill thus making it easier to swallow.
Otherwise, check out this vid on how to pill your cat properly.
What Else Can Cause My Cat To Foam At The Mouth?
There can be other reasons that can cause your cat to foam or drool from the mouth. It usually indicates underlying health issues and should be addressed by a vet.
Dental Problems
If your cat has issues with its teeth or gums, it can cause excessive drooling in the cat. This is due to the pain or discomfort that your cat is feeling.
Common dental problems are usually gingivitis or tooth decay which can affect cats of all ages.
Gingivitis in cats happens when their gums get inflamed due to plaque buildup or a poor immune system. This condition can be seen more often in senior cats or cats with autoimmune conditions like FeLV or FIV.
Kittens can get it too when they are teething.
This condition can make eating cats a painful experience and some might shake their head while chewing on their food.
One effective way to prevent dental issues in your cat is to start brushing its teeth. It can be as challenging as trying to feed your cat liquid medications but it is very beneficial for your cat.
The best time to get your cat used to having its teeth brushed is when it is still a kitten. Older cats do show more resistance but can be overcome with persistence and positive reinforcements.
Stress And Anxiety
A cat that is going through a period of stress can show symptoms of drooling and foaming at the mouth.
This can also be accompanied by other strange behavioral issues like a loss of appetite, hiding more often, excessive grooming and spraying.
Cats are not fond of change and if there is something new at home, it can throw them off guard.
Changes like moving home, or an addition of a new pet or family member (spouse or baby) can cause your cat’s stress and anxiety levels to go into overdrive.
Most cats start will start to calm down once they adapt to the changes but it can take a while. Try spending more time with your cat to give it the assurance that everything will be ok.
Eat Something Poisonous
If you have many indoor plants or a garden, you might have some plants that might be toxic to cats.
Some cats like chewing on plants without realizing that it can be harmful to them. Therefore it is good to know what plants can be toxic to cats before keeping them.
For cat owners whose cats enjoy having a little greenery in their diet, buy some wheatgrass which is safe for cats.
You can also start to grow cat grass at home which is very easy to do and safe for cats.
Household items like cleaning solutions or pool cleaners contain very poisonous chemicals and need to be kept in a place that your cat can’t access.
Never underestimate the curious nature of cats.
Your Cat Is Having A Seizure
Foaming at the mouth is a common symptom for cats prone to having seizures. If you are not aware of this and you see your cat unconscious and jerking on the ground while foaming at the mouth, that is called a seizure.
Cats who suffer from seizures usually have some kind of neurological disorder and need immediate veterinary attention.
Further delays in seeking treatment can be fatal in the long run.
Rabies
Most domestic cats would have had their rabies vaccination to prevent them from contracting rabies.
But if you happen to see a stray or feral that is foaming and displaying erratic and aggressive behaviour, it could be due to late state rabies.
Please keep yourself and your pets away from the cat as rabies can be transmitted to both humans and animals.
It would be best to call animal services to come and trap the cat for treatment.
Why Is My Cat Foaming At The Mouth After Worming Treatment?
Deworming medication or anti-flea solutions have very strong ingredients that are needed to kill off these parasites and they taste very bitter.
Deworming pills can taste very bitter and when not given properly to your cat, the pill can start to dissolve in your cat’s mouth instead of going straight down its throat.
When applying flea medication to your cat, place it on the neck area between the shoulder blades.
This is a good area as your cat won’t be able to lick this part of its body with its tongue.
What To Do When My Cat Is Foaming At The Mouth?
It largely depends on what is causing your cat to foam at the mouth. If it’s due to its medication like a pill or liquid medicine, you can expect some form of excessive foaming from your cat.
Do not refeed your cat another dosage as it would be too much. Just give your cat the next dose when it is time for its medication.
But if the foaming at the mouth is caused by a medical issue like dental problems or seizures, do not hesitate to bring your cat to the vet right away.
Your cat needs medical treatment and the earlier the treatment the better the chances of recovery.
Conclusion
Like many cat owners, trying to feed your cat medicine can be a very challenging task. But it is a necessary evil for your cat to get better and recover.
It can be worrying to see your cat foam uncontrollably at the mouth but rest assured it is a common reaction with many cats.
But if the excessive foaming is caused by other health reasons, please do not hesitate to bring your cat to the vet for a proper examination.