Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: Show
We are giving our cat new medication for an infection. She foamed at the mouth when we did it. What makes a cat do this and should we be concerned? ~Sue Siouxsie: Well, Sue, typically a cat will foam at the mouth when given a pill because most pills are extremely bitter. The foaming at the mouth is one way we protect ourselves from caustic substances. Thomas: That’s right. One time, Mama had to give us a worm medicine called Drontal. She wasn’t very good at giving pills back then, and she put the pill on my tongue. Then I bit down on it, and it tasted even worse! Immediately I started foaming at the mouth, and I fought and clawed and ran away! Dahlia: Fortunately I wasn’t there at the time of this medical mistake. But poor Siouxsie and Thomas sure suffered. And so did Mama, because they left all kinds of scratches on her hands and arms. Siouxsie: The best way to avoid this foaming-at-the-mouth reaction is to give the pill properly. That means you have to put it so far back in your kitty’s mouth that she can’t taste it so strongly and she’ll have to swallow it rather than spit it out. Thomas: The taste buds on the front of our tongue (the part nearest our nose) are much more sensitive to bitter tastes. This keeps us from eating things that are poisonous, because usually poisons are very bitter. Dahlia: The unfortunate exception to this bitter poison rule is antifreeze. And since it’s now winter in the northern hemisphere, we should take a minute to warn you of the perils of this common substance. Antifreeze tastes sweet to cats (and dogs), and just a very tiny bit can cause an animal to die of acute kidney failure in short order. So if you live in a place that may have old antifreeze around, make sure it’s in a covered container and clean up any spills very well. Siouxsie: And if you think your cat has gotten into antifreeze, take him to the vet right away! Quick treatment can save your cat’s life, even if he ingests some of this lethal toxin. Thomas: Now, back to the pill situation. It may be difficult for you to get your cat to take any more pills now that she knows how awful they taste, so you may have to trick her into taking the medicine. Do not mix bitter pills into wet cat food; all that will do is taint the food, and your cat will refuse to eat the food OR the pill. Dahlia: Some time ago, we wrote a column on how to give a pill to a cat. You will probably find this information quite helpful when you continue your cat’s medication regimen. It’s a tried and true method that Mama has used successfully for years. Thomas: We’ve had to take liquid antibiotics before, and although they don’t taste all that great to us, they’re certainly more appealing than nasty, bitter pills! Dahlia: Whatever form the antibiotics come in, you must give them all to your kitty. If you stop giving the antibiotics too soon because it looks like she’s feeling better, there may still be some bacteria in her body. Those bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics, and when they spread it will make it even harder to treat infections in cats. Siouxsie: Mama says there’s a big problem with antibiotic-resistant infections in the human world. We don’t want the same thing to happen to us, because there aren’t that many antibiotics that are safe to give to cats. Thomas: So, Sue, the foaming at the mouth is nothing to worry about. It’s a natural reaction to the bitter taste of the medicine. Dahlia: Taking pills is definitely one our very least favorite things in the world. But we’ve all had to take pills at one time or another. We hope you will become more confident about giving pills when you read our how-to column, and that your cat will be calmer about the pilling because it’s so quick she barely knows what happened. Share this post and make us purr!
It can be terrifying for a pet owner to notice that their cat has suddenly begun foaming at the mouth. Automatically, the first thought that comes to mind is rabies, which can cause further concern and confusion if the cat has been vaccinated. Although a licensed veterinarian will need to conduct a thorough medical evaluation of your cat to definitively determine the reason for the mouth-foaming, there are actually several possible causes of your cat foaming out the mouth. Why is my Cat Foaming at the Mouth?Your cat is foaming at the mouth because of rabies, nausea, anxiety, and dental conditions. If your cat has been poisoned or has ingested substances that have a bitter taste, cats may also begin foaming at the mouth. Other reasons are adverse reactions to certain flea medications and if they have a seizure. 1. Rabies Can Cause Mouth Foaming in the Late Stages of the Disease Rabies are a reason why your cat is foaming at the mouth Surely, as a pet owner, you’ve heard about rabies, and the second that you notice your cat is foaming out the mouth, your initial fear is that your beloved pet has somehow become rabid. While this is certainly a possibility, especially if your pet has been exposed to other animals, rabies is an unlikely scenario if your cat has been vaccinated. Since mouth-foaming doesn’t occur until the late stages of rabies, your cat would’ve been rabid for some time before developing this symptom. Rabies also causes behavioral changes, aggression, and drooling, so you should monitor your cat for other symptoms. Unfortunately, there are no available rabies treatments aside from booster shots, so most likely your cat will need to be euthanized. 2. NauseaNausea often leads to fatigue in cats Here’s the good news: as long as your cat has been vaccinated for rabies, there’s a good chance that you won’t need to say goodbye to your cat just yet. Simple nausea can also lead to foaming at the mouth. Huge relief, huh? If your cat is feeling nauseous, they will experience fatigue, a decreased appetite, and possibly foam out the mouth. There are many reasons that your cat may develop nausea, including pregnancy, motion sickness, and illnesses such as gastritis and diabetes. 3. AnxietyCats experience anxiety The reason behind your cat foaming out the mouth may not even be physical in nature. Yes, cats can indeed experience emotional distress. This may be due to separation anxieties, difficulties socializing with other pets in the home, having a momentary fear response from an encounter with an unfamiliar animal, or simply moving to a new location. Cats may begin to pace back and forth throughout the house, become hyper-vigilant, tremble, groom themselves excessively, and even foam out of the mouth when they are experiencing extreme levels of anxiety. While you can reduce their anxiety levels by determining the cause, this can be challenging. However, there are medications available that alleviate cat anxiety. 4. Dental Conditions Can Result in a Cat Foaming At The MouthDental conditions can lead to cats foaming at the mouth In the same way that an abscessed tooth can develop and cause pain, dental problems can cause animals to foam out the mouth in response to the infection. If your cat has gingivitis or happens to break a tooth, they can not only experience pain, foul-smelling breath, and a decrease in appetite, but they also may begin to foam out the mouth as the dental condition progresses. Although this may sound odd, many veterinarians do advise pet owners to brush their cat’s teeth. Sure, this may indeed be beneficial to your pet’s health, but if brushing your cat’s teeth sounds too extreme for your taste and you suspect the possibility of dental disease, you may want to go ahead and schedule a veterinary check-up. 5. Cats Is Been PoisonedA poisoned cat is every cat owners worst nightmare Aside from the possibility of rabies, this is the scariest explanation for your cat foaming at the mouth. Naturally, if you suspect poisoning, you should seek emergency veterinary care. Flea medications that have been applied directly to your cat’s coat or have been directly ingested by your cat accidentally could cause your cat to start to foam out the mouth. Bitter-tasting substances such as foods and medications can also result in foaming as a response to the foul taste. There are several ways that your cat may have inadvertently ingested poison, from eating a poisonous frog to getting into household products, so there’s insufficient reasoning for you to suspect your not-so-friendly neighbor. Fortunately, prompt veterinary care can be effective at helping your cat make a full recovery from poisoning. 6. Cats May Foam When They Have a SeizureCats can have a seizure Unless the seizure occurred when you weren’t present, it’s fairly easy to tell when your cat is experiencing a seizure as the symptoms are similar to human seizures. A cat will fall over onto the floor, temporarily lose consciousness, display violent trembling and shakes, and will likely start to foam out the mouth. If your cat exhibits symptoms of a seizure disorder, you will need to make a veterinary appointment. Fortunately, there are medications available to treat cat seizure disorders and reduce the frequency of seizures. Frequently Asked Questions About Why My Cat Is Foaming At The MouthHow Long Does It Take to Notice Rabies in a Cat?It’s really hard to say. Most often, a cat will start to exhibit symptoms of rabies between three to eight weeks after they have been exposed, but in some cases, they may not show any symptoms for up to a year after exposure. Mouth foaming is a symptom of the final stages of rabies. What Household Items Are Poisonous to Cats?Many household cleaners, including bleach and laundry soap, are toxic for cats if they are ingested, which could result in poisoning and foaming out the mouth. It’s important to keep these common household products away from children and pets. Why Is My Cat Foaming Out the Mouth After Being Administered Medication?It is common for cats to start foaming out the mouth after receiving medication due to the taste or difficulty swallowing. It doesn’t necessarily signify an allergic reaction. |
Why is my cat foaming at the mouth after medicine?
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