6 main reasons why a cat constantly licks his lips

Often, owners observe that the cat is constantly licking itself. You should not immediately worry, as this does not always signal health problems. Representatives of the cat family are considered one of the cleanest animals, so the cat licks its fur several times a day. But sometimes frequent licking under the tail and in other parts is the first sign of nervous tension, helminthic infestation and other disorders. If your pet exhibits additional alarming symptoms, then you should not delay going to the veterinarian to find out the source of the constant licking.

Natural instincts

Natural factors include:

1. I'm going . Cats especially often begin to lick their lips when they see appetizing food. At this moment, an intense release of saliva occurs, which flows outside the oral cavity.
2. I'm thirsty . When a cat is thirsty, it swallows saliva more often and licks itself at the same time. The pet must have constant access to clean drinking water.
3. Stress. The transferred stressful situations lead to excessive overexcitation of the nervous system. In addition, the cat may actively scratch itself and act anxious.

To determine the cause, you need to evaluate all these factors and try to eliminate the irritating source.

Preventing itching

Carry out hygiene procedures as often as possible - wet cleaning, washing cat bowls and washing their bedding.

Regularly clean your pet's ears and treat them with special medications.

Provide your pet with a balanced diet and try to prevent it from coming into contact with other animals.

Now everything has become clear why a cat can lick and itch. To solve the problem with a cat licking, you will have to be patient and time

And it doesn’t matter whether it’s a psychological or physiological reason. By providing your pet with enough attention and proper care, you can count on the fact that after some time his life will return to normal and his coat will be restored.

Pathological causes of constant licking

This phenomenon can be directly related to some diseases and abnormalities in the animal’s body, namely:

1. Gastrointestinal disorders . Excessive salivation occurs due to severe forms of microflora disturbance in the intestines, chronic gastritis or heartburn. Licking and swallowing helps relieve the condition, but only for a very short time.
2. Dental problems . Pets over the age of 5 years may suffer from the development of caries, periodontal disease and other abnormalities in the oral cavity. The copious secretion of saliva helps fight pathogens.
3. Leftover food . Stuck pieces of food cause some discomfort. In order to get rid of foreign inclusions, a large amount of saliva begins to be released.
4. Changing the usual food . New brands may cause an allergic reaction, including excessive saliva flow. Other symptoms include redness and swelling of the eyes, and watery eyes.

If constant licking is accompanied by other suspicious symptoms, you should contact a veterinarian.

In some cases, only timely assistance can save the life of a pet.

What to do and how to help your pet?

Unhealthy licking of fur must be treated, for which the reasons that caused such behavior of the animal are eliminated and sedatives are given.
If the cat does not lick itself or, on the contrary, licks itself often, then find out what the causes of the problem are. Owners should determine whether there are fleas and other small parasites on the animal’s fur and skin. It is also recommended to remember whether the cat could have an allergy to the new shampoo or other irritants. To eliminate constant licking, you need to act on the original source of the problem. If the disorder is triggered by stress, the animal needs to be calmed, stroked, or given a sedative. When a cat does not lick itself or, on the contrary, constantly licks its fur due to claustrophobia, then it is worth giving the pet more space. If the source of licking is an infectious or other disease, then drug therapy using the following groups of drugs may be required:

• antibiotics;
• antimicrobial agents;
• sedatives;
• antihistamines.

To prevent frequent licking in cats, it is necessary to regularly carry out deworming, preventing the activity of worms in the cat's body.

Signs of poisoning

If, along with the flow of saliva and its constant swallowing, apathy, loss of appetite, and the urge to vomit are observed, there is a high probability of poisoning. Even at home, there are always dangerous substances that can accidentally enter the pet’s stomach.

Source of intoxication.

For cats that roam freely outside, the risks of poisoning are especially high. By nature they are predators. Therefore, even when well-fed, an active pet can catch a poisoned mouse. If the cat starts to chew it, it will receive a decent dose of the toxic substance along with the meat. Of course, the consequences will not be as severe as for a rodent, but the pet’s body weight is also not impressive.

Symptoms of poisoning. If intoxicated, the cat will experience:

• rise in body temperature more than +40°C;
• complete refusal to eat;
• lack of air, shortness of breath;
• pronounced weakness;
• accelerated heartbeat;
• internal bleeding;
• vomiting, diarrhea, cramps.

First aid and therapy. As first aid, you should try to give a potent sorbent, diluted with water to a liquid state. The solution should be poured into the cheek, firmly holding the pet's body and paws. The next step is to immediately contact a veterinary clinic. There they will be able to quickly carry out all procedures to remove most of the toxins and prescribe subsequent treatment with medications.

What symptoms require an urgent trip to the vet?

If you feel stable, you can wait a little longer with the diagnosis. Urgent veterinary care is only necessary when the following symptoms appear:

• loss of motor activity and response to external stimuli;
• increase or decrease in body temperature;
• partial or complete loss of appetite, as well as sudden weight loss;
• deterioration in coat quality (dullness, thinning, baldness);
• the formation of ulcers, rashes, papules and blisters with liquid on the skin;
• severe itching accompanied by active scratching;
• increased thirst or refusal of water;
• frequent vomiting and diarrhea.

With such symptoms, self-help will not only not bring results, but will also cause harm. Instead, the sick pet should be taken to the veterinarian. The reason explaining why the cat often licks itself will be determined after passing all the necessary tests. Based on this, treatment will be selected for the patient.

Diseases of internal organs

Increased salivation may be a sign of some diseases of the animal’s internal organs:

• genitourinary;
• gallbladder;
• liver;
• kidney

Most pathologies of internal organs in the initial stages of development are asymptomatic.

The first signs appear only as the disease progresses. Accordingly, not every owner will be able to independently determine the disease. Therefore, the diagnosis should be carried out by a veterinarian.

If the animal’s condition is too serious, it cannot be postponed; you must immediately contact the clinic for examination. Timely diagnosis will allow you to quickly get rid of the disease and prevent it from becoming chronic.

Symptomatic treatment

The symptom does not require treatment, you need to find out and eliminate the cause. If possible, it is better to take the animal to the veterinarian. Because serious infectious diseases, for example, diabetes or kidney pathology, cannot be independently identified or cured. You can independently examine the animal’s oral cavity, and, if the cat is allowed to remove the fishing line or remove the rain, another foreign object. You can feel the abdomen (hard/soft, painful/painless). And monitor the symptoms associated with frequent swallowing.

In addition to swallowing, the following symptoms should alert you:

• the cat may hiss and meow;
• breathing becomes irregular or heavy;
• the animal is lethargic and refuses to eat;
• saliva continuously flows from the mouth;
• bleeding gums appear;
• the cat has abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever and belching;
• the cat loses consciousness (in this case, you need to run to the vet very urgently, as the minutes are counting).

At the clinic, a specialist will examine the animal, conduct an examination and give recommendations for treatment.

If there are no serious problems, the pet and the owner will be sent home.

A serious condition is a reason to leave the cat under the supervision of specialists. In some cases, the veterinarian will prescribe IVs and injections, then the cat will also have to be left in the hospital.

When the underlying disease is eliminated, excessive swallowing, excessive viscosity of saliva and other unpleasant symptoms will go away. To prevent the situation from recurring, you need to follow the care recommendations and bring your cat for a consultation with a veterinarian once a year (for the first time after a serious illness, it is recommended to do this once every 2-3 months).

Dangerous complications

Overgrooming is a fairly serious deviation that can lead to negative consequences. Lack of timely and correct assistance can lead to:

• The formation of wool plugs in the stomach and intestines of cats, leading to their obstruction and accumulation of feces.
• The appearance of non-healing wounds, ulcers, scratches, which are open gates for various types of infections. In severe cases, this can lead to the formation of necrotic lesions. To prevent such situations, you need to treat wounds with antiseptic sprays and ointments, cover them with bandages and plasters.
• Disturbances in the natural growth of the coat, as well as deterioration of its protective functions.

Overgrooming is a pathology that requires a special approach, as well as great responsibility. If its cause was physiological health problems, then treatment should be aimed at eliminating them. After recovery from the underlying disease, pathological licking will go away on its own.

In the article I will describe in detail the reasons why a cat licks itself until it becomes bald, and why it licks human skin. I'll tell you what this entails. I will clarify the treatment of overgrooming in cats. I will dwell in detail on why cats lick their owner and whether it is dangerous for humans.

Licking fur is a normal state for a cat. But everything should happen in moderation. If your pet is licking its fur excessively to the point of baldness, you need to think about it. Most often this is a sign of some kind of problem. Let's look at the most common of them.

Stress

Unusual and even inappropriate behavior of a cat is not always a consequence of deteriorating physical health of the animal. Sometimes the reason has an emotional basis.

A number of situations can cause stress in a pet:

• relocation of one of the family members;
• rearrangement of furniture;
• loss of a pet's favorite toy;
• the appearance of another animal in the house and much more.

A cat's life is predictable and orderly, and anything that brings change is not always good for the pet.

Owners often try to impose rules on the cat.

Licking causing increased skin balding is abnormal

But a freedom-loving animal may have its own thoughts on this matter. It is impossible to act impudently here, and you will achieve nothing. It can cause emotional stress. It is better to find contact with the pet, some kind of mutual solution.

Compromise is the only true way out of the situation.

Itching

If your pet feels itchy, it begins to actively lick these places. Moreover, there is a pattern: a cat licks wounds more accurately than itches. If the licking area is large, it means the cat is itching there. Moreover, attentive owners have noticed that when itching, animals most often lick their back, stomach and other parts of the body.

Allergy

Mostly typical for cats. For example, for dry food, which the animal cannot eat in nature, or for its individual components. Sometimes, of course, medications cause side effects. But this happens less often. You can try changing your diet. You need to consult a specialist; you may need to take antihistamines.

Damage to the skin

Animals have no other way to restore health than to do it themselves. And licking wounds is proof of this. The pet instinctively tries to help itself. But if you have already applied the ointment, it is better to exclude this possibility. Apply a bandage or otherwise limit the animal’s access to the wound site. You can wear a special collar.

Movement restrictions

Cats by nature do not like closed doors. They will constantly be tormented by the question of what is happening in the closed area. Imagine that a person was imprisoned in an apartment and forbidden to leave. Over time, he will begin to tear out his hair. Especially if you previously liked to walk outside for a long time. And animals are no exception.

Although a cat can make do with a small space to exist, too little space is also bad. It is recommended to consider the interests of the pet. This is a living creature that also has its own needs.

Allow or stop

There are different opinions regarding how to treat pets’ attempts to get closer to their owners in their own “animal” manner:

1. Evidence "for". If the animal is healthy, then licking a person's hands is harmless and demonstrates an emotional connection with the owner. By pushing a pet away from oneself or interrupting the manipulation with a rude shout, a person risks offending the pet, who is pouring out his most tender feelings.
2. Evidence against. A domestic cat that is not treated for external and internal parasites, as well as stray animals, can be a source of the spread of dangerous diseases and helminths. For prevention purposes, it is necessary to follow the schedule of vaccinations and other sanitary measures when keeping animals.

How to wean it off? Perhaps someone is uncomfortable with a cat's tongue touching bare skin, or the personal hygiene code is too harsh

In these cases, it is recommended to switch the animal’s attention from obsessive kisses to play or treats. Catnip is used as a scent lure and a mild sedative.

Popular wisdom warns against offending cats, which, according to legend, are associated with brownies. According to signs, if Murka licks his right hand, wealth and good luck await the person, and a “marathon” of the face and hair predicts a love date.

Self-affirmation

This is due to the fact that when communicating in a pack there are senior and junior animals in the hierarchy. A cat that is higher in status can lick another animal. This may mean that she is showing condescension in this way.

This can be understood by the cat's behavior. She shows with all her appearance that in this case licking is in no way tenderness, but just condescension towards you. This manifestation of feelings is more typical for adult pets, those who have gone through puberty. There is nothing dangerous in this display of dominance. The main thing is that the animal does not begin to show excessive aggressiveness on its part.

The cat swallows often

Good afternoon Cat (Turkish Van) 1.3 years old, neutered at 7 months, completely domestic, no contact with the street over the last year, very hyperactive, living in Rostov-on-Don, food - Proplan with salmon for neutered dry, plus 3 times soft a week, raw chicken breast once a week, raw fish several times a month (he hasn’t eaten it for the last 3 months), constantly carries “non-cat” food from the refrigerator. A few days ago his voice changed, it became not so hoarse, but more Hoarse or something, the timbre has changed. two days ago there was an accidental contact on the staircase with a yard cat (she was sneezing, had green snot), he sniffed her and rubbed her (before that he had not seen other cats at all). And now two days later (and since yesterday he has not meows in general) as if he is trying to burp something, tilts his head low to the floor. But not intensely, silently, without drooling or wheezing, gently and once, at intervals of about once every 1-2 hours. It has been noticed that when scratching under the neck, the throat area, this spasm occurs, although not reliably, it practically leads to this. I haven’t pooped for more than a day. When you pick it up under the armpits, it makes a barely audible sound of “discontent,” as if grumbling and slightly extending its claws, i.e. makes it clear that there is discomfort; a wheezing sound is heard when breathing somewhere inside or something. He splashes and licks his lips all the time. And when swallowing, you can hear that it is difficult; a sound is made in the deep throat, as if a person is swallowing with his head thrown back. Prefers to lie near the battery. When palpating the abdomen, there were no pain reactions. I haven’t eaten anything that could get stuck in my throat this week. I had very little appetite yesterday. Today he doesn’t eat at all, sniffs, spits and turns away, doesn’t drink. He sleeps all the time, or sits with his paws tucked towards himself

The eyes are half-closed with the inner eyelid, sleepy. With sudden movements of the hand, he immediately pays attention, the eyes widen, he is interested, ready for a playful “attack,” but that’s where the matter ends

WHEN STROKING AND CAREFULLY IT DOESN'T PURL AT ALL, YET ONE TOUCH WAS ENOUGH!

There is no snot, eye or other discharge, the temperature in the evening of the 28th was 39.4, in the evening of the 29th - 38.7, on the 30th - at 1 am - 39.1. An injection of 0.5 cubes of Gamavit under the skin was given for prevention on the evening of the 29th.

I understand that there can be a huge number of reasons, I am a doctor myself, but at the moment we are in a place where there is no veterinary center, and we will be here for another week. Could he have contracted some kind of nasty disease from a barn cat? Although the timbre of the voice changed the day before contact with her... Is it appropriate to continue Gamavit? (once a day 0.5-0.7) Or is it a respirator? Then tell me some medications or antibiotics? (I tolerated amoxilav normally, I was injected once six months ago, my foot rotted) Then why are there problems with stool, before - every day.

Maintaining hygiene

A pet needs some regular care. This is especially true for cats that roam freely on the street. The animals themselves also monitor the cleanliness of their bodies, and carry out all cleaning procedures independently. For this reason, cats constantly lick themselves.

Most often, furry pets take care of themselves after eating, sleeping, or visiting the litter box. The tongue of cats is designed in such a way that it is able to clean off matted fur, food debris, dirt, and dead hairs.

In addition to cleansing, licking helps to distribute sebaceous secretions evenly throughout the body. The fat secreted by the animal's skin is necessary to lubricate the coat, which also contributes to its elasticity.

A clean animal carefully licks its fur, washes its face and ears with its paws, and removes unnecessary hair between its claws with its teeth. If your pet has thick fur, it is recommended to inspect it periodically. Sometimes tangles form in hard-to-reach places. For this reason, you should periodically comb the animal with a special brush, and carefully cut off the tangles.

Why do doctors recommend letting indoor cats go outside?

Licking allows you to lay the fur in the right direction - this is another reason why a cat constantly licks itself. In this way, the animals manage to maintain the required temperature regime.

The most common types of glossitis

The most common occurrences in dental practice are:

• acute catarrhal glossitis;
• tongue abscess;
• desquamative glossitis.

Acute catarrhal glossitis is the most common type of inflammation. Inflammation can be caused by microbes or mechanical damage to the tongue. The predominant symptoms are pain, redness and swelling.

A tongue abscess is the appearance of an abscess in the tongue. The abscess can be superficial, under the mucous membrane, or maybe in the thickness of the tongue. Abscesses in the thickness of the tongue, in addition to pain in the tongue, can cause a disturbance in the general condition. A person develops a fever, a headache, and weakness. Most often occurs due to injury to the tongue.

Desquamative glossitis, also known as “geographic tongue,” most often appears in children. It appears in the form of various spots on the tongue, which look like a white coating, alternating with areas of pink mucous membrane. There are no changes other than appearance. Scientists have identified a clear reason for it. The main factors are believed to be bacteria, allergic reactions and hormonal imbalances.