What this means
A cat with a sore mouth seldom refuses food straight away. It more often keeps eating, but differently: it lingers by the bowl, chews slowly and carefully, tilts its head or chews on one side, drops bits of food or leaves the harder pieces, and takes softer food more willingly. Some swallow without chewing or turn away from the food after starting.
This is an important feature of cats: an emptied bowl does not mean eating is easy. Watch how your cat eats, not only how much, and notice whether food falls from the mouth, or it glances at the bowl and cannot make up its mind. Bad breath, drooling, face rubbing or less grooming may come with it.
The cause has to be found by a vet who examines the mouth, because teeth, gums and other changes in the mouth can all produce the same sign. If your cat has not eaten for more than a day, it needs a vet, because without food cats can become seriously ill quickly.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your cat.
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Inflamed gums
Sore, inflamed gums make a cat eat carefully and pick softer food.
About the condition: Chronic gingivitis -
A sore or loose tooth
A cat may chew on one side to avoid the sore spot, and tilt its head.
About the condition: Dental disease -
Tartar and a tender mouth
Tartar irritates the gums, so chewing becomes unpleasant even though the cat still eats.
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A wound or foreign object in the mouth
A stuck object or a wound in the mouth can make a cat drop food or refuse to eat.
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Mouth and face pain
In some cats an episode sometimes strikes in the mouth, during which they stop eating or paw at it.
About the condition: Feline orofacial pain syndrome -
An injury or swelling of the jaw or face
A blow or swelling can make it hard to open the mouth and to chew.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Whether your cat chews on one side, tilts its head or eats very slowly
- Whether food falls from the mouth or it leaves the harder pieces
- Whether it now prefers softer food than before
- Whether it drools, rubs its face or paws at its mouth
- Whether there is a bad smell or the gums are red
- Whether its weight or grooming is falling off
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if your cat chews carefully, on one side, drops food or eats less, even if the bowl is empty. If it has not eaten for more than a day or its face has swollen, go the same day.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Chronic gingivitis Teeth and mouth The gums stay inflamed for a long time: they turn red, swell and bleed easily. The inflammation can drag on for weeks or months and make the mouth sore.
- Dental disease Teeth and mouth A broad name for problems with the teeth and the tissues that hold them: plaque and tartar, inflamed gums, loosening teeth and painful damage to the teeth themselves. It matters because a sore mouth affects eating, grooming and a cat's whole mood.
Body systems: Teeth and mouth