What this means
Washing and wiping the face are normal cat behaviour: a cat licks a paw and sweeps it over its face. Persistent, repeated rubbing in one spot, clawing at the mouth, or movements as if the cat were trying to pull something out are different. They suggest discomfort in the mouth or face, and the cat is trying to remove it with the only tools it has.
Cats hide pain, so face-rubbing may be one of very few signs. Eating can change alongside it: a cat may stand by the bowl for a long time, eat carefully, pick softer food, drool more or pull away when its face is touched. Notice the breath and the general mood too, because irritability or avoiding being stroked is sometimes the only other clue.
The cause may lie in the mouth, such as inflamed gums or a sore tooth, but it can also be nerve pain, where a cat suddenly starts clawing at its mouth and seems quite normal between episodes. These cannot be told apart by looking, so note when it happens and, if you can, film one episode so your vet gets a clearer picture.
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
Long-standing gum inflammation is sore, and a cat may rub its face with its paws. Bad breath, drooling and careful eating often come with it.
About the condition: Chronic gingivitis -
Nerve pain in the mouth and face
A rare pain syndrome in which a cat claws at its mouth during episodes, as if something were stuck. Between episodes it may behave quite normally.
About the condition: Feline orofacial pain syndrome -
A sore or damaged tooth
A damaged or loose tooth hurts when chewing, and the cat may swipe at its face on that side. Chewing on one side or leaving food in the bowl is often seen.
About the condition: Dental disease -
Something stuck in the mouth
A foreign object between the teeth or on the roof of the mouth makes a cat claw and shake its head. A vet has to look into the mouth.
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Sores or ulcers in the mouth
Painful spots on the tongue, gums or inside the cheeks cause rubbing and drooling. Several different causes can produce them.
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Pain near the mouth
Sometimes a cat rubs its face because of pain beside the mouth, in the face itself. A vet finds the true location.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- How often and when it happens, and whether anything unusual came before it
- Whether your cat drools or its breath smells unpleasant
- Whether it eats carefully, chews on one side or leaves the harder pieces
- Whether it has scratched its face or tongue
- Whether its mood has changed: irritable, hiding or avoiding being stroked
- Whether it behaves completely normally between episodes
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if your cat has repeatedly rubbed its face or clawed at its mouth, especially with drooling, careful eating or a change in mood. If it is injuring its face or tongue or has stopped eating, go straight away.
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.
- Feline orofacial pain syndrome Nerves and muscles A painful condition of the nerves that carry feeling from the mouth and face. A cat suddenly feels intense discomfort in its mouth, as if something were stuck there, and paws at its face. It matters because the episodes can be distressing enough for a cat to hurt itself or stop eating.
Body systems: Teeth and mouth Nerves and muscles