What this means
A healthy cat does not harm its own face. If scratches, small wounds or blood have appeared on the muzzle, the lips or around the mouth, or the tongue looks injured, the reason has to be found. Most often it means the cat feels pain or an unbearable sensation in the mouth or face and is trying to get rid of it with its paws or teeth.
One possible cause is a rare nerve pain condition in which a cat suddenly claws at its mouth during episodes, licks and chews in an exaggerated way, drools and sometimes scratches until it bleeds. The episodes can come and go, and between them the cat may seem perfectly normal. But self-injury can have other causes too, such as a sore tooth, an injury inside the mouth or itchy skin.
Cats hide pain, so these signs may be the first you notice. Write down when it happens and, if it is safe to do so, film an episode, but do not try to examine or manage the injuries yourself. A vet needs to look at both the mouth and the face.
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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Nerve pain in the mouth and face
A rare condition in which a cat claws at its mouth during episodes and may injure its muzzle or tongue. Between episodes it can seem healthy.
About the condition: Feline orofacial pain syndrome -
A sore tooth or gums
Mouth pain can make a cat rub and scratch at its face. Drooling and careful eating are often seen alongside.
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A wound or foreign object in the mouth
Something stuck or pierced in the mouth can make a cat claw and hurt itself. A vet needs to look.
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Itchy skin on the face
If the skin itches, a cat may scratch until sores appear. A vet has to find the cause.
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Pain in the ears or face
Pain near the mouth or in the ears can lead to scratching around the face. 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.
- When and for how long the episodes last, and what came before them
- Whether your cat drools or chews and licks in an exaggerated way
- Whether it eats or refuses food
- Where the scratches or sores are
- Whether it behaves normally between episodes
- Whether its mood or activity has changed
When to book a routine visit
Any time a cat scratches its own face or tongue it needs a vet's examination. If wounds are bleeding or your cat has stopped eating, 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.
Body systems: Nerves and muscles