TL;DR: Lip smacking and swallowing in cats are usually signs of nausea, dental discomfort, or a bad taste and are typically not emergencies unless accompanied by distress or vomiting. Recording a video and checking your cat's mouth can help your veterinarian determine the underlying cause.
Why is my cat smacking their lips and swallowing repeatedly?
Lip smacking and repeated swallowing in cats are most commonly associated with nausea or excessive salivation (ptyalism). When a cat feels an upset stomach, their body produces extra saliva to protect the esophagus, leading to frequent swallowing. Other causes can include dental pain, a foul taste, or something caught in the teeth or throat.
Is lip smacking and swallowing an emergency for my cat?
- The urgency level for this behavior is generally low if your cat is alert, breathing normally, and not showing signs of severe distress.
- Contact your veterinarian for an exam during regular business hours if the lip smacking is accompanied by pawing at the mouth, constant vomiting, or a sudden change in energy levels.
How can taking a photo or video help my veterinarian triage my cat?
- Record a video of the behavior to provide a clear record of the frequency and intensity, as cats often stop showing symptoms due to the stress of a clinic environment.
- Take a clear photo of your cat's gums or the roof of their mouth to help a professional look for redness or foreign objects without causing your cat additional stress.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Lip smacking and repeated swallowing in cats can be associated with several underlying causes. These include oral foreign bodies, neoplasms, injuries, mucosal defects, infectious diseases such as rabies, convulsive disorders, motion sickness, nervousness, or excitement. Reluctance to swallow due to esophageal irritation or obstruction, or stimulation of gastrointestinal receptors from gastritis or enteritis, can also manifest as these signs. Other potential causes are sublingual lesions, tonsillitis, administration of medicine, conformational defects such as heavy lower lips, metabolic disorders like hepatic encephalopathy or uremia, and salivary gland issues. Medical problems such as stomatitis or oral ulcers secondary to thallium toxicity or uremia should be considered. It is crucial to eliminate rabies as a possibility before conducting an oral examination and to identify and address the underlying local or systemic cause.
Chapter: Neurology, Gastroenterology, Infectious Disease, Dentistry, Emergency, Toxicology
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 368)