Stomatitis in Cats

"If you notice your cat exhibiting unusual behavior or discomfort, especially in and around the mouth, consider feline stomatitis, an aggressive inflammatory disease, as a possible cause. The cause of stomatitis in cats is unclear, but contributing factors include dental disease and immune disease. Symptoms of stomatitis in cats may include decreased appetite, excessive drooling, redness in the gums, and an unkempt coat. While stomatitis in cats is an incredibly painful condition, most cats respond well to medical management, regular oral care, and surgical intervention. If stomatitis is left untreated, it can be life-threatening. If you think your cat may have stomatitis, visit your vet."

What Is Stomatitis?

Feline stomatitis is a severe, painful inflammation of a cat’s mouth and gums. Stomatitis should not be confused with gingivitis, a common, less painful inflammation of the gums. Stomatitis refers to more generalized inflammation of the mucous membranes within the mouth. In most cases, the condition causes painful ulcers and lesions to form in the mouth. These ulcers can develop on the lips, tongue, gums, and back of the throat.

Symptoms of Stomatitis in Cats

One of the most common stomatitis symptoms is severe pain. This can manifest in a variety of ways. In some cases, a cat suffering from stomatitis may be in too much pain to open its mouth to eat.1 If your cat can open its mouth, dry food is likely too painful to chew, so wet food is a better option. In some cases, due to the chronic pain, your cat may exhibit behavioral changes such as acting withdrawn or irritable. This can be confused with your cat being a picky eater when in fact, it has mouth pain.

Symptoms of stomatitis in cats may include: