Cat mouth pain – when should I see a vet?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Book a vet visit

This is not usually an emergency on its own – contact your vet if it lasts, gets worse or your cat seems unwell in any other way. Mouth pain can be caused by dental disease, cat flu, gingivostomatitis, something stuck in the mouth, wounds or burns, lumps in the mouth, mouth ulcers or a broken jaw.

When to contact a vet What to do now

Contact a vet if you see any of this

Reduced appetite
Weight loss
Difficulty eating or shying away from food

What you can do now

Contact your vet.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.
Let your cat rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it can mean

Mouth pain can mean dental disease.^[1] It can be linked to cat flu or gingivostomatitis.^[1] It can be caused by something stuck in the mouth, wounds or burns.^[1] It can be associated with lumps in the mouth, mouth ulcers or a broken jaw.^[1]

Other signs that can come with it

Preferring soft food over biscuits
Chewing on one side only
Bad breath
Drooling
Pawing at the mouth or face
Not wanting to be touched around the face
Matted coat
Hiding away

Possible causes

Dental disease
Cat flu
Gingivostomatitis
Something stuck in the mouth
Wounds and burns
Lumps in the mouth
Mouth ulcers
A broken jaw

What the experts say

“Dental disease ; Cat flu ; Gingivostomatitis ; Something stuck in the mouth ; Wounds and burns ; Lumps in the mouth ; Mouth ulcers ; A broken jaw”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What can cause mouth pain in cats?

It can be caused by dental disease, cat flu, gingivostomatitis, something stuck in the mouth, wounds or burns, lumps in the mouth, mouth ulcers or a broken jaw.^[1]

What signs can come with mouth pain?

Signs can include reduced appetite, weight loss, preferring soft food, difficulty eating, chewing on one side, bad breath, drooling, pawing at the mouth or face, and not wanting to be touched around the face.^[1]

When should I contact a vet?

Contact your vet as soon as you notice a problem with your cat’s mouth.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

The same page for dogs →