Why do they DRIBBLE?

[Allergictoironing]

Boycat is a dribbler, Girlcat isn't. But why do some cats do this? I can understand kneading, throwback to kittens encouraging milk flow, but I just can't see the point in it.

Soggy duvet cover this morning, soggy throw on the sofa, drool all over my fingers, anywhere & everywhere he has his cuddles. Post prompted by the sheer sogginess of everything this morning - he starts now when he anticipated cuddles and before I've even got my hands on him!

I've noticed over the years that in general, males do seem to dribble more than females (though this may be just the ones I've known).

Any theories?

Because he is VERY HAPPY & he luffs you❤

BUT, some people might say that it could be a medical problem.

I've had boys who've been dribblers. I got a face-full of it from my boy this morning, when he wanted me up and out of bed - YUK

We need to see a photo of your dribbler, please?

Oh I know he luffs me, but he is thick as shit which could be why .

Attached Boycat wanting cuddles, commenting on the living room decor, and him craftily hiding so nobody could even guess he was there.

Yikes, he is Master Destroyer He is gorgeous.

That's not a cat it's a panther!

"Next time, ask me before you change the wallpaper!"

My cats a girl, she dribbles during cuddles/if I have been stroking her for a long time.

Toddler he's just shy of 6kg at the mo, not bad for an ex-feral who lived in the wild until a year old. And yes, his conformation is very panther-esque. Possibly one of the best looking cats I've known; I may be biased but he IS handsome with his long nose. Sadly the thickest cat I have ever met, we think he may have had an accident pre-rescue as he has a scar on his face which could explain his "issues".

I have attached a hard backed scratching board to the wall right in the centre of where he likes to scratch it. Girlcat loves it (she doesn't touch the wall), he scrabbles either side.

Our boy dribbles when DD cuddles him. It's like a Unicorn where only maidens can touch them. I get "Feck Off" from him, DD gets all I love you , purr, dribble

No teeth issues , he doesn't dribble any other time , even eating . Just when he's in a hypnotic state of adoration.

Here's stealth panther dribble boy

One of my cats dribbles. It's definitely a happy thing. It's also vile. Sometimes she dribbles so much she chokes a bit. She also paddles as she dribbles. It's very kittenish behaviour. She is a funny, skittish cat but when she deigns to love you it's no holds barred.

Hmmm yes .. I feel your pain more than most.. I awoke with a loud start this morning when HIMSELF dribbled in my ear before dawn !!!

Unreasonable, even if you do want breakfast....

@Allergictoironing I gasped at the second picture with the wallpaper

One of our cats is a dribbler (big time), it's usually when he's curled up on a lap or being stroked. The other one suckles, so I end up with getting covered in dribble either way. Both males.

My old female cat would dribble too, especially as she got older and developed gingivitis (had her teeth removed).

Aw I love some good evening kitty photos. I have one dribbler, one not. She only dribbles when she's REALLY happy or when she is trying to find the best sleeping position when it's 2am and I have been woken up to assist. She goes round in circles purring and wipes her drool over my face before settling down. Not the most relaxing but I love her!!

(Now looking at PP photos and wondering if it's a black cat thing?!)

@torthecatlady is that gasping at the size of my boy, or at the destruction he's done to the (comparatively inoffensive if a bit outdated) wallpaper? It's worse now, plus he has another patch behind the curtains by the door.

Boycat dribbles but doesn't knead. Girlcat doesn't dribble, but boy does she knead! Sharp little needles, and she's even been known to knead with her back paws!

Ginger drools when he is exceptionally happy or exceptionally stressed. The worst is when he drools and shakes his face so it flies everywhere.

I don't know if part of it is bad teeth, he had a tooth out and teeth cleaned last year but the gingivitis is back already.

Colin only dribbles with his favourite person in the house, ds2 . He’s a giant 8kg panther too. I wonder if we’ve hit on something here??!

I can also report that out of four cats the black girl cat is the dribbliest and only with her special blankie on DD's bed.

I had another black girl cat when I was a teenager who was an awful dribbler, she'd rub it on your face and dribble down your neck.

Maybe the Litter Tray can conduct a scientific survey in the manner of the Ig Nobel prizes? We'd have a good case.

www.improbable.com/ig-about/

We have 4 cats, eldest boy dribbles, youngest boy sucks blankets not envy, girl cat does none of those.

Our cats both knead the grey blanket on DD bed (though Female cat isn't a Dribbler)
We often wonder if their mother was a Russian Blue or British Blue (even though they are Black DSH aka Moggies )

Here's Male Cat with his claws out

We don't have 4 cats, we have 3.

Mine could be the exception - female, black and white. Semi longhaired. Dribbles, paddles and does not retract her claws. She's a challenging cuddle.

@Allergictoironing The gasping was at the wallpaper and the very angelic look of dc's face
I also have black house panther, he's very muscly and long (considering he was the runt of his litter at the Cats Protection League), fortunately he doesn't shred the walls

I would imagine that if he went out, he may be less inclined to redecorate; then again, he really is SO thick that he'd probably be not long for this world if allowed out! It was a condition of the rescue that they be indoor cats for different reasons, but as I've got to know him I've realised he wouldn't survive 5 mins in my own back garden bless him.