Why Are My Cats Lips Swollen? [Causes & Treatments]

Cats are one of the most moving and active creatures in the world, if you notice that your cat has become frowning and less active, there is likely to be damage or a medical cause to the lips. The lower or upper lips of the cat may be exposed to swollen for many reasons, which we will mention in the following details:

Why Are My Cats Lips Swollen?

One of the predominant reasons for lip swelling in cats is dental health problems. These issues could range from dental abscesses to broken or diseased teeth. Unhealthy dental conditions could cause severe swelling, which may progress to the entire face if not addressed promptly.

While the immediate sign of a dental problem may be lip swelling, it’s followed by related symptoms. Your cat may struggle to eat or lose its appetite entirely. You might notice a heightened sensitivity when their chin is scratched. Additionally, excessive drooling and head shaking indicate the presence of dental discomfort.

Occasionally, the swelling might not be due to dental issues. Bites from parasites such as mites, fleas, or mosquitoes often trigger inflammation and reddening of the cat’s lips.

If your cat’s dental health is optimal and there’s no risk of parasite bites, the cause might be something else entirely. One common condition is feline acne, often resulting from blocked sebaceous glands in the cat’s chin. Another probable cause is an allergic reaction due to various factors such as pollens, certain foods, or specific medications, including antibiotics and heart medications.

Sometimes, a minor physical injury, for instance, falling on the chin during an attempted jump, could cause lip swelling. This accident can lead to the formation of a bulge at the impact site. In rarer cases and typically in older cats, lip or jaw swelling could indicate cancer.

Another potential cause of lip swelling is related to cat behavior. Cats often engage in fights with each other, which involve biting and scratching each other’s faces, leading to swelling of the lips.

Lastly, some cats might be allergic to certain food items which can cause lip swelling. Typical allergens include fish or chicken bones.

Once you ascertain the cause, appropriate treatments should be considered. For example, if it’s allergies, antihistamines or steroid injections could be used to alleviate symptoms initially. However, if the condition persists or deteriorates, your vet might recommend surgical intervention.

Why Is My Cat’s Lower Lip Swollen?

Swelling of your cat’s lower lip could often baffle you. However, there are several reasons that may be triggering this particular type of swelling.

In some cases, a disruption in your furry friend’s immune cells can result in swelling that resembles a parasite infection. Though it might look like the effects of parasites, this type of swelling is not caused by them, which can lead to confusion in identifying the actual issue.

Allergies can also be a significant factor. It’s not the most common cause, but allergies can occasionally contribute to your cat’s lower lip’s swelling. You might find it surprising, but like humans, animals too can develop swollen body parts due to allergies. This hypersensitivity can induce a swollen, sore lower lip in your cat, complicating its food intake and general well-being.

The cause of these allergies could be related to your cat’s diet or environment. Some cats may develop an allergy to a particular type of food ingredient, causing changes in their body, including the swelling of the lower lip.

Poor hygiene of food and water bowls may also contribute to cat allergies. Plastic food bowls that are scratched can harbor bacteria over time, leading to possible infections. Moreover, some cats might even be allergic to the plastic material used in the bowl. Therefore, repeated contact with these irritants can cause your cat’s lower lip to swell.

Bear in mind that identifying the cause of your cat’s swollen lower lip is half the battle — the other half involves finding the right treatment, which is best done under professional veterinary guidance. So, don’t hesitate to seek your vet’s help when your cat presents signs of a swollen lower lip.

Why Is My Cat’s Upper Lip Swollen?

Swelling of your cat’s upper lip could be caused by a problem in the mouth, such as gingivitis or rotting of the teeth.

This will cause swelling that may extend all over the face, antibiotics can be used to combat the infection, and the veterinarian can intervene surgically to correct the situation.

What Causes Cat Swollen Lip?

Encountering a cat’s swollen lip could be troubling for any pet owner. It’s crucial to understand that this could stem from various causes, providing a range of symptoms just as diverse as the reasons.

A common cause could be an eosinophilic granuloma complex. This condition leads to small lumps or areas of inflammation equivalent to puffiness that develops around your feline’s mouth area. It’s not something you should overlook, as an eosinophilic granuloma complex requires treatment with anti-inflammatory medications. More often, these medicines aid in reducing the swelling, alleviating the symptoms, and soothing the distressed skin.

Being alert to your cat’s environment and daily routine is imperative as exposure to specific triggers can cause swollen lips. These include any insect or parasite bite, a sudden allergic reaction to certain food items, aromatic substances around your cat’s space, or even materials that construct their feeding bowls. Oral health issues are equally crucial determinants, comprising broken teeth or cases of gingivitis. Even physical harm such as a fall that impacts the mouth or lips might lead to swelling.

Another issue that pet owners often overlook is feline acne, typically apparent around the chin area. This condition is the result of infected hair follicles in proximity. When hair grows underneath the skin, feline acne can become quite a problem. Fortunately, veterinarians can address this using a topical treatment applied directly to your cat’s skin, offering relief and easing symptoms.

While it may be an uncomfortable thought, cancer could also induce swollen lips in cats. Notably, this tends to be more common in older felines. Various treatments are available, including surgical intervention by a veterinarian to remove the tumor, potentially providing a solution to the root cause of the swelling.

Furthermore, always closely monitor your cat and examine the swollen area. If any signs of a bruise, bump, or bite are noticeable, you can breathe a sigh of relief. These simpler causes are not usually complicated and tend to heal with time. In such cases, cleaning the detected area and removing any stuck material or insect can expedite the healing. It will also help prevent the spread of any potential infection, keeping the rest of your cat’s body safe.

Cat Swollen Lip Treatment?

If you notice that your cat suffers from swelling of the lips, this is an important thing and must be treated quickly because it directly affects the cat’s ability to eat, so the cat may not be able to live long if treatment is not done.

After you notice that the simplest and most effective thing is a trip to the vet, getting the advice of the veterinarian will be more than enough.

The veterinarian must work to determine the cause of the swelling and obtain the necessary treatments to relieve it at least for the time being, so that your cat can eat its food.

If the swelling in the lips is caused by an allergic reaction, this is more serious because it makes breathing difficult for your cat and directly threatens her life if not treated.

In this case, the place can be carefully cleaned to get rid of any remnants of materials that may be the cause of allergies, such as pollen or aromatic materials, or others.

If the swelling of the lips is due to dental problems, the pain resulting from broken teeth and other oral problems will cause more problems, such as a defect in the work of the heart, liver, and kidneys.

The swelling could be due to the quality of the food your cat is eating, so you should check with your vet to change the pet’s diet.

All the instructions we mentioned are for knowledge and not a substitute for the opinion of the veterinarian.

Conclusion

The first reason you can think of if swelling appears in your cat’s lips is cheilitis, which has several names, such as eosinophilic granulomatosis.

Cheilitis occurs due to an allergy to some of the things that the cat rubs in, not a requirement that it includes food.

The second cause of swollen lips in cats can be parasites and other diseases such as autoimmune and dental and gum health problems.

The cat may have an ulcer, which is called a rodent ulcer, and that can spread to other parts of the cat’s body such as the abdomen and feet.

Another cause of swollen lips in cats is the pet’s eating bowl, some cats are allergic to the plastic bowl, try replacing it with a ceramic or glass bowl, regardless of the type of food dish you use, it must be washed with hot water and detergents after each meal.

The occurrence of tumors in the mouth can be another reason because it affects the oral cavity, these tumors can be cancerous or benign.

Oral tumors in cats are of three types: squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and fibrosarcoma, the three of which are bad in the long term and make your cat suffer.

Some plants such as Pothos, if eaten by the cat, even if it takes a single bite, will cause swelling in the mouth and upset the digestive system of the cat.