Why is my kitten licking their lips?
Most lip-licking in kittens is nothing to worry about — leftover food, an unfamiliar taste, or simple grooming after a meal. It becomes worth watching when it is frequent, paired with drooling or pawing at the mouth, or your kitten seems reluctant to eat, because those combinations point toward mouth discomfort or nausea rather than a passing taste.
Usually not urgent
This is common and often manageable at home — but see a vet if it persists, gets worse, or comes with other changes.
What ordinary lip-licking looks like
A kitten licking its lips once or twice after a meal, or after grooming, is completely normal. Kittens are fastidious about their faces and will often run a tongue round their mouth to clear away wet food, milk replacer, or a treat that has left a film behind.
It is also common straight after drinking, or after exploring something new with their mouth — kittens investigate the world by tasting it, and an odd texture or flavour is enough to trigger a few licks while they work out what they think of it.
When it happens more often than that
Teething is a common cause in young kittens, usually between about three and six months, when adult teeth are pushing through and the gums are sore. A teething kitten may lick their lips more than usual, chew on odd objects, or show a slight change in how keen they are on hard food.
Excess salivation from a bitter taste is another everyday trigger — kittens who lick or bite something unpleasant, including some houseplants or cleaning residue, will often lick repeatedly and sometimes drool as they try to clear the taste. If you can identify what they touched, keep it out of reach afterwards.
When it points to something that needs checking
Lip-licking combined with drooling, pawing at the mouth, or reluctance to eat can point to dental discomfort — a retained baby tooth, a sore gum line, or in older kittens the start of gum inflammation. None of this is something to diagnose from the licking alone; it is a sign the mouth is worth a proper look.
Nausea is the other main cause worth knowing about. Cats and kittens often lick their lips repeatedly in the minutes before being sick, sometimes along with swallowing more than usual or seeming unsettled. An occasional bout tied to a hairball or a change of food is common; frequent nausea without an obvious cause is not.
Red flags — when to see a vet
Book a vet visit if the lip-licking is frequent rather than occasional, if it comes with drooling, bad breath, or visible discomfort around the mouth, or if your kitten is eating less, seems quieter than usual, or has vomited more than once in a short space of time.
A kitten who stops eating for more than a day, or who is licking their lips while clearly distressed, should be seen the same day rather than waited out — young kittens can go downhill faster than adult cats if they are not eating properly. When in doubt, a quick call to your vet costs nothing and settles the question.
What can help day to day
Once a vet has ruled out anything that needs treating, a soft, easy-to-eat wet food can make mealtimes more comfortable for a kitten whose gums are sore from teething, and most kittens find it more appealing than dry kibble during that stage.
Kitten-safe dental chews and toys designed for teething can also help by giving them something appropriate to gnaw on instead of furniture or cables, and a fresh source of water — some kittens simply drink more readily from a fountain than a bowl — helps rule out mild dehydration as a factor in general grooming and licking behaviour.
What can help
Things we stock that owners commonly use alongside a vet’s advice — not a substitute for it.
304 Stainless Steel Pet Water Fountain 3.2L
A 3.2L 304 stainless steel fountain that automatically circulates water through a gooseneck spout to keep it fresh. A visible side window shows the water level, so cats and dogs always have clean water.
£36.99
Sensor Cat Water Fountain 2.5L
A 2.5L cat fountain that flows when your cat approaches, keeping water fresh and tempting. A clear level window shows when to refill, and the generous tank meets one cat's needs for several days.
From£43.99
Leucillin Antiseptic Skincare Spray for Cats & Dogs
A versatile, alcohol-free antiseptic spray that cleans, soothes, and helps protect your pet's skin from bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
From£16.49
Absorbent Cotton Gauze Swabs for Pets – Pack of 100
Highly absorbent, low-lint cotton gauze swabs produced in clean conditions — a practical first-aid essential available in three size and ply combinations.
From£4.49
Common questions
- Is lip-licking in kittens always a sign of a problem?
- No, most of the time it is completely normal — clearing food residue, grooming after a meal, or reacting to an unfamiliar taste. It is worth paying attention to when it becomes frequent or is joined by drooling, mouth pawing, or a drop in appetite.
- Can teething cause a kitten to lick their lips?
- Yes, teething is a common and harmless cause in kittens roughly three to six months old, as adult teeth come through and the gums feel tender. It usually settles on its own, but a vet check is sensible if your kitten also seems to be eating less or seems uncomfortable.
- Should I be worried if my kitten licks their lips before being sick?
- An occasional bout tied to a hairball or new food is common and not usually a concern. Lip-licking that happens repeatedly before vomiting, or vomiting more than once in a short period, is worth a vet visit to rule out something that needs treating.
- What should I do if my kitten stops eating and keeps licking their lips?
- Contact your vet the same day. A kitten who has gone off their food alongside frequent lip-licking may be dealing with mouth discomfort or nausea, and young kittens can deteriorate quickly if they are not eating, so it is better to have it checked promptly than to wait and see.
- Can food cause a kitten to lick their lips more than usual?
- Yes, a new flavour or texture, or a food that has been left out and gone slightly off, can trigger repeated licking as your kitten reacts to the taste. Switching to a fresh portion or a food they are used to usually settles it within a feed or two.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.