We had a persian who did this, but he *always* had done it, so it was not
new. Other than teeth, I don't know a physical reason. You might google
drooling cat and see if any other illnesses come up.

Hi Winnie--I had a cat once who drooled when he was happy. Being
petted, kneading on my hair and stuff. But he did it since I'd had him.
I agree, it's really weird he started this at age 11. I wouldn't think
it's anything to worry about, if he only does it when he's really
happy. Really weird though.

Sherry

Yes, Pan does that when I rub his tummy, and he's in a very good mood.
=o)

Melissa

Many kitties drool when they're very happy.

Theresa
Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh
My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com

OH yeah, when Mischief jumps on my lap while I'm at the computer and I
scritch her, she drools a LOT

Kristi

When Oscar is very happy to see me, she not only purrs, she also
drools.  Enough to leave a big wet spot on whatever clothing or
blanket she happens to be on while doing so.

In my experience it's not uncommon at all, at least 1/2 the cats owned by me
or family members (yes, it's probably a statiscally significant sample ;-)
have drooled when being petted.

Luna drools so much she drips.

I long time ago I had a tomcat that would knead your chest, purr mightly
and drool a river.

We used to have a church cat who drooled when he was petted.  He lived near
my church, and would always join us for coffee hour in the back yard after
church.  He loved attention, but he was a real drooler.

Joy

I have had a few do that who were much younger than Rusty, but if it's a
sudden onset thing, it may be something that needs looking at.   At
least he doesn't drool from his nose when petted, which is what The
General has done since he was 7 months old.  He's now 8.  It's just
something he does.  Oh well.

None of my present crew droll, but Rocky did.

IBKFergus doesn't stop longenough to let me pet her.

Shmogg occasionally gets  abit damp round the gob if he's in petting
ecstacy, but will usually bite me from overstimulation before we get that
far.

But there was this *ancient* cat as I walked to the train station every day
that used to *drip* with sheer drooling delight at the mere touch of a human
hand. The poor cat was virtually blind, toothless and arthritic but had such
a spirit about (her? him?) but it got to be a ritual every work day for us
that I would send this old cat into utter (but soggy) scritching nirvana.
For some reason the 'owners' of said cat greatly objected to me being nice
to it, and yelled obscenities at me if they thought I was coming any where
near the poor old creature, so I used to hide behind their fence where they
couldn't see me and wait for my old friend to meet me.

We did that 5 days a week for nearly a year, rain, hail or shine, and then
one day he or she simply didn't turn up. I never saw 'drooling cat' again. I
still remember her (or him) very fondly, and suspect that our furtive
scritch sessions were the last small pleasures that cat ever had. Earthly
laws may well say I wasn't the legal owner of that cat, but I reckon s/he
may well cross with me when I get to Rainbow Bridge, because heart-wise, I
was as much her human as any human could be.

Yowie