Does Your Cat Have Feline Stomatitis?

If your cat has been pawing at their mouth, drooling more than usual, or refusing to eat, you’re probably worried. Those signs can point to a lot of things, but one of the more serious possibilities is feline stomatitis, also called feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS). It’s one of the most painful mouth conditions a cat can develop, and it deserves a straight answer about what it is, what to expect, and what you can actually do about it.

The good news: there are real treatment options, and most cats do significantly better after the right care. Here’s everything you need to know.

Gingivitis vs. stomatitis in cats: what’s the difference?

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums (the gingiva) only. It’s common, it’s reversible with good dental care, and most cats with gingivitis respond well to a professional dental cleaning and regular plaque management at home.

Stomatitis is a different animal entirely. The word literally means inflammation of the mouth, and in cats with FCGS, that inflammation spreads far beyond the gum line. It affects the tissue along the back of the throat, the roof of the mouth, the tongue, and the insides of the cheeks. The immune system essentially turns on the mouth itself, often triggered by a reaction to plaque on the teeth. The result is raw, ulcerated tissue (mouth ulcers) that makes eating, grooming, and even closing the mouth genuinely painful.

Think of gingivitis as a bad sunburn on your gums. Stomatitis is more like that sunburn spreading to cover your entire mouth and throat, and not healing on its own.

Symptoms to look for

Because the pain is so intense, cats with stomatitis tend to show it in their behavior before you can see anything in their mouth. Watch for:

• Bad breath that’s noticeably worse than usual
• Drooling, sometimes with blood-tinged saliva
• Dropping food or chewing on one side of the mouth
• Pawing at the face or mouth
• Weight loss from avoiding food
• Stopping grooming (a big red flag in cats)
• Hiding more than usual or seeming withdrawn
• Visible redness or bleeding when you peek inside the mouth

If your cat is showing several of these at once, don’t wait on a vet appointment. This level of oral inflammation causes real, constant pain.

What causes stomatitis in cats

The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but researchers believe FCGS develops when a cat’s immune system overreacts to plaque on the teeth. Instead of fighting the bacteria in the plaque normally, the immune system launches an attack that ends up damaging the mouth’s own tissue.

Certain viral infections are also strongly associated with stomatitis, including:

• Feline calicivirus, a respiratory and oral virus that’s one of the most common triggers
• Feline leukemia (FeLV), a virus that suppresses the immune system
• FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), which also weakens immune function over time

That said, plenty of cats with stomatitis test negative for all three. Age, genetics, and overall immune health all seem to play a role too. Stomatitis is not contagious from cat to cat on its own, though the viral infections associated with it (like calicivirus and FIV) can be transmitted between cats.

How vets diagnose stomatitis

Your vet will start with a thorough oral exam to look at the extent of the inflammation and rule out other causes like tooth resorption (where a tooth essentially dissolves from the inside out) or oral tumors. From there, expect:

• Blood work and FIV/FeLV screening to check for underlying viral infections and assess overall health
• Dental X-rays to see what’s happening below the gum line, which helps determine how many teeth are affected and which ones need to come out
• In some cases, a biopsy, where a small sample of inflamed tissue is sent to a lab to confirm the diagnosis and rule out cancer

The diagnosis process usually requires your cat to be under anesthesia, so it often happens at the same appointment as treatment.

Treatment options for feline stomatitis

There’s no single medication that cures stomatitis, and this is where it gets hard: the most effective treatment is tooth extraction.

Full-mouth or partial-mouth extraction

Removing all or most of the teeth eliminates the plaque that’s triggering the immune response. Studies show that full-mouth extraction resolves or significantly improves symptoms in roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of cats. Partial extraction (removing just the back teeth, which tend to accumulate more plaque) works for many cats and may be tried first depending on how severe the inflammation is.

Medications as a bridge, not a cure

Before or after surgery, your vet may use medications to manage pain and reduce inflammation. Common options include corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory steroids) and cyclosporine, an immune-suppressing drug that dials down the overactive immune response. These can bring temporary relief, but they rarely resolve stomatitis on their own and aren’t a long-term substitute for extraction in most cats.

Regular professional dental cleanings can help slow progression in mild cases, but once FCGS is established, cleaning alone isn’t usually enough.

Life after full-mouth extraction: what recovery actually looks like

A lot of owners are nervous about this part. Here’s what actually happens, in plain terms.

The first two weeks

Your cat comes home with pain medication and possibly antibiotics. Their mouth will be tender, so you’ll feed them soft or wet food for a while. Some cats feel better within a few days. Others need the full two weeks. Just follow your vet’s instructions, keep the food soft, and don’t skip the follow-up appointment.

Weeks two through six

This is usually when owners start to see a real difference. The inflammation calms down, appetite comes back, and many cats start acting like themselves again, sometimes more playful and affectionate than they’ve been in months. That’s what happens when constant pain finally goes away.

Life without teeth

This surprises a lot of people: cats do just fine without teeth. They don’t chew the way we do. They mostly use their teeth to grip and tear, and once those are gone, most cats figure out how to eat kibble by gumming it. Wet food is always an easy go-to if needed, but most cats don’t need a special diet long-term. Ask your vet what works best for your cat.

For cats who respond to the surgery, which is most of them, the outlook is really good. A pain-free life, normal appetite, normal energy. Stomatitis doesn’t shorten a cat’s life when it’s properly treated.

Can stomatitis be prevented?

There’s no guaranteed way to prevent FCGS, especially since the immune component isn’t fully understood. But you can lower the risk by keeping plaque levels in check:

• Regular professional dental cleanings (your vet can advise on frequency)
• At-home tooth brushing, even a few times a week, makes a real difference
• Keeping your cat’s vaccinations current, including for feline calicivirus
• Testing any new cats for FIV and FeLV before introducing them to your household

Does pet insurance cover stomatitis in cats?

Yes, but coverage depends on what’s causing the stomatitis and which add-ons you have. Here’s how it works in plain terms.

If the stomatitis is immune-mediated (meaning the immune system is driving it), it may be covered under Lemonade Pet’s base accident and illness policy, as long as it isn’t pre-existing and develops after your 14-day illness waiting period. No dental add-on needed for this type.

If the stomatitis is caused by periodontal disease, you’ll need one of Lemonade Pet’s dental add-ons. Which one is available to you depends on your state, but here’s how they compare:

Dental Care add-on: The most comprehensive option. Covers dental illness treatment and routine cleanings, with no deductible. Uniquely, it also covers pre-existing dental conditions, and coverage for dental conditions starts the day after your policy is purchased with no waiting period. Only available to add while your cat is between 0 and 3 years old.

Dental Illness add-on: Covers treatments and diagnostics related to dental illness, including extractions and dental cleanings. Pre-existing dental conditions are not covered, and a deductible applies.

Before we go

Feline stomatitis is a hard diagnosis to hear, especially because your cat can’t tell you how much pain they’re in. But the fact that you’re here, looking into it, means you’re already doing the right thing. The treatment path is clear, the success rate is high, and most cats come out the other side feeling genuinely better than they have in years. If your cat is showing symptoms, get them to a vet who can take a proper look. The sooner stomatitis is diagnosed, the more options you have.

And if you don’t have pet insurance yet, it’s a good time to look into what Lemonade covers.

Frequently Asked Questions

A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of the policies issued, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage may not be available in all states. Please note that statements about coverages, policy management, claims processes, Giveback, and customer support apply to policies underwritten by Lemonade Insurance Company or Metromile Insurance Company, a Lemonade company, sold by Lemonade Insurance Agency, LLC.  The statements do not apply to policies underwritten by other carriers.