Chewing nothing?

My two year old male cat, Bear, has this weird habit of chewing nothing. He definitely doesn't have anything in his mouth (for example he will sit up from laying in my lap and start chewing). When he does it he makes this weird noise... kinda like the noise you would make when you pretend to eat something (think playing with little kids). 

Does anyone else's cat do this? Should I be concerned?

It may be a sign of nausea or dental issue. Grinding teeth, making chewing motions, and lip smacking are common signs of nausea and dental issues in cats. I suggest a trip to the vet for a full check up.

We just had him in 2 weeks ago and the vet didn't notice anything... but I also didn't think to mentioned the 'chewing'. He only does it once a month or so.... its pretty uncommon. 

I know this sounds a little flippant, but if he was asleep, woke up and did it, perhaps he's just been dreaming of food.   I've seen my cats sort of smack their lips when they're dreaming...

If he keeps it up, though, I think it's worth a vet check specifically for it.

Is he prone to hairballs?  The way I read it; it made me think of what you might do if you have something caught almost in or in the top part of your throat.

I thought of all three of these reasons... the something caught in his throat seems most likely. He has been doing in on and off for almost a year now... 

Dental issue-It started after my brother was watching him for a few days... he plays a little more rough than we do (think crazy uncle with a nephew vs mom and dad). But this also lined up with when he switched to his adult teeth (we actually found a few baby teeth around the house!!).

Sleep/dreaming-I can't really line it up with sleeping, but most of the time he yawns before he 'chews'.

Hairball/something in his throat- This is my hope. There aren't any hairball issues, but all three cats have long hair... and I have really long hair (that I am constantly pulling out of their mouths), and they love to eat carpet fuzz (again, constantly pulling out of their mouths).  He does look like someone trying to clear their throat. 

I'll have to ask about it at the next vet visit... It'll be a while because we are in the midst of moving long distance... but I should be able to get him in before the fall. 

Hi! Did you ever figure out what this was? My cat does the same thing, and it used to be infrequent but now it is every morning/night. I used to think it was that he was hungry, but sometimes I put food out and then he doesn't eat it right away. He also does it with his face right next to cords and wires, as if he knows he is not allowed to chew on them but wants to. I called the vet and they said it sounded like a behavioral thing, but it's getting to be super excessive... wondering if I should try changing his food before taking him to the vet or if I should take him in first.

We never did figure anything out. He still does it, and his sister picked up the habit too. Their mother, and two other siblings do not.  She does it next to wires and cardboard boxes most of the time, but he generally does it without anything next to his face. He always acts like he is starving, but she will walk away from her bowl and skip meals sometimes. We are now in the third residence since the behavior started, so I don't think that has anything to do with it. They have gotten clean bills of health from the vet. I would be interested if a change in diet helps your cat. It does seem like sometimes there is an actual clicking going on with their jaws, but not all the time. When I notice that they have been doing it for a while I try to stop them- just interrupting them doesn't seem to work, they go right back to it. I found that if I open their mouth as if I was going to look at their teeth they will stop.  Also, I have noticed that they seem to go through periods when they do it more often and periods when they barely do it at all. It seems rather random to me. Maybe sometime I can start a log to see of I can trace any patterns. 

Please let us know if you figure something out!

So interesting! My cat is waking me up every morning by doing it right in my face which is why I think it's behavioral (and also why I want to figure out how to stop it because it's driving me craaaaazy!!), but some days are worse than others and he will do it at other times too... So I don't know what to think! He is only 10 months and seems in perfect health except for some diarrhea from time to time, so I was thinking about switching the food up anyway. I'm totally the type to bring him to the vet over silly things and waste $$$, so going to try that first and see if it improves.

I will report back!

pisces7386 said:

My two year old male cat, Bear, has this weird habit of chewing nothing. He definitely doesn't have anything in his mouth (for example he will sit up from laying in my lap and start chewing). When he does it he makes this weird noise... kinda like the noise you would make when you pretend to eat something (think playing with little kids).

Does anyone else's cat do this? Should I be concerned?

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Actually, I've figured out that it's due to hunger. When my cat is super hungry he'll start doing it. Think of it like, when you haven't eaten all day and start getting the nauseous feeling because you need something to go on your stomach. It's like that but a smaller stomach, "piggy" kitty. That's why a lot of people are seeing it early morning, late night. Try feeding him/her and see if it helps.

That's really interesting C Catcatsamicatcat
And welcome to TCS!

Hi there! Late to the topic (new site member) but C Catcatsamicatcat above nailed it. One of our two does this in the morning when he wakes me for (guess what) breakfast. It's the funniest chomping sound with an empty mouth. Definitely not tooth grinding and has only ever done it at breakfast and dinner times! He's trying to say "food, food, nom, nom...feed me!"

pisces7386 said:

My two year old male cat, Bear, has this weird habit of chewing nothing. He definitely doesn't have anything in his mouth (for example he will sit up from laying in my lap and start chewing). When he does it he makes this weird noise... kinda like the noise you would make when you pretend to eat something (think playing with little kids).

Does anyone else's cat do this? Should I be concerned?

Click to expand...

So in my experience I have 2 cats that tend to drool when receiving love. They also both make this sound to kind of "slurp up their drool" before it falls out their mouth. One cat will always catch itself before the drool falls out making that sound. And the other.. well she just drools everywhere, but will make said noise when she is snapped out of head scritch heaven. Only two of my fine cats drool so its a decently common thing. In my view if they're making this sound they're either triggered by love or hunger. Or whatever else that may make a cat drool

My cat started doing this a month ago and this wakes me up everyday , I think she wants to annoy me cz during the day this happened rarely but morning or late at night she comes beside my head and keep doing this , this is so confusing

My cat does this. I love her but it annoys the crap out of me. I've had it checked at the vet but apparently no dental issues. Because she has osteoporosis I sometimes wonder if it's discomfort but I've come to think it's behavioural because initially she did it mostly before dinner when she's impatient. But she also does it when she doesn't get her way. I would love for it to stop and am considering behavioural therapy I would love it someone knows what it is.

pisces7386 said:

I thought of all three of these reasons... the something caught in his throat seems most likely. He has been doing in on and off for almost a year now...

Dental issue-It started after my brother was watching him for a few days... he plays a little more rough than we do (think crazy uncle with a nephew vs mom and dad). But this also lined up with when he switched to his adult teeth (we actually found a few baby teeth around the house!!).

Sleep/dreaming-I can't really line it up with sleeping, but most of the time he yawns before he 'chews'.

Hairball/something in his throat- This is my hope. There aren't any hairball issues, but all three cats have long hair... and I have really long hair (that I am constantly pulling out of their mouths), and they love to eat carpet fuzz (again, constantly pulling out of their mouths). He does look like someone trying to clear their throat.

I'll have to ask about it at the next vet visit... It'll be a while because we are in the midst of moving long distance... but I should be able to get him in before the fall.

Click to expand...

It's gotta be behavioral cuz my cat does it to my soda bottle but not touch the bottle he'll make it look like he's chewing on it till I pic him up and he only does it if I'm ignoring him