Why Your Cat Keeps Licking His Lips and Shaking His Head

Clyde’s owner had been watching him for days, noticing small, strange behaviors like slow lip licks, little head shakes, and that soft clink of his tags each time it happened. By the time they came in, the behavior had been going on for more than a week.

Clyde had lost a bit of weight, so we were both worried it might be something serious. Fortunately, it turned out to be simple: a piece of plastic from a cat toy was hooked around a back tooth, and once I removed it, Clyde felt better right away.

Many cases turn out this way, strange symptoms are caused by something small and fixable. The most common reasons cats lick their lips and shake their heads are mild nausea, dental irritation, or a bit of respiratory inflammation. But sometimes the cause is tucked out of sight or a little more complex, which is why this behavior is worth paying attention to.

Why cats lick their lips and shake their heads

These two movements tend to happen together because cats use them to respond to discomfort in the mouth, throat, nose, or even the stomach. The behavior may be mild or repetitive, sudden or longstanding. 

By far, nausea and dental irritation are the two most common causes I treat in the clinic.

What matters is figuring out how urgently your cat needs help and what you can check at home.

What you can check at home right now

You don’t need to pry your cat’s mouth open or do a full exam. A simple, safe look can still tell you a lot. Use a small flashlight and glance at the front of the mouth to see if anything obvious is stuck, like a thread, a piece of a toy, or dried food. 

Notice whether the behavior shows up right after eating or at completely random times. Think about any recent food changes, new treats, or supplements. Keep an eye out for sneezing, runny eyes, drooling, or new chewing motions.

If your cat pulls back or seems uncomfortable, stop immediately. A painful cat can bite even if they don’t mean to.

7 common causes of lip licking and head shaking

1. Nausea or gastritis

Pattern you might notice: hovering at the food bowl, licking the lips, taking a few small swallows, then walking away.

Nausea is the most common reason cats start licking their lips. Cats can feel queasy even when they don’t vomit. Food changes, hairballs, infections, or internal disease can all trigger this uneasy, back-and-forth behavior. When the lip licking shows up right after meals or when the stomach is empty, nausea is one of the first things we consider.

2. Dental or mouth pain

Pattern you might notice: kitty flinches when chewing, licks or chews on one side more than the other, brief head shakes as if something feels off.

According to Cornell University’s Feline Health Center, cats hide mouth pain extremely well. Instead of pawing at their face or crying out, they make small adjustments: lip licking, chewing differently, hesitating before eating, or suddenly preferring softer food. Tooth resorption, gum inflammation, loose teeth, or a foreign object between molars are common causes.

3. Upper respiratory infections

Pattern you might notice: lip licking or swallowing after sneezing, snorting, or having watery eyes.

Herpesvirus and calicivirus irritate the nose, throat, and mouth. That irritation can make cats lick their lips, swallow more often, or shake their head as they try to clear the sensation. Mild cases may look like a simple cold. If drooling, ulcers, or fever show up, your vet should take a look.

4. Foreign object or polyp

Pattern you might notice: sudden lip licking or hard swallows during or right after eating.

A grass seed stuck in the throat, a thread caught on a tooth, or a small toy fragment hidden between molars can all trigger these symptoms. Nasopharyngeal polyps or other tumors, which develop deep in the ear or throat, can create similar discomfort. Many of these problems hide too far back to see at home, so persistent symptoms deserve a veterinary exam.

5. Trauma to the mouth or jaw

Pattern you might notice: stopping halfway through a yawn, avoiding crunchy food, or shaking the head after grooming.

Cats can injure their mouths without anyone seeing the moment it happened. Falls, bites, or awkward yawns can bruise tissue or shift the jaw slightly. Lip entrapment, where the lip catches on a canine tooth, can also lead to repeated licking or small head shakes.

6. Toxins and irritants

Pattern you might notice: lip licking with sudden drooling or moving away from a substance they just contacted.

Household cleaners, certain plants, bitter medications, or essential oils can irritate the mouth quickly. Cats often lick their lips repeatedly or shake their head as soon as the burning or tingling starts. If your cat might have tasted something, bring the product label to your vet.

7. Focal seizures

Pattern you might notice: short bursts of rapid lip licking, jaw movements, or small rhythmic head shakes while your cat remains alert.

Focal seizures affect only part of the brain, so the episodes are brief and easy to miss. They’re less common than the other causes on this list and are usually diagnosed only after more typical explanations have been ruled out.