The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care
What to Do When Your Cat Is Sick: mouth
foreign object in mouth
Cats who have gotten foreign objects stuck in their mouths usually paw at their mouths and make unusual movements with their lips and tongues. They may make gagging motions and drool, but do not always do so. Try not to get excited if you think your cat has something stuck in his or her mouth. Try to reassure and calm your cat, then perform a thorough mouth examination in good light.
Be sure to examine the area of the mouth around the molars thoroughly; look under the tongue, at the soft and hard palates, and far into the back of the mouth to the pharynx. The most common objects you may find are sewing needles and thread, pieces of string wrapped around the tongue or teeth, and small pieces of bone (e.g., splintered chicken bones).
If you see the foreign body, grasp it with your fingertips or tweezers and remove it quickly and cautiously to avoid injury to yourself. If your cat is uncooperative or if you can’t find anything but the signs persist, you will have to have your cat examined by a veterinarian.