What might cause a cat's jaw to become painful and lock?

If your cat is having trouble opening or closing its mouth and isn't eating, it's time to seek professional help. She might have developed a painful gum abscess, some type of upper respiratory infection, or be suffering with osteoarthritis. Only a veterinarian can make the diagnosis.

What your cat probably doesn't have is tetanus - or, as it's commonly called, lockjaw. Characterized by damage to the central nervous system leading to muscle stiffness, spasms, and terrible pain, lockjaw is caused by naturally occurring soil bacteria. Though often linked to barnyard animals, tetanus is rare in cats. However, the disease is often fatal if untreated, so any cat with lockjaw-like symptoms should be examined immediately.

– Dr. Larry McDaniel, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series

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