Eww, why does my cat’s breath smell so bad?! You love your awesome cat, but if their breath leaves MUCH to be desired, don’t ignore the problem – it will only get worse. When a cat has bad breath, this is a sign of dental disease or other health issue. Fortunately, there are some easy fixes once you figure out the cause of your cat's bad breath.
What Should Cat Breath Smell Like?
If you have a keen sense of smell, you know it can be both a blessing and a curse in life. But look at it this way: smelly cat breath is usually the first sign of gum disease, which affects 70% of cats by age 3, so if you have a super sniffer and catch it early, it will be easier to fix. So here’s the deal: a cat’s breath should not have a strong odor at all. A mild, pleasantly sweet smell is the strongest it should be on a regular basis.
Why Does My Cat’s Breath Stink?
The most common cause of cat bad breath is poor oral hygiene. This begins with plaque buildup, a sticky film that forms on a cat’s teeth after meals. Plaque contains "bad" bacteria, which not only stinks, but causes inflammation of the gums. This inflammation, marked by redness and swelling, is called gingivitis, and it’s the first of four stages of gum disease.
Gingivitis is easy to prevent and remedy at home. However, the other stages of gum disease involve permanent loss of tissue and bone and require intervention from a veterinarian to clean the bacteria below the cat’s gum line where you can’t see it. If your cat is progressing down the path of gum disease, it will be obvious if you look at their teeth and gums.
What do healthy cat teeth & gums look like?
Healthy cat teeth should be white in color, with no yellow, gray, or brown buildup. For older cats, their teeth may naturally yellow with age – but this should be the tooth color itself and not yellow-brown tartar buildup. The gums should be light pink, form a tight seal around the teeth, and have no swelling, redness, or bleeding.
7 Surprising Reasons a Cat Has Bad Breath
While neglected oral care is the number one cause of cat bad breath, it’s not the only reason cats can have smelly breath.
- Uncontrolled diabetes: a sickly rotten fruit smell due to a buildup of ketones.
- Kidney disease: waste buildup can cause an ammonia smell.
- Viruses: feline leukemia virus, calicivirus, and feline immunodeficiency virus can increase plaque and lead to bad breath.
- Stomatitis: severe inflammation of the mouth; bad breath is often the first noticeable symptom.
- Mouth cancer: decay smell plus possible lumps, sores, weight loss, or difficulty eating.
- Foreign object stuck: string, grass, food, or toy pieces can decompose and smell.
- Rotten teeth: tooth resorption can cause very smelly breath and oral pain.
How to Get Rid of Cat’s Bad Breath at Home
If your cat has bad breath and other signs of illness, getting them proper veterinary treatment is top priority. If their bad breath is due to a lack of dental care, you'll want to start a home routine ASAP, and make an appointment if their teeth and gums look unhealthy (e.g., heavy yellow or brown tartar buildup).
Prevention is the best measure, as stopping gum disease early can spare your cat (and your wallet) from professional dental cleanings, which may involve x-rays, anesthesia, scaling, pain medications and/or antibiotics, and oftentimes tooth extractions.
Consistency with their dental routine is key. Ideally, brush every day or several times a week. (Brave soul? Read more about how to brush your cat's teeth.)
Hmm, I don’t like where this is going with this "toothbrushing" business. Have you met my cat?!
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Now That You Know How to Treat Bad Breath in Cats...
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