Bad Breath in Cats

Cats are just as prone to bad breath as dogs and humans.  Bad breath in felines can indicate a dental problem or it can be symptom of a more serious medical condition.  You’ll want to find out what is causing your cat’s bad breath not only so that you can cure it but in case there is a medical condition that you need to address.

Cats, just as dogs, can develop a build up of tartar around their teeth.  Once your cat has finished eating, food particles will stay behind in the mouth.  When these food particles start to decompose the mouth will become a good environment for bacteria to grow.  It takes only a few hours for bacteria to turn into plaque.  Plaque is made of a mixture of bacteria, decomposed food, and minerals.  Plaque will give your cat bad breath and will also play a huge role in poor dental hygiene.  If you don’t get the plaque under control your cat may suffer from tooth loss as well as other serious dental problems such as inflammation and receding gums.  These dental problems can be very painful for your cat.

Bad breath in cats can also be linked to feline leukemia.  Your vet will most likely screen for this disease if there is no indication of dental problems being the cause of bad breath.  If the test result is negative your vet may take a closer look at something called “resorptive dental disease”.  Resorptive dental disease is a condition which is present deep in the cavities of your cat’s teeth.  The roots of your cats canine teeth will be become exposed, causing the incisors to fall out for no apparent reason.  It is yet not known if cats with this dental condition are born with soft teeth or if there are other underlying dental causes.  If you cat has resorptive dental disease bad breath can be an indicating factor.  Eventually the incisors, if they don’t fall out, will have to be extracted so that your cat can lead a healthy and happy life.

Older cats may develop some medical conditions that can affect the way that their breath smells.  This includes kidney and liver failure.  A cat with kidney or liver problem will usually be quite thin and sickly looking.  Your vet will be able to determine if your cat’s bad breath is a symptom of kidney or liver problems.  A cat with these problems will need special care and attention to be given to their dental hygiene. 

Pay attention to your cat’s breath so that you can take care of medical or dental problems before they become too severe.