Does your cat have unpleasant-smelling breath? Bad breath in cats can have various causes. Often, problems with the teeth or gums are behind it. But metabolic or organ diseases can also lead to bad breath.
Does your cat have bad breath? Foul breath can have various causes.
What Kind of Bad Breath is Normal in Cats?
Immediately after eating, all cats have a slight odour to their breath. This should disappear after a short while.
It’s a different matter if your cat’s breath is really strong and unpleasant – and this persists over a longer period. In that case, you should definitely investigate the cause of your cat’s bad breath and book an appointment with your vet.
Why Does my Cat’s Breath Smell so Bad? Cause: Tartar
If your cat’s breath is foul, it’s often due to the teeth or gums.
One of the most common causes of bad breath in cats is tartar – which you can spot as brownish-yellow deposits on the surface of the teeth.
Tartar might sound harmless at first, but these hard deposits can cause serious problems for your cat.
How Does Tartar Develop?
Through the combination of food remnants stuck between the teeth, saliva, and bacteria, a coating forms on the teeth. This coating, also known as plaque, is initially still soft.
But due to the minerals in your cat’s saliva, the plaque gradually hardens. This forms hard tartar, which in turn can lead to painful gum inflammation in your cat. As a result, the teeth themselves can also be damaged.
How Can you Get Rid of Bad Breath in Cats? Removing Tartar
To prevent gum inflammation, severe tartar should be regularly removed by your vet. However, your cat will need to be put under general anaesthetic for this.
Important to know: Just because your cat is eating normally doesn’t necessarily mean everything is fine. Most cats will still eat even if their mouth is sore. Cats are experts at hiding their pain.
Cause: Gum Inflammation (Gingivitis)
Gum inflammation, also known as gingivitis, can also be accompanied by bad breath in cats. Usually, the mucous membrane at the edge of the teeth is red and swollen. Bleeding gums is another possible symptom.
In addition to tartar, the following can also trigger gingivitis:
- Injuries from foreign objects, such as blades of grass
- Inflammation of the tooth-supporting structures (periodontitis)
- Infections caused by bacteria or viruses
- Tumours in the mouth
- Organ diseases (for example, kidney failure in cats)
What to Do if Your Cat’s Breath Smells? Treating Gum Inflammation
One part of the treatment is eliminating the cause of the inflammation: Foreign objects stuck in the gums, for example, are surgically removed, and infections are treated with the appropriate medication.
In addition, you can relieve discomfort in the mouth with painkillers for your cat, anti-inflammatory medication or special mouthwashes.
You’ll find detailed information about causes and treatment options in the article Gum inflammation (Gingivitis) in cats here in the zooplus Magazine.
Cause: Damaged Teeth
Broken teeth, cavities, or abscessed tooth roots often cause bad breath in cats. Not uncommonly, the dental disease FORL is responsible for damaged teeth. Experts estimate that around half of all cats are affected.
What Does FORL Mean?
FORL stands for “feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions”. Simply put, the teeth are decalcified from the inside out by the cat’s own cells, called odontoclasts and slowly dissolved.
The tricky thing about FORL: Because the teeth are attacked from the inside, the holes are usually not visible from the outside. However, your cat will still experience toothache.
Diagnosis and Treatment of FORL
In some cases, FORL is accompanied by gum inflammation. However, only an X-ray of the teeth under general anaesthetic can provide a definite diagnosis. The damaged teeth must then be extracted by the vet.
Preventing Dental Problems and Bad Breath in Cats
If your cat has FORL or is prone to tartar, regular check-ups with the vet are essential. But you can also do a lot yourself to care for your cat’s teeth.
If your cat tolerates tooth brushing, you can use a special toothbrush for cats. A good alternative is dental care snacks as well as dental care products that can be sprinkled over their food.
Does Wet Food Cause Bad Breath in Cats?
It’s possible that wet or very soft food is (partly) responsible for your cat’s bad breath. Here, special dental care dry food can help: It has especially large kibbles. Your cat can’t simply swallow these whole – they have to bite and chew them. This helps to rub off plaque and reduce tartar build-up.
You’ll find suitable dental care products for your cat in the zooplus shop:
Sometimes, the root cause of your cat’s bad breath isn’t in their mouth, but elsewhere in the body. Metabolic diseases, as well as conditions affecting the digestive tract, kidneys, or liver, can also cause bad breath in cats.
Diabetes
A sweet-smelling breath – similar to fruity vinegar – can indicate diabetes in cats. Other signs of diabetes include drinking more often, increased urination or significant weight loss.
Liver and Digestive Tract
Diseases of the digestive tract (for example, worms) are often accompanied by fishy-smelling breath in cats. This is also true for liver diseases.
Cats that don’t eat properly for a longer period are especially at risk of developing serious liver problems. There is a danger of acute fatty liver. The technical term for this is “hepatic lipidosis”.
Serious condition: Acute fatty liver is a medical emergency and must be treated by a vet immediately!
Kidney Problems Can Cause Bad Breath in Cats
If your cat’s breath smells of urine, a kidney disease could be the cause.
Older cats are particularly prone to what’s known as chronic kidney insufficiency (CKD). This is also referred to as chronic kidney disease (CKD). Experts believe that CKD is the most common cause of death in older cats.
What Should you Feed Cats with Kidney Problems?
Kidney insufficiency is not curable, but a special diet and suitable medication can help manage the condition.
Conclusion: Take Bad Breath in Cats Seriously
Bad breath in cats is often dismissed as a minor issue. After all, our feline friends don’t brush their own teeth, so bad breath might seem perfectly normal.
But foul-smelling breath is always a warning sign and should be checked by a vet: If it’s due to problems with the teeth or gums, it means your cat is very likely in a lot of pain.
You should also never ignore diabetes or diseases of the internal organs.
