If a cat has bad breath, this can sometimes put the affection of its owner to the test. If your cat’s bad breath isn’t just limited to the smell of his cat food, it’s also possible that it has a more serious underlying cause. Below you can find out what health problems bad breath in cats can indicate and when you should take your four-legged friend’s smelly breath seriously.
Key facts at a glance
- If a cat has a slight bad breath, this is normal and nothing to worry about.
- Poor feed quality or dental problems are often responsible for bad breath.
- In some cases, bad breath in cats can be a symptom of a serious medical condition.
- The type of halitosis helps to identify possible diseases as the cause of bad breath.
- Quality dry food can help reduce plaque and bad breath in cats.
- In certain circumstances, it may be useful to brush your cat’s teeth regularly.
Bad breath in cats: possible causes
Bad breath can have many different causes in cats and can be both harmless and a cause for concern. Depending on the type of stench, it may therefore be advisable to take your cat to a veterinarian.
If your cat has bad breath, in most cases it is due to one of the following reasons:
- Inferior cat food
- problems with the teeth
- Bad breath as a symptom of illness
Bad breath from inferior food
Inferior cat food can not only harm the health of your four-legged friend, but also promote the development of bad breath. After all, your cat doesn’t brush its teeth every time it eats, which inevitably leaves food residue in its mouth and can affect your four-legged friend’s ability to breathe.
If your cat’s bad breath smells like food, that’s nothing to worry about. Nevertheless, switching to a higher quality food can make sense and significantly reduce both your cat’s bad breath and the risk of food intolerance and various other complaints.
Dental problems as a cause of bad breath in cats
Next to leftover food in the mouth, dental problems are the most common cause of bad breath in cats. Tartar is particularly widespread, which, in addition to bad breath, is noticeable through yellow to brownish discoloration of the teeth.
However, cats can also suffer from tooth decay and gingivitis. The possible consequences of such dental problems are not just limited to bad breath, but also include pain and an increased risk of infection.
We therefore recommend that you have your cat’s teeth checked regularly by a veterinarian. In this way, dental problems can be identified and treated at an early stage and possible bad breath can be avoided at the same time.
Diseases as a trigger for bad breath in cats
Unfortunately, the cause of a cat’s bad breath isn’t always harmless. Because bad breath is also one of the usual symptoms of some diseases.
Some of the diseases that can cause bad breath in cats include:
- gastrointestinal infections
- worm infestation
- gastritis
- liver diseases
- kidney problems
- diabetes
- tumors
The type of bad breath indicates the disease
Your cat’s bad breath can smell in many different ways. Depending on the type of bad breath, it is therefore relatively easy to infer the underlying cause or disease.
If your cat’s bad breath is fruity-sweet, for example, this is a sign that the four-legged friend could be suffering from diabetes. This is especially true if your cat also drinks and urinates a lot.
Fishy breath in cats, on the other hand, indicates liver disease or problems with the gastrointestinal tract, while the smell of urine on breath is often a sign of kidney problems, such as kidney failure.
Cats with bad breath can be a case for the vet
If you suspect that your cat’s bad breath is caused by an illness, a prompt visit to the veterinarian is essential. He can examine your four-legged friend and determine the necessary treatment measures.
After all, diseases such as diabetes or kidney failure are very serious and require permanent veterinary care and a consistent change in diet and can even be fatal if not treated professionally.
But even if your cat’s bad breath was caused by comparatively harmless causes such as dental problems or an infestation with worms, a visit to the veterinarian is of course advisable in order to take the necessary measures against the symptoms and, for example, to have a damaged tooth pulled.
Immediate measures against bad breath in cats
Aside from illness-related causes, there are a number of things you can do to prevent bad breath in your cat. Don’t just feed your house tiger wet food, but also dry food. The hard pieces help to regularly remove plaque and reduce the risk of dental problems.
In addition, cat grass is very suitable for eliminating bacteria present in the mouth and the associated bad breath in cats.
Special toothbrushes and toothpaste for cats are also available if needed. Especially if your four-legged friend is only a house cat and dry food is not well accepted, daily brushing of teeth can be helpful to prevent dental problems and thus bad breath in your cat.