What is Bad Breath?
Bad breath (halitosis) is only a real problem if it is associated with underlying pathology. Of course, your cat’s breath is most likely to smell like the food that it just ate. Some experts suggest that soft or canned foods might lead to worse breath; dry food can cleanse your cat's teeth. The following smells might signify internal problems - ammonia, citrus or sickeningly sweet feline breath.
Feline halitosis (bad breath in cats) could be caused by food, periodontal disease, a foreign body, infections or something more serious, like diabetes or liver cancer. Chronic cat's bad breath could be due to a serious internal disease.
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Symptoms of Bad Breath in Cats
Your family pet might like to rub noses with you or the kids, giving you a great chance to get a whiff of its breath. When a foul-smelling odor startles you, then your cat might have a significant problem. Here are the symptoms that may accompany bad breath in cats:
- Aggressiveness
- Appetite loss
- Bleeding gums
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Drooling
- Excessive urination
- Irritability
- Lethargy
- Mouth dysfunction
- Oral cavity lump
- Pain
- Pawing at their mouth
- Poor coat condition due to reduced grooming
- Putrid odor
- Reclusiveness
- Swelling of the submandibular lymph nodes or of the face itself
- Thirst
- Vomiting
- Weight Loss
- Yellow, red or runny eyes
Of course, the difficulty with bad breath is that it also might be a symptom of other maladies. Is your cat more aggressive, irritable or reclusive with its bad breath? Does your cat start to eat, then jump back? This could be due to a painful tooth infection.
Does your cat have difficulties opening or closing its mouth? Mouth dysfunction could be a sign of a more serious ailment.
Causes of Bad Breath in Cats
Kitty halitosis can be caused by something as simple as smelly food or something as complicated as liver cancer. It could be a foreign body that has lodged between the tooth, such as food or a bit of bone or wood.
Bloody gums and bad breath can occur due to stomatitis or periodontal disease.
Plaque or tartar can lead to bacterial buildup over time. Tiny polyps, local infections and gingivitis might develop.
Gastric acid reflux also stinks.
Your baby cat might be teething. Normally, cats have baby teeth fall out between 3 and 6 months.
Somewhat minor ailments causing bad breath could include endocarditis (inner heart tissue layer infection), esophageal tube enlargement, gingivitis, pharyngitis (inflammation of throat), rhinitis, sepsis (bacterial colonization of blood), sinusitis, stomatitis and tonsillitis (inflammation of tonsils). Coprophagia (eating of feces) could also be the cause.
Serious maladies leading to bad breath could include the following: Bartonella henselae, diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), gastrointestinal upset, immunodeficiency virus renal failure, kidney, liver etc.
Diagnosis of Bad Breath in Cats
Veterinarians may conduct blood tests and urinalysis to help determine the cause of the halitosis. These might include more specific FeLV or FIV tests. Ultrasound and X-rays display your cat's internal bone structure and it is typically an x-ray that is taken when we examine the mouth.
The veterinarian is likely to complete a physical examination of your cat's tongue, lips, gums, roof and back of the mouth. The vet might need to sedate your pet. The dental vet will also exam tooth mobility and gingival attachement, while your cat is under a general anesthetic.
Treatment of Bad Breath in Cats
Vets will search for any foreign bodies, injuries or infections.
Minor gingivitis may respond well to daily brushing with cat toothpaste. While you might want to simply give your cat human toothpaste, this is not advisable, because this is not meant to be swallowed. Also, cats don't like to have their mouths pried open forcibly.
Professional scaling and polishing of your cat's teeth, gums, and mouth, is advised when needed. Veterinarians might offer same-day blood work and as well as blood pressure monitoring and intravenous fluid therapy during the procedure, to minimise risk. If severe oral disease is at fault, then tooth extraction may be necessary.
Corticosteroids and other antibiotics are used to treat stomatitis. Cancer treatment would require surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.
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Recovery of Bad Breath in Cats
Of course, the recovery time for your cat will vary dramatically depending on the cause. If the feline halitosis is only due to something stuck under the gums, then your cat should enjoy a full and immediate recovery. On the other hand, liver cancer and others serious diseases could be life-threatening.
After a complete professional dental cleaning, your cat may be required to stay in the hospital for recuperation. Multiple tooth extractions could require assisted feeding, iv fluids, pain medications, and oral antibiotics. The veterinarian will discuss what the owner can do to prevent the cat halitosis from recurring.
Bad Breath Average Cost
From 575 quotes ranging from $400 - $1,200
Average Cost
$850
Top
Bad Breath Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
balinese
Two Years
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Symptoms: Smelly breath, redness in gums, plaque, What’s the cause of this and how should I treat it? Brushing his teeth only cause gums to bleed
Feb. 14, 2021
Answered by Dr. Sara O. DVM
2 Recommendations
This is caused by tartar build up and bacteria. Your vet can clean your dogs teeth just like people get done. This will help this go away.
Feb. 15, 2021
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european tuxedo
Twelve Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
(Sickly) Strong Fruity Breath
Cat eats, drinks, poops, pees normal, seems his normal active self, is not losing or gaining weight. Doesn't puke.
Yet his breath is very strong and sickly sweet. I looked into his mouth (he doesn't mind) and didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
One BIG problem: he gets a super panic attack when he has to go outside/to the vet, so we always have vets coming to the house, which because of COVID is not really an option at the moment.
Sept. 24, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I apologize for the delay, this venue is not set up for urgent emails.
Unfortunately, without being able to examine your cat, it is difficult to say what might be causing the smell that you are describing. If they are still having problems, It would be best to have your pet seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine them, see what might be going on, and get any testing or treatment taken care of that might be needed.
Oct. 23, 2020
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Indian pariah
1 month
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Bad Breath
My kitten has had a bad for over a day now. Smells foul
Sept. 24, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I apologize for the delay, this venue is not set up for urgent emails.
I hope that your pet is feeling better. If they are still having problems, It would be best to have your pet seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine them, see what might be going on, and get any testing or treatment taken care of that might be needed.
Oct. 23, 2020
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Uncertain
Harvey
5 Years
14 found this helpful
14 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Drooling
Poor Hygiene
Putrid Smell
I have a younger cat who we rescued and after having him for over 3 years his breath has progressively worsened. It has a fishy rancid smell as if there is infection or death. He frequently drools and does not clean himself very well if at all. Our other cat eats the same diet and cleans himself very well and has wonderful breath.
Sept. 7, 2018
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Maine Coon
Greyson
9 Months
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Aggressiveness,
Aggressiveness, Bad Breath
Aggressiveness, Bad Breath, Knots
my 9 month old female cat has a couple of knots on her throat and horrible breath. She is aggressive most of the time. She bites a lot. I had her shots and she is fixed. I asked the dr. to look at her then and he said it was her teeth it would go away. When we had her fixed she was 3 months old. Its only gotten worse. She also had a hernia that was fixed at the same time I had her spade. Please help me. I love her so much. I don't have the money to keep taking her back to the dr but I will if I have too. I just don't want it to be cancer.
Feb. 11, 2018
1 Recommendations
Without examining Greyson I cannot say what the masses around the throat are or which structures they originate from; lymph nodes, salivary glands and other structures are in the throat which may cause a variety of different issues. If her breath is smelling bad and there are masses around the throat, I would recommend you visit another Veterinarian for a second opinion. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Feb. 11, 2018
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American Short Hair
Laoghiare
4 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Stinky Breath, Diarrhea
Adopted a 3 mo. kitten from the Humane Society almost three weeks ago. She was having very liquid diarrhea when I first got her so I tried adding a little Miralax to her food. It improved a little. Then added a feline approved probiotic once a day. I was curled up to her on the couch and noticed when she yawned that her breath is very stinky and its been over an hour or so since she's eaten. It almost smells like rotten cabbage to me. Any ideas folks? I'll have to wait until Monday to have her seen. And she hasn't seemed to grow very much since I've had her. Used to being able to notice growth in kittens this age.
Snow shoe
Tillie
10 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Bad Breath
My cat just started to have Poopie bad breath. I also noticed that the fur at the base of her tail isn't as clean and her fur looks oily and it almost looks like she has dandruff. It also seems to be sore in some spots. She doesn't have any other symptoms other than the bad breath and poor cleaning near the base of her tail. She is chunky so could it be that she can't reach that area? I'm concerned and love my Tillie, but I want the bad breath gone and as far as her tail, I brush her and try and clean it for her. Any advice would be appreciated and very helpful!
domestic short-haired
Molly
10 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Losing Weight
Oily Coat
Very Bad Breath
My 10yo cat has started having extremely bad breath, seems to be losing weight, and her fur has changed to kind of oily. I don’t really have the money to take her to the vet right now but I love my cat and will do whatever I have to for her. I read a post on here that someone was giving their cat soft food and lysine. I have lysine leftover from another cat and it’s still within the use by date. I guess I could try giving her them for a couple days or so to see if it helps.
Bad Breath Average Cost
From 575 quotes ranging from $400 - $1,200
Average Cost
$850
Get a free pet insurance quote in less than 60 seconds!
Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
