Stinky Kitty Kisses

What Your Cat’s Bad Breath Could Be Telling You

Does your kitty like to kiss your face? Your chin?

The old wives tale says that when a cat rubs against you with her face – be it your leg, your face, your hand… you get the picture! – she is being affectionate. That’s super cute and sweet, but if she’s rubbing against your face and she has fishy kitty breath? Yuck.

Why do Cats Develop Bad Breath?

Sometimes our cats develop bad breath for the very same reason we might develop bad breath if we never cared for our teeth. A simple build-up of plaque and tartar on your kitty-friend’s teeth can act as a fantastic breeding ground for the bacteria that produce the volatile sulfur compounds responsible for bad breath.

Simply learning to brush your cat’s teeth two to three times each week could eliminate her bad breath. If you’re not that patient, or if you think your cat might not be game for a good tooth brushing, you may consider sprinkling oral care probiotics on her food once a day. These friendly bacteria help reestablish the bacterial balance in your cat’s mouth, crowding out the bacteria responsible for foul-smelling breath.

If your cat’s bad breath cannot be resolved by basic oral care, it could be a sign that something is wrong. If your cat has consistently bad breath, take her to the vet.

If you notice that your cat’s breath smells, look for signs of dental or gum disorders:

• Does your cat seem to be in pain?
• Has her appetite decrease, or does she seem to struggle eating?
• Is you cat unable to keep food in her mouth once she gets it there?
• Does she paw at her mouth?
• Has she begun drooling?

All of the above are symptoms of a dental disorder, which could include an abcessed or damaged tooth, gum disease or even the presence of a foreign object lodged between teeth.

Other Causes of Bad Breath in Kitties

There are also several other underlying conditions that cause feline bad breath that can only be successfully diagnosed by your veterinarian, including kidney disease, feline leukemia virus and feline stomatitis.