What Causes Bad Breath in Cats?

We don’t expect our feline friends to have minty fresh breath at all times, but when things become particularly fragrant, it could be time to act. Bad breath in cats isn’t just unpleasant for their owners, it could be a sign of deeper health issues at play. To help you understand why your kitty might have bad breath, what this could mean for their health, and what you can do about it, we’ve put together this handy guide. Below, we run through some important information about the symptoms, causes, and remedies of bad breath in cats.

How to Detect Problem Cat Breath

Often, bad breath is more of an inconvenience than a health issue. If your cat’s breath smells a little wiffy after they’ve consumed a strong smelling food, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

Although dogs are better known for snacking where they shouldn’t, cats can do this too. If you notice the cat breath smells like rotten meat, it could be something your feline has eaten.

However, if you notice one of the following odors in your cat’s breath, this could be the sign of an underlying health issue:

• A Sweet Smell – If your cat’s breath smells sweet or fruity, this should be an early indicator of diabetes
• An Ammonia Smell – Ammonia is a chemical usually found in urine, giving the fluid its distinctive ‘sharp’ smell. If your cat’s breath smells of ammonia, this could be a symptom of kidney issues
• A Bile-like Smell – If your cat’s breath smells like bile, or vomit, this could be a sign that they’re experiencing liver problems
• General Bad Breath – Should you notice that distinctive ‘morning breath’ smell that humans often experience, this could be a sign that your cat is developing gum disease

Bad breath in cats, or feline halitosis, is often accompanied by other symptoms. If you notice one of the following symptoms in conjunction with their bad breath, it’s probably time to take your cat to the vet’s:

• Aggression or irritability
• Lethargy and depression
• Bleeding gums
• Appetite loss
• Diarrhea or vomiting
• Urinating more frequently than usual
• Lumps or swelling in the mouth
• Excessive thirst
• Weight loss
• Poor coat condition

Causes and Treatment

If your cat develops bad breath, it could be the result of multiple health conditions. Below we run through the most common causes, how to spot them, and how veterinarians usually tackle them.

Periodontal Disease

More commonly referred to as Gym Disease, this condition is the single biggest cause of bad breath in cats. Gum Disease occurs when dental plaque builds up around your cat’s teeth and gums, triggering an infection in the mouth. The bacteria which cause this infection produce that classic ‘bad breath’ smell.

Left unchecked, Gum Disease can lead to bleeding gums and tooth loss. The condition can also be very painful for your feline friend. Besides bad breath, symptoms include:

• Excessive drooling
• Nasal discharge
• Swollen face
• Pawing at mouth
• Red gums
• Difficulty chewing

Feline Gum Disease is treated with professional teeth cleaning. This is usually performed at the vet’s office under general anaesthetic. During cleaning, your vet will check for, and possibly remove, any diseased teeth.

Lymphocytic Plasmacytic Stomatitis

This condition is associated with a few underlying causes: feline leukemia, immunodeficiency virus, or calicivirus. It’s a type of infection that causes cats’ gums to swell, taking on the appearance of raw hamburger meat. Other symptoms include:

• Cat bad breath and sneezing
• Painful gums
• Bleeding gums
• Difficulty eating and associated loss of appetite
• Runny nose
• Tongue ulcers
• Eye discharge

Feline Lymphocytic Plasmacytic Stomatitis is usually treated through a combination of teeth cleaning and antibiotics. Some diseased teeth may also need to be removed.

Oral Cancers

Sadly, foul breath can also be a sign of oral cancers in cats. Tumors can easily become infected, triggering the unpleasant smell. Other symptoms of the disease include:

• Bloody nose
• Weight loss
• Swollen face
• Drooling
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of teeth

When possible, treatment involves surgically removing the tumor from your cat’s mouth, but this is not always possible. Other treatments include radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the prognosis for oral cancer in cats is often poor. This is because symptoms don’t often emerge until the tumor is fairly large. In some cases, palliative care may be the best option for your cat.

Kidney Disease

Kidney Disease is a common condition among older cats, and be triggered by a variety of factors, including tumors, infections, poisoning, and cysts. Whatever the cause, the disease prevents kidneys from properly carrying out their usual roles: filtering the blood, producing certain hormones, and maintaining healthy blood pressure. Symptoms of Kidney Disease in cats include:

• Bad breath, smelling of ammonia
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy or depression
• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Vomiting

Kidney Disease is usually detected through blood tests. Although it can’t be cured entirely, it can be managed through diet, supplements, and sometimes drugs to address specific symptoms. Most Kidney Disease diets feature restricted protein, and low phosphate. With proper management, cats suffering from Kidney Disease can survive, with a good quality of life, for quite some time.

Related Post: Cat Food for Kidney Disease 

Diabetes

Diabetes affects between 0.5% and 2% of all cats – possibly more, since the condition is under diagnosed. Diabetes affects the body’s production of the hormone insulin, which is produced in the pancreas and involved in regulating blood sugar levels. Cats with diabetes will exhibit the following symptoms:

• Excessive thirst
• More frequent than usual urination
• Weight loss
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Sweet, or fruity-smelling breath

Feline diabetes is usually detected by urine test. The condition can’t be cured outright, but it can be managed with a carefully regulated diet and insulin injections. Generally, middle aged and older cats are the most at risk of diabetes.

Liver Disease

As the name suggests, Liver Disease interferes with the liver’s ability to function as it should. Your cat’s liver is responsible for filtering out toxic substances from the blood, digesting certain nutrients, and storing some vitamins and minerals. Liver Disease symptoms include:

• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Pale gums
• Jaundice (yellowing skin and eyes)
• Excessive thirst
• Blood in the urine or stool
• Depression
• Lethargy
• Dark colored urine
• Excessive drooling

Liver Disease is often triggered by excess fat, so overweight cats are at increased risk. It’s usually diagnosed through biopsy, urine analysis, blood work, and sometimes X-rays or ultrasound scans. Treatment depends upon the underlying cause of the disease, but is likely to involve dietary control and B-vitamins. Cats diagnosed with Liver Disease can often make a full recovery. Head over to our review of the best cat vitamins for more choices.

Foreign Objects

Cats can be notorious for chewing and ingesting items that aren’t meant to be chewed or ingested. Sometimes, foreign objects such as rubber bands, or chunks of plastic can become stuck in your cat’s mouth. The object provides a great surface for plaque and bacteria to flourish, triggering very bad breath.

Luckily, this common issue is easy to resolve. If your cat is used to having their teeth brushed, you may be able to remove the foreign object yourself with a good cleaning. If not, your vet may need to perform a deep clean.

Diet

Sometimes, bad breath is just bad breath – caused by a smelly diet. Diets high in fish or liver tend to trigger this type of bad breath. This issue can usually be resolved by helping your cat to maintain good oral hygiene, and switching their diet. Take a look at our reviews of dry cat food and wet cat food for more info.

Preventing Bad Breath in Cats

As we’ve seen, bad breath can be the result of a range of health issues, some of which can be prevented by maintaining good oral hygiene.

You can help your cat to maintain a healthy mouth, busting bad breath in the process, in a few different ways:

• Dental food and treats

Many pet food companies produce what’s called a ‘dental diet’. These diets feature kibbles that have been specially designed to mechanically scrape away plaque and tartar. This prevents infections from developing, and keeps your cat’s breath fresh.

This type of food also contains a selection of nutrients that further tackle plaque and tartar. For instance, sodium tripolyphosphate binds to calcium in the mouth, stopping it from forming tartar. You can also purchase dental chews with a similar effect.

• Brushing their teeth

It might sound challenging, but many cats will allow you to brush their teeth given proper training:

• Purchase a toothbrush and toothpaste designed specifically for cats. Avoid using human toothpaste, since it contains chemicals that can damage your cat’s immune system.
• Build up gradually. At first, get your cat comfortable with you raising their lips to reveal the teeth. Next, introduce them to the toothbrush and toothpaste. Allow them to lick some paste from your finger, and allow them to interact with the toothbrush. Find out more about cat toothbrushes and cat toothpaste here.
• When your cat is comfortable with the idea of fingers near their mouth, you can try brushing their teeth. At first, it may be a good idea to wrap your cat in a blanket or towel, to sooth them and prevent any scratching.
• Apply the toothpaste to the brush, and work the bristles gently along the hum line, angled slightly up.
• Use the opportunity to check for any problems, such as red, swollen gums, loose teeth, or tartar buildup.
• Reward your cat with praise and treats for having their teeth brushed, forging a positive association.
• Brush your cat’s teeth as regularly as possible – ideally every week.