Is a cats mouth cleaner than a dogs?

Answer 1

Hi there...neither are cleaner than other because both lick themselves "everywhere". Some say dogs can be at times dirtier because some will eat their own feces--most sniff it when they go outside and step in old excrement then lick/wash their feet off. Outdoor cats are then no different whereas the indoor cats may be a little cleaner avoiding the outdoor issues.

Excerpt from UC Davis Microbiology:
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2000-01/947443283.Mi.r.html

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Because most people don't have the means to work with microorganisms as I do, they judge mouth cleanliness by whiteness of teeth, and breath that doesn't smell bad. Dog and cat breath is seldom as nice as the breath of people who have just brushed their teeth, even though some owners do brush their dogs' and cats' teeth. Breath smells have something to do with what dogs, cats, and people eat — other than foods like garlic and onions, people's food probably causes less bad breath than raw meat, which is what dogs and cats evolved to eat. Of course, most of what owned (that is, not stray) dogs and cats eat these days is not raw meat, but my cat of many years ago really wasn't interested in anything else. Dogs and cats probably don't find people's breath pleasant, either. All the same, if your friend tells you that you have "dog breath," you know this is not meant as a compliment.

So, what about bacteria and other microorganisms? Saliva, and whatever other juices may be in the mouth, can contain and transmit bacteria, viruses, and parasites, in about that order of probability. However, the majority of bacteria that live in the mouth are harmless, except that some of them cause tooth decay. A few kinds of bacteria that are sometimes there can cause illness and may be transmitted by licking, kissing, etc. Even when we are sick (maybe with strep throat, which is really serious), these bacteria probably don't outnumber the harmless mouth bacteria, but it doesn't take a lot of them to infect someone else and transmit the disease. So, the concern is not about total numbers of bacteria, but whether any of them are harmful; the answer to this often changes from day to day.

Viruses and parasites tend to be especially species-specific. For example, most viruses that infect people won't infect dogs or cats, and most of their viruses won't infect people. There are a very few parasites of dogs, and especially cats, that can infect people, but these are generally not in the animal's mouth. Even many bacteria have strong preferences for host species. If your dog kisses you when you have strep throat, it is not likely to get strep, but your mom might get it from you by a kiss on the mouth.

So you see, the only way to look at the cleanliness question is, "What is the likelihood of passing a disease from a dog, cat, or another human to me?" Two hours after I've eaten, my mouth may be really loaded with bacteria; but these bacteria are just enjoying my dessert and can't harm anyone, including a dog or cat. On the other hand, if my cat had been out on patrol 2 hours earlier and had maybe sampled a sick bird or mouse that it caught, it might have Salmonella or something else dangerous that I could catch. Cats don't lick and kiss people as much as dogs do, and dogs are generally less interested in small, sick animals than cats are. Dogs and cats that don't get outdoors are less of a threat in this way, but they don't have as much fun, either. Finally, dogs and cats generally don't greet each other mouth-to-mouth as people often do, but I'm not sure their style is really any cleaner than ours.

Answer 2

I really don't think one is cleaner than the other, but some cats carry loads of bacteria that can transmit to humans through bites and scratches. Of course, dog bites can do this, as well, but you don't hear of "dog scratch fever"....not all cats have this, though. So I'd say they're about even as far as cleanliness.

And despite what some people may tell you, it's been proven that a dog's mouth isn't cleaner than a human's. Dogs simply have loads more bacteria than we do in order to kill the things they regularly lick (like their own butts).

Answer 3

Dogs mouths are the cleanest by far. Their saliva even has antiseptic properties. Humans mouths are probably the worst; we have a lot of bacteria in our mouths. I'd guess cats mouths are somewhere in the middle. I think that would be an interesting project because most people would be surprised to know that dogs mouths are cleaner than humans.

Answer 4

Nobody has mentioned the fact that many cat's mouths naturally contain a bacteria called Pasteurella. If you are bitten by a cat, the sharp teeth may inoculate you ('inject' the bacteria deep into your skin). If you are ever bitten by a cat, seek medical attention and they will automatically put you on antibiotics. If you don't go, you may watch a red line run from the bite up your arm or wherever you are bitten, which indicates septicemia, or bacteria in your bloodstream. It can be a very bad situation if untreated. Dogs actually can carry this bacteria too, but since it is anaerobic (lives without oxygen) a cat bite is more likely to spread the bacteria to you because of the almost needle-like teeth which push the Pasteurella deep into your flesh.
So, in my opinion, a cat's mouth is definitely not cleaner than a dog's, from that standpoint. But let's face it, no creature's mouth, including a human's, is very clean from a microbiological point of view!

Answer 5

Hang on and I will check.
Well, first impressions, the dog's mouth tastes like, well dog mouth, with some little hairs from the tennis ball, and a little like metal or some sort of metalic object, maybe his steel water bowl.

And the cat, well the cat's mouth does not taste any cleaner, but I get a hint of fish, maybe some sort of grass or other greens, and an after taste of cat butt.

I really can't tell just from tasting, but if I were to guess, I would go with the dog, because I just watched my cat lick his balls.

Answer 6

They say that dogs mouth are cleaner cause of thier touges or slaiva , but cat's are cleaner in a way , cause they always clean their selfs.

Answer 7

A cats mouth is much worse than a dogs. Not because of what they lick or what they eat its just the natural thing. A cat bite is much much worse than a dog bite. Same goes for a cat scratch. Very bad. Must be cleaned initally very well and then continually cleaned until healed just because of all the bad stuff in cat's mouths and on their claws.

Answer 8

I've heard "No".
The Dog people said that Dogs produce special Saliva,.. blah blah blah ...
... But the truth is that's only effective to the dog.

But I've heard a longer list and better list for cats and that they can kill and prevent certain things on you. Unfortunately, this is bad for people with Allergies to Cats.

Then more truth,... Dogs go nuts eatting things that are toxic, poisonious, people are highly allergic to, and that even the dog has a bad allergic reaction to but it enjoys eatting it anyways.

Outdoor cats do eat critters, but the dogs do that too so it's a balance.

So FOR THE DOG it's mouth is cleaner for it's self because it produces things in it' mouth that are only good for it's self.

FOR A HUMAN,.. A cat mouth might be cleaner.

... both can be bad for a human still.

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ADDED: So I must have enraged both the Cat and Dog owners. If you guys don't want to think your dogs are eatting criiters outside, then don't read this topic and it's Answers. Indoor pets are cleaner then out door,.. if you want things to really be better.. keep your pets indoor only (which tends to be imposible for most dog owners to do for the owners reasons).

Answer 9

When I had cats, no more, she would bring mice to the door. Wait for me to leave to school. She would put the critter in her mouth, and in succesive motions swallow the damn thing whole.

So what do you think...

Oh, btw, my cat was an outside cat...

Answer 10

a cats mouth is probly just as clean as a dogs mouth