why does my cat have such bad breath?

Answer 1

"My cat's breath smells like cat food!"




Sorry, couldn't help it.....
Could be in need of a dental cleaning, and also remember that it is eating a carnivorous diet, which tends to smell a bit.

Answer 2

If you have exhausted all other explainations, i.e. gotten a food without fillers and made sure the cat has access to plenty of water...I would have it checked by the vet. The number one red flag for feline diabeties is bad breath.
As far as cleaning the teeth... if the cat has an gum infection, which is easy to spot if it has started to smell, then that could be it. If not, then don't worry about the teeth so much. Bad breath in humans and cats is different. Cats breath won't stink because of a non brushed mouth. Breath smells are usually associated with something internal. As far as tooth cleaning - the vet has to put your cat under to do it which is way more harmful than a lil tartar in old age. Make sure your cat gets crunchy food to chip tartar off teeth and get tartar cleaner that you can put in their water.(the one I use is Susies) I had an 11 yr old Rottie with teeth that the vet said looked like 3 yr old teeth because of that. My two cats are currently 11 yrs old and have never had teeth cleaned and their teeth are very healthy.

But to point blank answer your question, if your cat has bad breath that won't go away in a couple days... I would have the vet check it out for diabeties.

Answer 3

I'm thinking that your cat may have plaque and tartar build-up. Bacteria thrive in situations like that giving bad breath. My cat had the same problem before I finally took him to the vet for a much needed teeth cleaning. Don't leave it too long because tartar can cause periodontal disease by which your cat will REALLY have mouth issues needing tooth extractions and the like (periodontal disease is very painful - think of a toothache 24-7!). This was what happened to my cat and he had to have 4 of his teeth extracted. Cost me $600. I wish I knew then what I know now. But if you take your cat to have his teeth cleaned, the average cost is $120 - $200. Then you have to establish a regular brushing cat's teeth routine. Buy cat toothpaste at vets (never use human toothpaste). At any rate, DO NOT IGNORE bad breath in your cat. If it is not his teeth, could be stomach or intestinal issues. So, best move for you, fellow cat-lover, is schedule vet appointment. :) Hope this helps.

Answer 4

How old is your cat? When mine was between 6-9 mo. old, he started losing some of his "kitten" teeth. His breath was pretty bad at this point in his life! Try giving him some crunchy cat treats (these will help clean his teeth) or start brushing once a week.

If loose teeth aren't the cause, then it is very possible that he has an infection- either gum or tooth. Carefully inspect his mouth yourself before taking him to the vet. If it is an infection, a vet will have to use sedatives to clean and treat his mouth.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Aside from the fact that cats breath isn't that great to begin with, if you believe your cat has exceptionally bad breath, you should probably pay a visit to your vet. There are several things that may cause your cat to have bad breath, most of which would require treatment with an antibiotic. Don't forget, just as we humans need a dentist, cats have problems with their mouth/teeth also.

Answer 6

When my cat developed really raunchy breath... she was in need of a dental. In fact, she had a couple teeth that had to be extracted. If the breath smells like anything other than cat food... I'd make sure to get her teeth checked/cleaned by a vet.

Secondly, if you feed a really good cat food (and feed dry only), like Wellness, Felidae, etc... (byproduct free, human grade, no nasty chemicals or chemically derived nutrients, corn free, etc) they're teeth stay in a lot better shape. Diets high in canned food and human food tends to make teeth deteriorate faster (the hard kibbles of dry cat food keep their teeth cleaner). High quality foods are easier to digest and are a lot more nutritive. Healthy cat = healthy teeth & gums, and healthy teeth & gums = no more bad breath. :)

Answer 7

well....there a at least 4hings you can consider.

1.food,for example a piece of meat..got stucked between her teeth (that happend to my cat *lol* &my vet found it)
2.the cat really needs a teeth cleaning (that should be done every few years anyways if she got bad teeth)
3.at least 1tooth is bad (maybe a piece broke off,then it gets bad too! or she got an effection on on of the roots)

and the last one
4.she got a liver problem...maybe sounds funny but it really isnt...the cats smell really wierd out of their mouth... that can live-threatening so really check that out.
(this i know cuz i used to help out by a vet for a few weeks and there was one cat showing the same sympthoms)

hope i could help

Answer 8

because of what you feed it! my cats dont have bad breath! try and change the food and see if it's bad breath goes away! or try giving them the treats that are good for there teeth!

Answer 9

make sure you are feeding quality petfood, that doesnt have fillers like corn. stay away from cheap stuff esp meow mix. solid gold, nutro, organix are all good (at petco)
also, all pets need their teeth professionally cleaned at the vet. it is expensive at least $100 but they should get it done every year. it could add years to their life, not to mention alleviate pain from absess teeth,

Answer 10

Your cat may have an infected tooth so its probably time to get it to the vet.