Causes of bad cat breath and how to get rid of it

Cat bad breath is considered one of the common problems that cat owners may face in their daily lives, because it negatively affects the relationship between the cat and its owner, as well as people who deal with cats regularly, knowing that the bad smell of cat mouth occurs as a result of several common reasons that should Take this into consideration and we will highlight it in the following lines.
Knowing that one of the main causes of bad breath in a cat is the accumulation of plaque and deposits on the teeth, and these deposits are caused by food residue and bacteria that grow in the mouth, which leads to an unpleasant odor.

Causes of bad breath in cats

There are several health factors that may affect the smell of cats’ mouths and cause unpleasant odors, and these reasons can be mentioned as follows:

Gum and tooth diseases

Your cat's bad breath appears due to the accumulation of plaque, which is a filmy mixture of bacteria and food remains, and gum ulcers occur as a result of tooth decay and the accumulation of food particles between the teeth.

Kidney disease

Your cat's breath smells similar to the smell of urine, acetone, or ammonia. This indicates that your cat suffers from kidney disease. As a result of an increase in the level of ketones in the blood, with the appearance of some symptoms such as extreme thirst, loss of appetite and urination.

diabetes

If your cat suffers from diabetes, her breath will smell like fermented fruit; Due to the accumulation of sugar in the bloodstream, in addition to the appearance of some other signs such as weight loss, frequent urination, and extreme thirst.

Liver disorders

Bad breath in cats is accompanied by liver disorders, flatulence, loss of appetite, and yellowing of the eyes or gums.

Stomach obstruction

Eating leg bones and solid materials causes the accumulation of bacteria and the appearance of bad breath, and may also cause poisoning in the cat, because these materials are indigestible and difficult to swallow.

Respiratory tract infection

Your cat will develop an unpleasant breath if it is infected with the calicivirus. Which causes abscesses, pus, and accumulation of bacteria, and is also accompanied by unpleasant medical complications such as high temperature, loss of appetite, and thus dehydration of the body.
Wounds and skin infections around the mouth area
Your cat may be exposed to severe knocks on hard surfaces while playing, which may result in injuries or skin bleeding and the accumulation of clots, which is a suitable environment for the growth of bacteria and fungi that cause bad breath in cats.
Some other reasons that result in bad breath in cats, including the following:
Eating waste and some types of food that cause bad breath.
Ingestion of some toxic chemicals, and these cases require a doctor’s intervention to prevent the cat’s death.
Inability to chew well, and thus food accumulates between the teeth, resulting in bad cat breath.
Intestinal worms, esophageal reflux or enlargement, or the presence of abscesses or ulcers inside the mouth.
Cats that eat dry food may be more susceptible to plaque formation that causes bad breath, unlike cats that eat wet food.

Treating bad breath for cats

Bad breath in cats is treated according to its main cause, and this can be explained as follows:
Treatment of dental diseases
Some diseases affect the teeth, such as the accumulation of plaque and tartar, and gum diseases and infections. Here, you must seek the help of a private pet clinic or a veterinarian who will help you brush the teeth and remove excess tartar using modern devices, and use antiseptics and mouthwashes with beautiful scents.
Treatment of mouth ulcers
If your cat suffers from mouth ulcers, you must clean the place where blood and bacteria accumulate by using cotton swabs and antiseptics, in addition to anti-inflammatories and antibiotics, in order to help the immune system protect the affected area and prevent the infection from recurring again.
Treatment of internal diseases
If the medical tests that your veterinarian advises you to perform prove that your cat is suffering from some internal diseases, then treatment must begin to prevent the problem from getting worse and the appearance of bad cat breath.
Treating diabetes
Make sure to control blood sugar levels by using insulin for cats that suffer from high blood sugar levels.
Treating kidney disease
Here, it is preferable to introduce some food items or ingredients that contain phosphorus, while making sure to provide sufficient amounts of water.
Tips to prevent bad breath in cats
There are several tips that you should follow to prevent bad breath in cats, by following the following:
Continue wiping the outside of the teeth and gums using cotton swabs twice a day. We advise you to dip the cotton swabs in tuna water to help you clean so that the cat does not refrain from cleaning.
You must use products designed to support dental health and hygiene, so that tartar and deposits do not form, and thus the bad odor appears in your cat’s mouth.
Giving your cat some diets that maintain oral and dental health, preferably with the advice of a veterinarian.
Be sure to use food products and vitamins that contain zinc to prevent bad breath and avoid bacterial growth.
Extracting teeth that have decay, in order to replace them so that they become stronger and healthier to avoid the appearance of bacteria and unpleasant odors.
Thus, we have learned about the causes of bad cat breath, how to get rid of it, and what preventive measures you can follow to prevent the appearance of this problem, by using the veterinarian’s instructions to ensure that there are no health problems while paying attention to the health of your cat’s mouth.