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Go nose-to-nose with your sleeping cat and give them a loving sniff. If it’s not sweet kitty breath that you know and love, but a stench that makes you wince, something may not be right. A healthy cat’s breath should not be offensive.Many Different Causes
Bad breath, in fact, may indicate conditions from periodontal, kidney, respiratory or liver disease to diabetes, skin disease (involving tissue around the lips) or oral trauma. By far, the most common problem associated with bad breath is periodontal disease. Just think how your breath would smell if you didn’t brush your teeth for a week, months or even years.
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Without good dental care, this preventable disease is likely to cause pain, tooth loss, and infection that, in some cases, can spread to other organs. Without tooth brushing, a film called plaque adheres to the teeth. Over time, this film thickens and hardens, attracting even more plaque. The gums will swell with gingivitis, eventually leading to tissue and bone loss. Early stages of periodontal disease can be remedied with professional teeth cleaning, which would give your cat a fresh start, but plaque will build up again within days.To prevent most cases of bad breath, brush your cat’s teeth – ideally, every day – using tooth gel for felines. Link the brushing to a treat, such as drinking water from a dripping faucet or a favorite canned food. Just before the treat, you can apply a tiny amount of the gel onto a finger and gently apply it to the cat’s teeth.
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Most cats will forgive your foolish human behavior to savor their desired food or beverage. Repeat this procedure every day for the first week to establish the new routine. Then, apply the gel a little further back in the mouth, but still without stressing the cat. Once the cat is tolerant of the gel on the finger prior to receiving the cherished item, try the same routine with the gel on the brush rather than the finger. Because cats hate having their mouths forcefully opened, simply stretch back the lips without opening the mouth. Don’t bother the tongue side of the teeth or focus too much on the motion. You simply want to disrupt the plaque buildup at the margin between the tooth and the gumline. The younger your cat, the easier it will be to brush the teeth. Never use toothpaste for humans because some of its components can upset a cat’s stomach. And never force the issue; it’s not worth putting yourself at risk.Not all cases of bad breath indicate a health problem. Food smells that are repulsive to you – but gusty to your cat – can be harmless. Your cat’s breath may be pretty pungent after chowing down some smoked oysters or canned tuna. Nevertheless, consistent bad breath should be checked by a veterinarian. Your cat may need a professional tooth cleaning, an antibiotic to clear up an infection, or other medication for a serious disorder that could jeopardize your cat’s health, such as kidney or liver disease. Dental diets and tarter control treats are available for cats to assist in preventing the buildup of tarter.