Bad breath in cats, or halitosis, is a common problem that can sometimes worry owners. If the smell from your feline's mouth seems particularly unpleasant, you shouldn't ignore this sign. While some causes are benign, such as a specific diet, others may signal more serious problems with your pet's oral health. Lore & Science tells you all about bad breath in cats.
Why does my cat have bad breath? Understanding the causes
Plaque and tartar build-up
The main cause of bad breath in cats is often linked to theaccumulation of dental plaque and tartar. Plaque is a thin, sticky film that forms on your cat's teeth after every meal. It's made up of food debris, saliva and bacteria. If not regularly removed, this plaque hardens into tartar, a yellowish or brown calcified substance that builds up on tooth enamel. Untreatedtartar build-up can lead to persistent bad breath, as it encourages the growth of bacteria that produce volatile sulfur compounds, responsible for the unpleasant odor.
Dental disease: an underlying risk
Dental disease is another frequent cause of bad breath in cats. Among these, periodontitis is one of the most common and serious. This is an inflammation of the tissues supporting the teeth, often resulting from untreated gingivitis. Periodontitis can lead to tooth loss and severe pain.
Stomatitis, a generalized inflammation of the mouth, is another condition that can cause severe bad breath. It is often accompanied by severe pain, which can cause the cat to refuse to eat, leading to weight loss and generalized weakness.
Digestive problems: a less common cause
While tartar build-up and dental disease are the most common causes of bad breath in cats, digestive problems can also be responsible. For example, gastric or intestinal disorders can cause foul-smelling breath. Frequent regurgitation, vomiting or transit disorders are all signs that can accompany bad breath of digestive origin.
On the other hand, certain more serious conditions, such askidney failure, can manifest themselves as abnormally strong, ureic breath. This particular odor is due to the accumulation of toxins in the body, which the kidneys are no longer able to eliminate properly.
How to prevent and treat bad breath in cats?
Establish a regular dental hygiene routine
One of the most effective ways to prevent bad breath in your cat is to ensure rigorous dental hygiene. Brushing your cat's teeth should become a regular routine, ideally every day or at least three times a week. Use a toothbrush specially designed for pets, and a toothpaste suitable for them, as human toothpastes can be toxic to cats. Brushing helps remove plaque before it turns into tartar. However, not all cats readily accept brushing. It is therefore advisable to start this habit at an early age, so that they gradually become accustomed to it.
Choosing the right diet
Choose quality kibbles specially formulated to help clean teeth mechanically during chewing. These often have an abrasive texture that helps remove plaque and reduce tartar build-up. To reinforce the effects of this adapted diet, you can add DentiCat, a natural food supplement designed to optimize your cat's oral health. Made from a blend of carefully selected plants, DentiCat helps reduce plaque and tartar build-up, while containingpure aragonite recognized for its beneficial properties on toothenamel .
Consult your veterinarian regularly for descaling.
Despite all your efforts at home, it's sometimes inevitable that tartar will develop, especially in older cats. That's why regular visits to the vet are essential. During these visits, the veterinarian can perform professional scaling under anesthetic to effectively remove accumulated tartar and prevent periodontal disease.
Poor dental hygiene, the consequences for a cat's health
Neglected dental hygiene can have serious repercussions on your cat's health. As mentioned above, periodontitis is a condition that often results from poor oral hygiene. It can lead to tooth loss, making chewing difficult and painful for your feline. It can also lead to more serious infections that affect surrounding tissues such as the jawbone, and potentially cause osteomyelitis, a bone infection that is difficult to treat.
In addition to periodontitis, gingivitis- literally inflammation of the gums - is also common. If left untreated, it can lead to more serious dental problems. This can lead to dental abscesses, severe infections and even septicemia, a life-threatening systemic infection.
Conclusion
Bad breath in cats, or halitosis, is often a telltale sign of underlying disorders that deserve special attention. While the persistent unpleasant odor shouldn't be overlooked, it's essential to understand its causes, which range from plaque and tartar build-up to more serious diseases. With a good oral hygiene routine, you can preserve your feline's oral and general health. When in doubt, your first reflex should always be to consult your vet.
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