Do you have a cat that has horrible bad breath? Do you think twice before greeting him because you fear he'll open his mouth and gas you with his fowl oral order? You're not alone my friend. An animal's bad breath and a human's bad breath are both caused by the same thing, bacteria in the mouth. What happens is that this bacteria breaks down protein and releases sulfur into the air. I'm afraid that the cause is simply tartar buildup on the teeth. Cats don't brush their teeth as humans do so it's very difficult to maintain unless you frequent the vet often for teeth cleaning. The tartar composition comes from the food cat's eat which results in a yellow buildup around the teeth.
Does Your Cat Have Bad Breath? So, what's the answer to ridding your cat of tartar buildup thus resulting in bad breath? Well, it could be as simple as brushing their teeth regularly with a cat-made toothpaste. Depending on the cat, this could either be simple or complicated and painful (for you, that is). The toothpaste should contain the proper enzymes that will dissolve the tartar from a cat's mouth. Do not use human toothpaste as manufacturers throw in mouth fresheners and flavors to add a "fresh" smell. It's unnecessary for a cat and would be completely uninviting for the cat as it would leave a bad taste in his mouth. The motion used to brush his teeth is just as important as or even more important than the actual toothpaste itself. Use a circular motion around each tooth so that tartar will easily fall off the tooth from the gum line down. After brushing your cat's teeth for a couple of weeks, you will notice a definite change in your cat's breath and over time, his bad breath will be completely eradicated.
Does Your Cat Have Bad Breath? If you have tried and failed or simply do not want to tackle teeth cleaning yourself for your cat, then the second option is to have regularly scheduled visits to the vet for teeth cleaning. It is obviously important to keep up with this routine as the minute you stop; the buildup will begin again and slowly cause a cat's bad breath to return. It's not a huge financial burden for this option and might very well be worth it to you if you have a very skittish kitty cat with very sharp claws.
Your cat's food might be a major contributing factor in the buildup of tartar. Cat food's that contain a lot of bacteria (mostly very cheap cat food with a lot of fillers and preservatives) will be a definite clue. Check with your vet on what brand and type of food that would inhibit the growth of bacteria buildup. There are also cat treats you can give him that help with the buildup of tartar but don't rely on just those types of treatment. It might be good as an addition to regular teeth cleaning but will not dissolve the majority of the buildup by itself.
Does Your Cat Have Bad Breath? In rare situations, a cat's bad breath might be a result of a condition going on inside the cat's organs as in the liver or kidneys. These are the organs of the body that filter bacteria and toxins and flush them out. If the cat's liver or kidneys are not working properly due to an infection or disease, it could result in a backup of bile and toxins into their oral cavities resulting in bad breath. Be sure to voice your concerns to your vet so he can look at all the possibilities surrounding the issue.
