When you have a cat with bad breath we have to worry. It is a very unpleasant problem, because when it yawns it gives off it, and of course, we perceive the smell. Unfortunately, seven out of ten adult cats will have halitosis (which is the technical name for this condition) at some point in their life, so ... how do you combat it?
In order for our furry to have fresh breath again, the first thing we have to do is know the cause of bad breath in cats, the origin of why "suddenly" their breath smells so bad. So, let's find out.
Causes
A cat can have bad breath for a number of reasons, which are:
- MealAlthough it is not decisive, poor quality food is usually one of the main causes of halitosis in cats. Why? Because they have remains of feed between their teeth, which favors the appearance of tartar, which in turn forms bacterial plaque (also known as dental plaque). With high quality feed or with natural food it also occurs, but it is a slower process, to the point that it can take 7-10 years until the cat's teeth begin to look dirty and / or worn.
- Infection dental or buccal: If they have any disease either in the mouth or in the throat, it is possible that halitosis also appears as a symptom.
- Disease: Just as we do when we have, for example, the flu, a cat suffering from a similar illness may have bad breath.
How to fight bad breath
When our cat starts to have bad breath we have to find out if you have a problem with your mouth. To do this, one person can hold it from behind, grasping its front legs, while another will open its mouth to examine it. Take him to the vet if you see that he has:
- Teeth yellowish, worn o broken
- Ulcers o wounds in the mouth
- Or anything else that makes you suspicious
And, in addition to giving him the treatment that the professional has given him, at home you can help him to have fresh breath again. For this, I recommend that you make sure that drink plenty of water (If your cat weighs 5kg, the appropriate amount would be between 300-500 milliliters), and, in addition, it is advisable that clean his teeth with a feline toothpaste that you will find in pet stores or veterinary clinics (toothpaste for humans can be toxic to them) after each meal.
Another option, which your cat is sure to love, is to give candies for cats that are made specifically for the dental cleaning of the animal.
Do you know other remedies to combat bad breath in cats?
If the cat is healthy, the main cause of the bad smell from its mouth or feces is food, and as you say, poor quality feed or wet food has a lot to do with it. You have to read the ingredients, no by-products of whatever.
I have tried giving mine several feed or cans, and the difference is very noticeable. Especially at the beginning when he bought his food in the supermarkets. Some smell terrible, when I heated the food a little because it was in the fridge, my husband could not bear the smell ... in a can I found a piece of pointed bone that could have been stuck in the cat's mouth, another I left it open one day in summer out of the fridge and mold came out ...
I remember that when they went to the bathroom they made a terrible stink, now we don't even know about it.
The healthiest, most natural and cheapest thing is to buy livers with chicken hearts in the market and cook them with rice, vegetables and add a can of tuna in olive oil.
There are also cold cuts of turkey or pork (Bon Area, Mercadona, etc.) that are cheap and spread a lot.
Everything influences, their food, and in the case of feces that is agglomerating earth, but still, food is essential.
As their food smells, so they smell.
Very true. The more quality a meal has, the fewer problems - of everything - it will have.