My 6-month-old kitten has had really bad breath for as long as I can remember. She's been wormed, her digestion is normal, and she's eating fine without any signs of pain. The vet noticed she has gingivitis but wasn't overly concerned; they think it might just be down to her teething.
Has anyone else experienced these sorts of issues (bad breath and/or gingivitis) with a cat this young?
Thanks!
Translated from French
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Bad breath is indeed a sign of gingivitis. You did the right thing by taking your cat to the vet. If they felt that no treatment was necessary for the time being, then there is nothing specific you need to do. Just keep an eye on things to make sure it doesn't get any worse and that it isn't stopping them from eating.
Have a good day.
Caroline - Veterinary student at the Alfort National Veterinary School (EnvA). Project Manager for ProVéto Junior Conseil, the EnvA junior consultancy http://proveto.net/
It’s true their breath is never exactly fresh, but it’s particularly strong right now. I’ll mention it to the vet again when I take the little one in for her boosters. Anyway, it doesn’t seem to be bothering her all that much.
Hi again,
It’s true they never have the best breath, but this is particularly strong. I’ll mention it to the vet again when I take the little one in for her boosters. Anyway, it doesn't seem to be bothering her too much.
Hi again,
It’s true they never have the best breath, but this is particularly strong. I’ll mention it to the vet again when I take the little one in for her boosters. Anyway, it doesn't seem to be bothering her too much.
Hi there,
Well, let’s face it, cat breath doesn’t exactly smell of roses in general... They don’t brush their teeth and their diet is very meat-heavy. Gingivitis is actually quite common at any age. I’ve got one at the moment whose teeth I clean every evening on the vet's advice; I use my index finger instead of a brush and an antibacterial dental gel that’s completely safe for them to swallow. Cats aren’t exactly fans of you touching their mouths, but if you’re gentle, it’s definitely doable. When a cat starts having serious dental issues, you’ll notice it straight away—they’ll drool and struggle to eat their dry food. At that point, it’s straight to the vet...
Personally, my cats have a bit of bad breath, but it’s nothing too major. I think it’s pretty normal – they’re cats, not humans, after all!
It’s probably down to the food smelling quite strong, and it could also be their age; my kitten lost a milk tooth at around six months.
I don’t know exactly what counts as "good" or "bad" breath to you, but I reckon it’s natural for them to have a stronger smell than us, though I might be wrong.
But if you’re unsure about what the vet said, definitely go and see someone else for a second opinion.
