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While occasional unpleasant smells coming from your cat’s mouth may not be an immediate cause for concern, consistent bad breath could be a sign that your cat is experiencing a health issue.1 If your furry friend is suffering from bad breath, also known as halitosis, it’s important to take them to the vet to find out why and get them treated.
Read on to learn about the various causes of bad breath in cats, treatment options and their costs, and how cat insurance could help you cover the costs of treatment.
Pet Insurance Can Help
If your cat has bad breath, consider taking them to the vet for a diagnosis. Here are some common causes that your vet will likely look out for.
Also often called periodontal disease, dental disease happens from a buildup of tartar, bacteria, and plaque in your cat’s mouth.1 Specifically, this buildup is on your cat’s teeth beneath their gumline.2 Besides bad breath, other signs of dental disease in cats include:1,2
By age three, most cats have some degree of dental disease. If left untreated, dental disease can cause painful inflammation and infection. Your vet should evaluate your cat’s dental hygiene at their regular yearly preventative care exam, but if you notice potential signs of a dental condition in your cat, make a vet appointment.2
The earliest stage of dental disease is gingivitis, which affects more than 80% of cats three years or older. If your cat has gingivitis, you might notice some plaque on their teeth and mild redness of their gums along with foul-smelling breath. It’s important to get your cat treated for gingivitis so it doesn’t progress to more serious dental disease.3
If your cat’s bad breath smells like ammonia or urine, that could be a sign that they have kidney disease. An estimated 30% – 40% of cats over age 10 develop kidney disease, though younger cats may also develop the disease. One tell-tale sign of kidney disease is your cat drinking more water and urinating more as their kidneys begin to lose function. Lethargy, weight loss, and poor hair quality are other symptoms to look out for. Call your vet if you suspect your cat may have kidney disease.4
When a cat’s liver is diseased, it can cause foul-smelling breath, vomiting, loss of appetite, and abdominal swelling. You may also notice that your cat’s eyes and gums look yellow. Liver disease in cats tends to be unpredictable. But treating it early on helps with the prognosis, so take your cat to the vet if they’re showing signs.1
Cat halitosis that has a sweet smell could be a sign of diabetes. Excessive thirst, increased urination, and weight loss are the other main symptoms of diabetes in cats. If left untreated, diabetes can cause numerous health problems for cats, so take your feline friend to the vet if you think they could have diabetes.5
Certain oral cancers can cause foul breath in cats. Squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common types of cancer in cats and can affect a cat’s mouth.1 Other potential signs of oral cancer include difficulty swallowing and breathing, blood in the saliva, decreased appetite, and lethargy.1,5 Contact your vet ASAP if your cat is showing signs of cancer.
When a cat’s mouth becomes inflamed, it can cause stomatitis, which affects up to 10% of cats. Cats with weaker immune systems are more likely to develop stomatitis, which is similar to gingivitis but involves more severe inflammation and is therefore often much more painful. The first sign of stomatitis is bad breath, and you might also notice drooling.6
Stomatitis is a complicated condition with several treatment options. The right one for your cat depends on the severity and any underlying causes.6 Take your cat to the vet for diagnosis and to start a treatment plan if you see signs of stomatitis.
If your cat eats something that smells bad, chances are that their breath will be unpleasant for a couple of hours. As long as whatever they ate won’t make them sick, this isn’t cause for concern.
However, if your cat does eat or ingest something they shouldn’t, it’s time to reach out to the vet. If whatever your cat ate causes them to vomit, this can also cause bad breath. If your cat has swallowed a non-food item that is causing an intestinal blockage, their breath may smell like feces.1
An injury or wound in your cat’s mouth that becomes infected can make their breath stink. This could happen from an accident, your cat chewing something they shouldn’t, or from an ulcer.1,7 Some common feline diseases, such as calicivirus, can cause recurrent sores and ulcers that lead to cat halitosis.7 Call your vet if you think your cat has a mouth wound.
The treatment for your cat’s bad breath depends on the cause. For many bad-breath catalysts, such as dental disease, gingivitis, and stomatitis, your cat will need dental work done, which could possibly include a dental extraction.1,3,6 Others, like liver disease and cancer can require surgery.1 Your vet will be able to determine the best treatment plan for your kitty and refer you to a dentist, surgeon, or other specialist if necessary.
The best way to prevent feline halitosis and many of the related conditions is to get regular dental care for your cat. This care involves brushing your cat’s teeth and maintaining their regular wellness exam. You could also consider giving your cat dental treats or a prescription dental diet.7
Treatment costs will vary greatly based on the type of treatment your cat needs. For example, a routine dental cleaning for a pet costs around $300 – $500. You can expect to spend at least that much for dental work if your cat needs it. Dental disease treatment costs between $500 – $800. If your cat swallowed a foreign object, emergency surgery could cost up to $5,000 or more. Treating cancer could cost up to $8,000 or more.8
You also need to consider the cost of diagnostic testing. Your veterinarian will likely need to perform X-rays, blood work, and other tests to diagnose the issue causing your cat’s foul breath. An X-ray costs between $150 – $250, and blood work could cost $80 – $200. Also, don’t forget about medicines such as antibiotics or pain meds, which could cost up to $80 or more per dose.9
Preventative dental care and regular wellness visits can help you keep cat halitosis at bay and prevent your feline friend from developing related health problems. However, even the most diligently cared-for cats can become ill, develop a disease, or swallow an object. That’s why many cat owners choose pet insurance. A pet insurance plan can help you cover costs of both preventative care and health issues that arise.
Consider what happened to Cocoa, a domestic longhair cat from California. Cocoa’s parents noticed he had bad breath and buildup on his teeth. At the vet, Cocoa was diagnosed with dental disease and had a tooth pulled. The initial exam and extraction cost around $1,900, but MetLife Pet covered over $1,350 of the bill.10
Don’t find yourself with a big bill you have to pay all on your own. Get a free quote today to see what you could save while taking care of your cat.
