Help Your Kitten Be The Cat's Meow: How To Handle Bad Kitty Breath

Posted on: 14 October 2016

Cats rule the internet, and kittens are their cutest form. It's no wonder that they steal the hearts of their human companions with ease. However, no human or cat enjoys being around bad breath. If your adorable little feline companion has chronic stinky breath, they likely have what's called halitosis, and it is most commonly caused by inflammation of their gums or the mucous membranes in their mouth. According to the vet services at Cornell University, your cat's breath shouldn't be offensive when it's healthy. Here's what you can do about it.

Step #1: Take Your Kitten for a Dental Exam

In addition to inflammation, other potential causes for your kitten's bad breath could be diabetes, oral trauma, liver disease, or respiratory problems. It's best to take your feline companion in for a complete dental check-up. A cat dentist will be able to assess your kitten's condition through an exam and tests. If there are any specific medical procedures or treatments that need to be completed or further tests that need to be performed, your cat dentist or veterinarian will be able to help you plan for these at this time.

Step #2: Get Your Kitten's Teeth Professionally Cleaned

As long as your kitten has no other indications of illness, your cat dentist will probably recommend a professional cleaning. That can be performed in the office, and as long as the kitten is deemed healthy enough to undergo anesthesia, it will be anesthetized. The cat will them receive a full dental cleaning under the gum line. This part is important since this is the area where bacteria can build up and remain, causing the offensive odor in the first place. From there, the cat dentist will remove plague as well as tartar build-up from the visible part of your kitten's teeth. Your cat's teeth will then be polished as the last step.

Step #3: Brush Your Kitten's Teeth

After a professional exam and cleaning, it's important to take care of your kitten's oral health at home. As long as illness has been ruled out and your cat isn't currently teething, you can easily start brushing your cat's teeth to help maintain their oral health care. This should prevent further stinky breath, too. Your veterinarian can recommend a toothbrush and a toothpaste that is specifically formulated for a cat. Never try to brush a cat's teeth with toothpaste that's designed for human consumption.

Finally, keep in mind that your canine companion may not take an instant liking to having their teeth brushed, but they should get used to it over time. Follow up with your veterinarian if your cat's bad breath doesn't improve after these steps are taken. While a little bad breath is to be expected from time to time, there is no need for you or your cat to endure their bad breath over time. 

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