Cat owners know that cat bad breath can be downright horrible. It's not so different from human bad breath, as both are caused by bacteria in the mouth that break down proteins and release sulfur compounds into the air.
Sulfur itself smells really bad, which is why breath that contains it smells bad too. The bacteria that causes bad breath in cats is normally associated with tartar build-up around the teeth. Tartar is yellow in color, known as a layer of bacteria, food, and minerals.
To cure your cat of bad breath, you will need to remove the tartar buildup. There are several cat foods designed to reduce tartar build-up, many of which contain enzymes that literally dissolve it.
You can also give your cat treats, many of which will help remove and prevent tartar. If tartar build-up is bad, you may need to have your cat's teeth professionally cleaned. Once the tartar is removed, the bad breath will disappear.
You may be able to clean tartar from your cat's teeth at home. There are several toothpastes available for pets, available in many different flavors. A mechanical toothbrush is needed because movement is very important to remove tartar build-up. Enzyme-containing toothpaste dissolves tartar, which helps cure bad breath.
If you start brushing your cat's teeth early, you can virtually eliminate any type of tartar buildup that will eventually lead to bad breath.
Some tartar-causing bacteria can be found in your cat's diet. When you feed your cat, you should always make sure that the food he or she eats does not contain a lot of bacteria. If you store healthy and only feed your cat healthy foods, this can greatly help his bad breath.
When you give your pet a treat, make sure the treat is designed to fight tartar. Once your cat has finished eating, you can brush her teeth or rinse her mouth. This will remove bacteria from her mouth before it has a chance to build up on her teeth.
Sometimes cats can have a bad odor in their mouth that is not caused by tartar or bad breath in general. In these rare cases, it may be a liver or kidney disease. If you notice bad breath and it's not tartar, you should take your cat to the vet.
Although it may have something to do with tartar, prevention is better than cure. Your veterinarian can identify the problem, and let you know what's causing it and how you should fix it.