Death Breath

[gunsandbanjos]

Little lady cat I got 6 months ago from the rescue is adorable in every way except for the putrid stench that emanates from her little teeny mouth!

When I got her she stank generally from being at the shelter, that has gradually faded and I assumed the breath was due to the food she was getting.

She was just sitting on my chest and yawned in my face, oh my lord!! Is there anything that can be done?

[tippytap]

Have her teeth been checked by a vet?

[HunterHearstHelmsley]

My cat was like this and she had gingivitis.

[gunsandbanjos]

I haven't taken her to the vet but she'd just been spayed when I got her so I assumed she'd have been given a once over by the vet?

[PinkParsnips]

Another vote for teeth here too.
Apparently wet cat food is terrible for their teeth so if that has been her diet before you got her it could well be that.

[HunterHearstHelmsley]

Mine wasn't. I'd specifically taken her to the vets as she had a mouth injury and it wasn't picked up on then either. Even after she started the antibiotics the smell started to disappear.

[HunterHearstHelmsley]

Yep mine wouldn't and still won't eat dry food. I've found one type of treats she will eat so try to make sure she has some a couple of times a day.

[cozietoesie]

Best have her teeth checked out properly.

[cozietoesie]

PS - how old is she roughly?

[Wolfiefan]

If you have had her for six months then why hasn't she seen a vet. She needs worming and de fleaing regularly.

[gunsandbanjos]

She's an indoor cat, she had just been given all her vaccinations by the rescue.

She's about 1 I think, the rescue weren't sure exactly.

[Wolfiefan]

Get vet advice. I would suggest she may need flea treatment anyway. Has she seen a vet to be registered? Always a good idea.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

Harry had death breath and we were told his teeth were fine. Sadly they weren't and he ended up getting an infection that led to a broken jaw and losing 7 teeth.

[tippytap]

Even indoor cats need to be flead and wormed. The fleas can be tracked in, by people coming in:out the house.

[thecatneuterer]

Teeth/gums are normally the cause. But that would be very unusual in a one year old. I would take her to a vet.

And it's a myth that wet food is bad for the teeth. There seems to be very little difference. And Butchers Classic seems to have beneficial effects on the mouth (according to a vet who works for us). And wet food is much better than dry to avoiding urinary tract problems.

[OrangeSquashTallGlass]

Definitely teeth. Mine is a rescue and her teeth looked fine at first glance - but on further inspection it was uncovered she had had some trauma as a kitten that meant that some of them weren't right under the gums and had to come out, bless her.

I also used to think that indoor cats didn't need defleaing - until she got fleas! (How?!?!) Just de flea. It's not worth risking it. Having fleas in the house was awful and she looked not at all herself when she had them.

[cozietoesie]

Umpty transmission possibilities, Orange. For example, just imagine that your postie chucks the chin of that nice friendly cat in the street before he hands you the packet he's bringing? If you're unlucky and that cat had fleas and something transfers, you might suddenly have one or more in your house.

Not going outside will lessen the risk (ditto worms) but it doesn't remove it entirely.

[RubbishMantra]

Yes, sadly fleas can be trodden in on your shoes.