Why does my kitten's breath smell bad? Is it serious and what to do?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Male | unneutered | 8 months and 1 day old | 1.2 lbs
What would make a kittens breath smell
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on January 6th, 2019
Halitosis (bad breath) in a kitten can be caused by oral infections such as gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) or feline stomatitis (inflammation of the oral mucous membranes at the back of the mouth). Teething can also cause bad breath. Another cause that is harmless is certain food like canned soft food can sometimes cause the kitten bad breath, for example, smoked oysters or canned tuna. Other causes such as kidney/liver disease and diabetes are less commonly found in kittens. I would suggest to take the kitten to your vet to examine the mouth and identify the cause.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on July 10th, 2017
Your kitten could have an infection in his sinuses or even a dental issue causing this odor. I recommend your veterinarian do an exam as he may need antibiotics or even some teeth removed if they have an abscess beneath them.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on February 21st, 2018
The odor can be due to periodontal disease, endocrine disorder (diabetes) or metabolic disorder. You will need to have Rissoto physically examined by your veterinarian to diagnose the exact cause(s). This may require submitting blood and urine samples to diagnose infection and to assess major organ function. The article below may shed more light on the situation. https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-does-my-cat-s-breath-smell-so-bad/
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on December 5th, 2018
If he is less than 8 months of age, he likely is losing his kitten teeth, and this causes mild bleeding of the gums that can smell not so pleasant. You can use a water additive from your veterinary office or pet store that can help freshen his breath during this period and also use a cat tooth brush to gently brush his teeth 2-3 times a week. Other than that, this phase shall pass and his breath should go back to normal once all his adult teeth are in. Another possibility is that he has a condition called halitosis, in which case the water additives mentioned above are the recommended course of treatment to help resolve the bad breath, which usually comes from the back of his tongue. Best wishes with your kitty moving forward. Take care!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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