What does a cat’s breath smell like? The breath of a healthy cat actually has a light smell, a neutral smell that is hard to describe, but it will definitely not be a foul smell. “My cat’s breath smells bad. It smells like rotten fish and shrimp, why is that?"

Any foul odor is a sign of health problems, such as oral hygiene issues. While a fishy odor is common in cats, it's usually problematic. If your cat's mouth has a strong, unpleasant odor, it's something you should take seriously. According to research from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, approximately 75% of cats aged 3 years and older will suffer from some degree of dental disease. Here are the possible causes of a rotten fishy smell in your cat:

Periodontal disease

Saliva and bacteria form a thin layer of plaque on your teeth. If not treated (brushed) in time, this layer will mineralize and turn into tartar. Tartar in the mouth can lead to periodontal disease, an infection of the tissues that support the teeth, which can also cause odor. The most obvious signs of periodontal disease are:

Excessive brown tartar on the teeth

Leaving too much saliva

Difficulty eating

Turn to one side when chewing

Inflamed gums

Dietary issues

Sometimes, dietary problems can cause short-term or long-term bad breath. Serving highly odorous foods containing fish or liver ingredients can lead to chronic bad breath. But, this is an easy problem to solve. Just change your cat's food and eating habits. Avoid feeding your cat smelly food as its diet can directly affect its breathing.

Unhealthy food can also cause serious tear stains in cats. A healthy and nutritious diet can reduce gastrointestinal health problems, and the smell exhaled by cats will naturally become less smelly.

Gingivitis and Stomatitis

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums, while stomatitis is inflammation of the oral mucosa. This can also lead to bad breath, and cats are susceptible to gingivitis and stomatitis, mostly due to periodontal disease. However, they can also develop these diseases from bacteria, viruses or allergens, such as those caused by calicivirus or feline AIDS

Metabolic diseases

Often, chronic bad breath is caused by more than just poor oral hygiene. In some less common cases, this is a red flag that your cat may have a more serious condition, such as metabolic disease: kidney disease is common especially in older cats.

Kidney disease can cause toxins to build up in your cat's blood, causing bad breath. Likewise, liver disease can cause bad breath, can make your cat's breath smell like sulfur.

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Cat Diabetes

Cats with diabetes can also develop odor. If your cat's breath smells sweet instead of foul, you may have diabetes. With diabetes, ketones build up in the blood, making your breath smell sweeter than usual. If you notice this odor, watch your cat closely for other signs of diabetes, such as:

Frequent urination

Polydipsia

Unexpected weight loss

Increased appetite

Oral cancer

Whether it is humans or animals, oral cancer can cause bad breath. Oral cancer occurs when squamous cell carcinoma grows unchecked in your cat's mouth. It can occur on any soft tissue, including the tongue, gums, tonsils, and roof of the mouth. Oral cancer can not only cause bad breath but also make eating difficult.

How to get rid of bad breath?

First rule out the cause of the disease, and then you need to pay attention to cleaning at ordinary times! Brush your teeth, brush your teeth, brush your teeth!