Gross, but true....Stinky Breath!

We have two 5 month old kittens, brothers from the same litter. We love all the snugs they give, but holy moly have they got some rank breath! I was wondering if this is normal for kittens especially when loosing teeth (we have found a few in bed). Or could it be they need to eat more hard food to clean the teeth and gums (they don't chew their food anyway, Science Diet for Kittens)? When Bo plays with his mousey toys, they smell like he pooped on them! And I'm talking from a distance, not just close up! Any suggestions or comments? -Jess

Stinky breath is usually an indication of a health concern. I would get these two little ones to a vet for a work-up to be safe. Once they have been cleared of health problems, I would look at what you are feeding them and then gradually change until their breath improves, but first, I would take them to the vet.

Yup, I would first check in with a vet about it and have him take a look/sniff at them. =p

If that's all clear, or he gives them a cleaning, I personally believe that mostly dry food diet is better for their teeth then a wet food diet. (There has been research done on this some saying dry food is better, others saying it doesn't make a difference.)

But from the cats I have owned and fed, dry food works out better.

Wet food is ok to get as a treat, specially at 5 months old, they really don't need it anymore then once a day (in small portions) or every 2-3 days like I feed mine.
As they are kittens they should be on a high quality kitten formula of dry food until they are 1 year old.

There is a bunch of good/Ok brands for wetfood on this thread.
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14879


Here you will find a list of good dry food brands.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14810

Well, unfortunately, our vet is so very far away. She treated Xander when he was having all those ambulating problems, he's now cured. He has been to the vet off and on for his whole life. I cannot imagine no one would have picked up on this. I might try to wean them off of the soft food, we all can't stand the smell of it anyway. I figured since Xander was so malnourished from when he was sick, that we would give him the best chance possible to re-gain his weight back. He is so much better now and has a little pooch hanging underneath, maybe it is time to call it quits on the soft food. By the way, it is at it's worst when they wake up from a nap, just like humans. Also, they are finally due for their rabies shots now that both are healthy, ringworm free, bacteria free, and good size! FINALLY! So, we will have her check them out at that time.

A vet friend of mine went to a seminar last August & was told that they discussed new research that indicates dry food is actually BAD for teeth. Go figure!!! I give my crew raw chicken necks nightly (I have 9 cats) and they have lovely teeth. Well, other than my Bengal, who refuses to use them. He's a dry food addict who I'm trying to convert.

Julia.

Sometimes illness as a kitten can cause them to have gum problems for the rest of thier lives. I would try to get them used to having thier teeth brushed, and see if you can't get them on at least a once a week brushing

Misha: I've only looked at studies in the usa, but all of them have been conflicting. Now this only includes wet and dry food, not RAW or anything else.
I have seen a handfull saying dry food is better, I've seen a handfull saying wet food is better, and I've also seen a bunch that says it doesn't matter, lol. Some of them are old and some of them are recent.

So that's why I say feed what works best health wise for your cats.

All my cats have good teeth and nice smelling breath (as long as I don't give them a lot of wet food.) Except for Tage, he has pretty stinky breath at time, but Re what Sandie just said.

AngelzOO, yes...I agree with that. And the data changes every 20 seconds too. This is the same seminar that Deborah Greco was speaking about a link between dry food & diabetes. I'm still waiting for my friend to scan me the notes from.

I can't see how a diet of canned only could be good for teeth. Cats really need food to gnaw on. I feed a combo of dry, raw & canned, and most of them have good teeth...although I'm going through hell with one cat who either has osteomyelitis or cancer...which all seems to have blown up since she had an abscessed tooth removed in December. But that's another story.

Whatever way one takes, it is important to ensure the cat's teeth are well looked after, and I believe in preventative care, not taking your cat to the vet for a clean when the teeth become bad. There are several ways of ensuring their teeth are well looked after. I wish I'd realised the importance of this when I first became a cat owner.

Julia.