I'm worried my Simba is developing gingivitis.

I've noticed a yellowing of his teeth for over a month and his gums have gotten red right around the teeth, both on his top and bottom jaw. I use Nala as a rough comparison. Her gums are nice and pink and her teeth are white. His breath is also worse than hers and kind of smells like bad shrimp. She's a month older than Simba. Simba also frequently gets conjunctivitis. He has it again right now. My step dad said he won't take Simba to the vet just because of "a little gingivitis." The cats aren't registered in my name but I'll find a way to get him to the vet if my parents won't. What do you think? Should he go now? He shows no pain or sensitivity at the moment. I did gently wipe his teeth with a wet cotton swab to help remove excess food last night and this afternoon. Some yellow did come off onto the swabs.

If it helps to know, he's just barely 6 months old. I know that makes it less likely for him to have dental issues but of out of the realm of possibility.

If you're concerned you could start brushing Simba's teeth. Just the outside. That should take the yellow off and help the redness. My cat's teeth looked much worse before he got his teeth cleaned. They gave me pictures. I don't know where the before picture is but I have the after picture if you want to see to compare. I didn't want to just post it because he has tubes in his throat.

I have been wanting to brush both of my kitten's teeth for a while, but my step-dad is very adamant about me not doing it, to the point of arguing with me, saying that they are cats and don't need their teeth brushed. That's just ridiculous. I will have to take this upon myself to take care of Simba's teeth. He must have not lost his baby premolars or molars yet because they look super tiny in his jaw. I'll see if I can get to the pet store soon. I have bad knees and take the bus so I'll ask to go with my step-dad next time he goes to the pet store. I'll take the bus if I have to. Simba is like a son to me! He laid by me today because I'm home with a cold. :3

You don't have to show me the picture if you don't want to. I can understand your reservation considering your cat's vulnerable position in the photo from the sound of it.

You can even try q-tips or gauze pads. If that's something you have around the house. Q-tips are pretty cheap and I've heard they work well.

I don't mind showing the picture. Especially if it helps you decide what to do for your kitty. Not everyone can handle seeing the tubes. I didn't want to gross you out. This is Peanut's picture right after his cleaning. His teeth were pretty bad before.

Oh, I see. I'm glad you got Peanut's teeth cleaned! I just used a Q-tip and one of his gums must have started bleeding because there was some blood on the tip of it. I tried again to make sure it was blood and I must have accidentally poked it because it was a little worse the second time. I tried to be gentle but I don't know if I was too rough this time or if his gums are actually in bad shape.

Hi

It is a shame that Simba's gums look red and his teeth are showing yellowing when he is so young.  If you are trying to clean them with a Qtip that is a really good start and I am sure you didn't rub too hard.  It is far more likely that it is Simba's gums are fragile and needing attention from a vet or animal orthodontist.  Simba is probably teething and getting his adult teeth through which is a difficult time and a lot of young cats show red gums at this time but he shouldn't have redness around teeth that are not loosening to come out or any build up of plaque (the yellow stuff).  Cats should not have breath that smells either and it is a sign of a digestive problem or dental problems.  I understand he is not registered with you and your step-dad doesn't feel it is necessary to take Simba to the vet for this but if he doesn't get attention now the problems and resulting vet bills are only likely to get bigger.

Cats have a very high pain threshold and it is no surprise that he is not showing pain, but that does not mean he isn't experiencing it.  When I adopted Mouse I had no experience of cats with dental or oral problems and didn't know the signs.  He had meaty breath but otherwise seemed fine.  He was a hyper active play machine with a healthy appetite and didn't seem bothered by anything.  I started brushing his teeth with pet tooth wipes and hoped his breath would improve, his gums were a little red around the edges and I just put it down to teething.  But then he got a bit quieter over a few weeks and then started to be a bit picky with his food.  I still didn't think anything about it until one day when he was 7 months old he just mouthed at his favourite freeze dried fish snack (and normally he'd do anything for one of those).  I looked closely at his mouth and his gums had suddenly got very red around the edges and looked raw and bleeding all round his mouth.  It looked really angry. I called the vet and took him down later that day.

The vet examined him and he not only had extremely sore gums by that time, he had a large sore at the angle of his jaw and another one on his tongue, and his tonsils were full of infection.  Just imagine how much pain a human would be in with bleeding gums, two very large sores on their gum and tongue, and severe tonsillitis!  He was really sick and needed painkillers and antibiotics for two weeks.  The sores in his mouth cleared although he got another one a couple of months later, and his gums continued to be sore and have bad flare ups for several months before we got them under control.  If I had caught things earlier I am sure it would have been easier to treat and he would not have had such a lot of pain.  There would also be less chance of him having long term problems with his teeth and gums.  I am extremely lucky as Mouse has so far not had any root problems or deep infections and still has all his teeth.  He has his teeth brushed by me twice a day using proper animal dental paste (and enjoys it), and has special TD prescription food to keep plaque off his teeth and although his gums still get little red edges to them it is controlled.  He will be 3 in February.   His prescription food isn't expensive and if he didn't get the right care it would cost far more in surgery and vet fees.

The longer Simba goes without treatment the more likely he is to get severe problems including deep infections, and to need surgery for tooth extractions.  If your step dad understands this I hope he will be more agreeable to seeking attention for your young cat now.    

As an aside Mouse's mouth problems were later associated with little sneezes he's always had and runny eyes he started to get when he was about 1 1/2.  The vet has now diagnosed him with Feline Herpes Virus 1 which causes all these symptoms, plus runny noses, and since he has been correctly diagnosed the vet trips and expensive medications have reduced as the virus is controlled by giving Mouse L Lysine every day.  It might also be worth your vet testing for FHV1 and other viruses if Simba hasn't already been tested.  Again it could save a lot of unnecessary pain and keep vet bills to a minimum. 

Cats do need their teeth brushed. I would take him to the vet if you can. It is one thing to brush a cats teeth when the gums are health(everyone should) it is different to begin brushing them when his gums are so irritated, you could hurt him.It seems he needs an exam and probably so kind of treatment. I have read that in a kitten so young gingivitis may go away once all his adult teeth are in.See if you can get him to the vet.

TheMelyssaK said:

 
Oh, I see. I'm glad you got Peanut's teeth cleaned! I just used a Q-tip and one of his gums must have started bleeding because there was some blood on the tip of it. I tried again to make sure it was blood and I must have accidentally poked it because it was a little worse the second time. I tried to be gentle but I don't know if I was too rough this time or if his gums are actually in bad shape.

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I am sure you didn't press to hard. The gums just may be sensitive and quick to bleed. But that is definitely a good reason to try to talk to your father again. He needs regular dental cleanings.

It can happen in cats this young. It just depends on the cat. My elder kitty never had dental issues. Even at the end of her 15 years, she never had more than a bit of plaque and her gums were always in good shape. But my kitty that I adopted at 1 1/2 already had some signs of dental issues when I adopted her. Nothing serious, but she's obviously vulnerable to it. Just genetics.

You can try getting some kitty toothpaste. I believe they make them in cat-friendly flavors. Dab some on the end of the Q-tip and rub it in.

I am in the exact same situation with my red boy!!! At 4 months of age I noticed his gums were bright red and teeth very yellow despite high quality food. My Vet said it's Stomatitis/Gingvitis! From the research I have done, it seems a lot of red cats have this issue, and for the most part little is known about this condition!  I brush his teeth 4 times per week, I try for more! At first they don't like it, but then you and him will get use to it. Be sure to use species appropriate toothpaste only. A professional cleaning on an annual basis, I think is essential, to remove the build up of plaque, as this condition can get out of control to the point where all the teeth have to be removed! This is what I am trying to avoid, so daily regular attention to the teeth and gums is vital!! A product called breathalyzer, that you put on his gums with a q-tip has helped to reduce redness and inflammation in my boy! You correct in being concerned!

Be aware that if your cat has bright red gums using a tooth brush will hurt him. You can always wrap your finger in gauze and use that gently.Then get back to the brush after the dental cleaning.

Thank you for all your comments, everyone! Simba's eye, gums and nasal symptoms cause me great concern since all those orifices are connected and he came to our house with an upper respiratory infection and has had three bouts of conjunctivitis since we got him. All previous conjunctivitis occurrences were treated with the initial URI medications.

MServant, I'm sorry to hear about Mouse's ordeal, but I'm glad he's okay now. The one good thing is Simba still eat a lot. He's barely six months old and weighs 8 pounds! I'll wipe his gums with a cotton swab again. I've forgotten for the past week due to extreme anxiety over my chemistry II exam. I'm more relaxed now should I should remember more often. Simba also has a frequent runny nose and sneezes. In fact, he sneezed on this very lap top last week and it was gross. He also has gotten several bouts of conjunctivitis since we brought him home. We used the leftover eye drops and oral antibiotics and it helped and his eyes got better. His tear ducts and third eye lid have gotten red and blood shot again for the past week and my step-dad still denies anything could be wrong by saying his eyes look fine. It's really up to me to keep an eye on the kitties' health.

Here's a photo of his bloodshot nictitating membrane I took just now. It looks like there's an area along the outside of it that is darker than the rest. If you look carefully, you can see it in these photos. Both are red. I had just woken him up, so he didn't like me grabbing his eye. It also has been leaking a little pus the past several days. Now, for Nala, copious amounts of sticky mucus protruding from her tear ducts is normal and when you go to wipe it away, along comes a trail of mucus stuck to it from the rest of her lower eyelid. She's always been like that, though the past week I've noticed an ever so slight red tint to it. I don't know how to convince my parents to take him or both to the vet. They are half a year away from their annual check-up. Simba also gets tiny dark brown specks that show up along his eyelids before the fur starts and in the outer corner of his eyes, like they are dried secretions. I'm very concerned.


By the way, here's a photo of them from October 29th. Look at the difference in their paw sizes!

When my cat gets respiratory symptoms, my Vet has suggested giving him Lysine! I purchase it at the pet store in the form of a treat! Lysine strengthens the immune system and it really helped my cat out in this situation, with noticeable improvement. I have also read, it is helpful with gum issues!  Lysine is therapeutic so careful attention to dosage is needed.

alecat10 said:

 
When my cat gets respiratory symptoms, my Vet has suggested giving him Lysine! I purchase it at the pet store in the form of a treat! Lysine strengthens the immune system and it really helped my cat out in this situation, with noticeable improvement. I have also read, it is helpful with gum issues!  Lysine is therapeutic so careful attention to dosage is needed.

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Yes, good thinking alecat10, @mrblanche made that great suggestion on another thread I post in.  If you are not managing to make progress getting agreement for the cat to see a vet the L Lysine is a low cost easily available way to try and help.  Giving your cat this for 2 - 4 weeks would not cause any harm and could save a whole load of pain.  It won't help with the secondary infection sadly and it sounds like Simba is affected by these.. If Simba does have feline herpes the L Lysine is supposed to block the virus.  I certainly saw an improvement with Mouse within 4 to 7 days but he didn't have any secondary infections.  

You can buy on line e.g. from Amazon, from vets, and possibly chemists as humans with herpes take it too (make sure it is one that is OK for cats and doesn't have anything harmful in it if you get from a chemist).  There are lots of threads advising on doses and discussing use if you search L Lysine and feline herpes / FHV on TCS.  Oh, and in case you don't know and your family start to panic, it is not transferable between species.  Most cats have it in their system but many never show any symptoms.  Simba sounds like he has quite a lot of the though and L Lysine could really improve his quality of life and long term health.  Dosage depends on age / size of cat so:

If you need more advise on the herpes thing @stephanieTx is very knowledgeable, as are a number of other regular posters in the herpes threads.  I don't think my @ alert works but I am sure stephanieTx or any of the others would be happy if you emailed for more detailed advice.  It must be so hard when you do not have the authority to get the cat to a vet.  I hope alecat10's idea gives you something feasible that could help Simba at last.  

Simba is so lovely, and my what a big boy he is now!  Yes, the paws look pretty huge.    I feel so sad for him though as his eye looks very painful.  

   Do you think if Simba 'sneezed' on your step-dad's computer it might help his case or would that make it worse for him?  Sorry for using humour, I do this when I'm mad about something and there's nothing I can do. I feel like having a big tantrum for you guys.         

Thank you so much for your thoughts and advice, MServant. I will try the lysine. I asked my step-dad to take me to the pet store next time he goes so I can by some cat toothpaste. I'm afraid the eye I did not take a photo of looks worse today. I really don't know why parts of his third eyelid are so much redder and darker than the rest of the bloodshot area. The Lysine sounds like a great idea. It's a shame that I have the human form of it but I bet it isn't safe for cats. After I had my melanoma removed my dad (biological) took me ti get L-lysine and proline, as well as vitamin C.

Is there no way at all you could get Simba to a vet?  His eye sounds so worrying to me and it could be causing permanent damage. 

For the L Lysine that you have, if it has a list of all the ingredients on it and it is in date, you could try sending a PM to LDG asking for advice about it?

Does Simba belong to your mum and or step-dad, or do you need someone to get you to a vet a long distance away, or find money to pay?  If there are financial reasons there are often links on posts to help in these circumstances.  It must be really hard for you wanting to help Simba and being prevented.  If there is some way of understanding why they think this is fine to leave maybe there is some way of 'persuading' them something has to be done and why it is in their best interests to deal with it now and not later. (far more expensive medications and surgery for loss of an eye etc etc)

I live with my mom and step-dad, but I don't drive. I don't have an income right now due to being out of work with a work-related injury and in the process of fighting to get my worker's comp benefits reinstated or force them to make a job for me that conforms to the doctor's restrictions. I have money in the bank I can spend on this, even if he needs some somewhat expensive tests and/or medications, but that will eat into my savings to pay my monthly insurance payments.

I called my mother this morning and told her my concerns and how John won't believe me or trust in my judgement. He's an idiot. Here are reasons he should listen to what I say:

 - Shortly after we first got Ebony and Nala, I noticed sneezing and eye secretions and said I thought it was an upper respiratory infection. John asked me how they could have gotten it, as well as saying it's probably allergies or dust irritation. I stated they they could have gotten it from the shelter before we got them. Turns out I was right and both were underweight and one had to be put to sleep.

 - After we brought Simba home, I noticed he sneezed a lot, had a runny nose and made noises when he breathed (like a stuffy nose.) I said he needed to go to the vet because something is wrong. John said it was probably dust irritation. Then he stopped eating. Turns out he also had an upper respiratory infection and couldn't smell his food.

 - After Simba got better, I noticed he was developing conjunctivitis and I said he had a problem with his eyes. John said it was probably allergies, but appeased me by giving Simba the leftover eye drops. He got better. It happened again and we gave him eye drops and left over oral antibiotics. Now it's happening again and John's completely denying that there looks to be anything wrong with Simba and for some reason, he is COMPLETELY against me brushing their teeth.

Anyway, my mom said she would look at him, Simba, we she gets home from work. She asked if I could get a friend to take me to the vet. That would be difficult but not impossible. Once my mom gets home and I show her my concerns about his gums and eyes, if she agrees with me that something seems to be wrong, I have her mention it to John. If she doesn't then I'll just make an appointment myself and try to find a friend who can take me or just take public transportation. it will be difficult due to my joint problems, but my son is worth it. I see Simba as my son.

Got fingers and paws crossed for you here.  I'm really lucky I can get to my vet by car or bus and it's not too far but as for work I'm in a slightly similar situation with work and finances.   Not sure where you live but if you haven't already seen this article it might have something useful in it for you. 

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/when-you-cant-afford-a-veterinarian

Hope things OK when your mum sees / saw Simba and you can get some help for him.

Thanks! My mom said she'll help me foot the bill when it comes in and to stop telling my step-dad anything about the cats and how I am caring for them. The good thing is Simba's gums look a bit less red now that I've been wiping his teeth with cotton swabs. I've rubbed some of the yellow off and I'm wiping Nala's now, as well.

Omg my cat has the same problem I'm reading these comments.my kitten is 3moths old it looks exactly like that

That looks like conjunctivitis to me! I'm no expert and there are many things that can cause it. With a kitten so young, they must have a vet appointment coming up soon, right? If there's no discharge, then I wouldn't consider it an emergency, but if I tell you to take the kitty to the vet ASAP, I'd feel like a hypocrite. If they don;t have an appointment, definitely keep an eye on it and take them in at the first sign of worsening.