Bad Breath

It may sound funny, but I'm a little worried about my kitty's bad breath.  I notice it when she yawns and even while she's licking herself there's kind of an odor and then the odor gets on her coat from her mouth/saliva.  Otherwise, she's fine, great appetite and weight, no trouble eating, no signs of pain or discomfort in any way.  She is fed nothing but Fancy Feast, no unusual food.  I've had her about a year and a half and just noticed the bad breath about a month or so ago. 

Any ideas what's causing this?  Thanks.   

How old is your kitty?  I have a 5 month old kitten who has bad breath right now but that is due to teething.  I have a 5 year old kitty with bad breath but I've determined that is just her nature.  Nothing wrong physically.  Has your cat been to the vet?  Sometimes cats can get gingivitis and/or tartar build up that can cause bad breath as well.

@Elssa -- may i ask your girl's age? and, does she seem to drink a lot of water, or an excessive amount of water? how is her urine output, does she make large(r) amounts of urine? how many urine clumps does she make each day?

i'm asking because while bad breath may be just bad breath, it may also be a sign that something medical may be developing.

Simone is about 2 years old..  She was a very young pregnant stray brought into the local shelter, lost her kittens due to distemper as they tell it, then adopted 2 orphaned kittens there and nursed them.   I adopted her after those kittens were weaned and have had her a little under a year and half so guessing she's about 2.  She's very sweet and friendly, good appetite, drinks a small to moderate amount of water a day I'd say, not a lot.  She hasn't been to the vet since she was spayed last year.  

Her stool and urine are regular looking and normal amount..

Thanks  

@Elssa -- simone's bad breath could be dental related, as @cprcheetah mentions. or it could simply be bad breath. i'd suggest a vet check specifically asking your vet to check for any cause of the bad breath. if the cause can be determined, then it may be able to be treated so no more bad breath.

from your answers to the questions i'd asked, it doesn't look likely that your simone would be developing diabetes or chronic kidney disease -- good news!

Congenital dental disease could cause early age bacteria accumulation, which hardens on the enamel surface into tartar, then calculus on teeth. Cats start growing lesions around the necks of teeth, where crown meets gums, at any age, when the root under the gumline is diseased and resorbing into the jaw bone (alveolar bone). This is a stinky process also, called feline oral resorptive lesion or FORL.

When the saliva is malodorous enough the stink hangs around on the coat after grooming, a professional oral cavity exam is in your and her best interest, before potential disease does progress to the point multiple extractions are warranted. That amount of malador or halitosis can also imply a painful dental disease process, and she may benefit from low dose effective pain management until she can have a dental procedure if warranted. Many cats eat despite a very painful mouth, so appetite is not always a good indicator of health.

Good luck with little Simone.

-Rebecca

Bad breath, medically termed 'halitosis,' is a common problem reported by pet owners. The most common cause of halitosis is some sort of dental problem. Bacteria, saliva, and food particles can form plaque, which causes bad breath. This can further develop into gingivitis, or worse, periodontal disease, which will make the breath even more unpleasant.

In addition to dental problems, other causes of bad breath include:

• 
  Diabetes mellitus
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  Kidney disease
• 
  Gastrointestinal disease, including cancers, obstructions, and certain infections
• 
  Infections of areas around the mouth, such as the folds of the lips
• 
  Respiratory disease, e.g.; some sinus infections
• 
  Dietary "indiscretions," such as eating stool  or spoiled garbage
• 
  Other oral disease, such as tonsillitis, cancer, trauma, and some autoimmune diseases