Bad breath / drooling

Has your cat's breath gotten worse, or is it drooling a lot?

Your cat's breath has become noticeably worse, or it's drooling persistently for no clear reason. **Bad breath is almost never just "normal body odor" — periodontal disease is by far the most common underlying cause**, and drooling is often a direct sign of oral pain.

Possible medical causes

Gingivitis/periodontal disease: widely recognized by vets as the most common cause of bad breath in cats — gums become red, swollen, and bleed, and the cat may be reluctant to eat or chew with its head tilted
Tooth resorption: a common dental disease in cats where the tooth structure itself is resorbed, causing pain, drooling, chewing with a tilted head, and irritability
Stomatitis: severe oral pain, with red, swollen, ulcerated, bleeding gums; the cat may refuse to eat at all, or want to eat but be unable to, with blood-tinged drool and pronounced bad breath
Oral tumors: drooling, difficulty swallowing, bad breath, facial swelling, red/swollen gums, weight loss

Possible behavioral causes

Warning signs — see a vet right away

Not eating at all, or clearly wanting to eat but unable to (suspected oral pain)
Blood-tinged drool, or bad breath that suddenly becomes noticeably worse
Chewing with a tilted head, or repeatedly pawing at the mouth
Facial swelling, or steady weight loss

Initial at-home suggestions

Check gum color for redness/swelling and any bleeding (normal gums are pink and fit snugly against the teeth without showing recession)
Watch for changes in eating style: tilting the head, dropping food, or chewing more slowly
Regular tooth brushing is the most effective way to prevent periodontal disease (as long as your cat cooperates — never force it)
If bad breath persists, schedule a dental exam — most dental issues can only be properly addressed with an anesthetized dental cleaning

Sources: Cornell Feline Health Center. For reference only — please consult a vet.