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My cat has bad breath and sore red gums. What should I do for him?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Male | neutered | 13 years and 4 months old | 14 lbs

My cat has bad breath and sore red gums. He won't let me brush his teeth and I can't even use a warm wash cloth to try to wipe/massage his gums. What can I do to help him? He is 14 lbs and 13 years old.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Susan England-Foster

Veterinarian

Published on December 7th, 2017

I am sorry Christian is having a painful mouth. Honestly, I would recommend taking Christian to a vet for a good physical exam. Severe dental and gum disease usually needs treated with antibiotics , pain medications and possible extraction of the bad teeth. At home I would avoid trying to brush or examine Christians mouth often because it is a painful disease. I hope that helps

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Maria DVM
Veterinarian
I would recommend having a veterinarian evaluate him. It can be something simple like gingivitis and he may just need a dental cleaning with some antibiotics. It could also be stomatitis which is chronic inflammation of the gums.

If it is stomatitis he may need medication to help bring down the inflammation and make him feel much better. Christian may also need antibiotics to help if there is a secondary infection from the inflammation.

With this treatment the bad breath and the redness should subside. He may need long term treatment also but that depends on what your veterinarian sees.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jessica Desrosiers
Veterinary Technician
Sore, red gums can be a sign of an underlying issue such as a gum infection, viral disease, or even a problem with the teeth leading to gum irritation. It would be best to have Christian's teeth and gums examined by a vet ASAP to try and figure out the exact cause, get his teeth cleaned if possible, and provide medications for any underlying infections. Attempting to further mess with the gums may just make the pain and irritation worse and make things more uncomfortable for him.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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