- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
If your cat has suddenly started drooling or grimacing, or they have particularly nasty-smelling breath, they may have developed cat mouth sores. These ulcerations form along the gums or in the back of the mouth.
The term “sores” can mean different things, and they have a few different causes, according to Dr. Amy Fulton, Board-Certified Veterinary Dentist and owner of North Bay Veterinary Dentistry.
Whatever causes cat mouth sores, they can be painful and affect your cat’s overall health. It’s important to make an appointment with your vet if you think your cat has mouth sores. A vet can help diagnose ulcers in your cat’s mouth and recommend the right treatment.
Read on to learn more about cat mouth sores, including how to tell if your cat has them and common causes.
How to Tell Your Cat Has Mouth Sores or Ulcers
If your cat has mouth ulcers, you might notice them when they yawn or hiss.
Tell-tale signs of ulcers in your cat’s mouth:
- A bright red color
- Bleeding in the area
- Patches that resemble cobblestones
- Blood in their saliva
- Bad breath
Dr. Fulton says you may also notice behavior changes in cats with mouth sores. Your cat might:
- Drool
- Paw at their mouth
- Eat less or stop eating
- Cry out while eating
- Hiss at their food bowl
- Groom less often
- Hide
- Have decreased energy
If you notice any of these signs along with mouth sores or other changes in your cat, Dr. Fulton recommends a trip to the vet. Your vet can help find out the cause of these symptoms.
Terroa via iStock
Types of Cat Mouth Sores
Mouth ulcers can have a number of causes. But if they’re widespread throughout your cat’s mouth, they’re likely due to feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS).
FCGS has 2 different types. Both types cause mouth ulcers, though these sores may develop in different areas of the mouth:
- Type 1: This type involves inflammation around the gums and the tissues surrounding the teeth.
- Type 2: This type, also called “caudal stomatitis,” tends to show up at the back of the mouth.
What Causes Cat Mouth Sores?
FCGS often doesn’t have a clear cause, according to Dr. Fulton.
Experts consider stomatitis an autoimmune disease, according to Dr. Kipp J. Wingo, board-certified veterinary dentist and oral surgeon at Carefree Dentistry & Oral Surgery for Animals. This condition is believed to develop as a response to plaque, the film of bacteria that forms on the surface of the teeth.
Some evidence also links bacteria and other viruses to mouth ulcers in cats. Possible causes include:
- Herpesvirus (FHV-1): This is a very common cause of upper respiratory infections in cats, especially in multi-cat households or shelters.
- Feline calicivirus: “In a kitten or young adult cat, one of the more likely causes is the viral infection calicivirus. This virus can also cause fever, lethargy, and upper respiratory signs,” Dr. Fulton explains.
- Bartonella: Not every cat will have symptoms of Bartonella, the bacteria that causes cat scratch disease. But many cats, especially outdoor cats and those exposed to fleas, may carry Bartonella, which can cause inflammation in the mouth and other areas.
- Feline leukemia virus (FeLV): This retrovirus spreads through saliva and close contact with infected cats. It’s more common in strays than indoor cats and vaccinated cats.
- Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV): FIV spreads mainly through bite wounds. It’s less common than FeLV and mostly affects male cats who live outside and aren’t neutered.
Your cat’s mouth sores may also relate to kidney problems. End stage renal failure can lead to uremic ulcers in the mouth, especially in older cats, according to Dr. Fulton. “This is when the body fails to filter urea nitrogen from the blood, which can lead to vomiting, weight loss, lethargy, dehydration, and diarrhea.”
Finally, cat mouth sores may be caused by a diet that’s too acidic or doesn’t have the right nutrients.
In theory, purebred cats are more prone to stomatitis, Dr. Wingo says. But based on his clinical experience, this condition doesn’t seem to affect any specific breeds more than others. What to Expect From Your Vet
Your vet will likely use some or all of these tests to help diagnose your cat’s mouth ulcers:
- Complete baseline blood panel: A blood test can’t diagnose FCGS, but it can rule out other diseases.
- Physical exam: If your cat is in pain, your vet will give them an anesthetic to avoid distressing them further with the exam.
- Testing for feline viral infections: Your vet may want to check for conditions like FeLV and FIV.
- Dental x-rays: These can help identify signs of periodontal disease and other dental problems that can also cause mouth inflammation, like root fragments.
- Biopsy of the affected tissue: A biopsy can help rule out mouth cancer or an infection in the area.
Once they’ve found the most likely cause of the mouth sores, vets can suggest treatments that may help.
Recommended Treatment for Cat Mouth Sores
In many cases, FCGS can improve with treatment, but it’s a complex disease.
“Finding the underlying problem for FCGS is key in treatment,” notes Dr. Meaghan Thomas, veterinarian at East Ridge Animal Hospital.
Finding the most effective treatment may take some trial and error, since the cause of the sores may not always be clear. The main treatments are surgery and medication.
Dental surgery
For feline chronic gingivostomatitis, the main therapy proven to work involves extracting the premolar and molar teeth, Dr. Fulton says. Your vet will also want to extract any other teeth affected with severe gum disease or other issues.
Dr. Wingo agrees. He adds that typically 6 months of full mouth extractions and additional medical therapy lead to improvement.
About 80% of cats have a clear positive response to surgery, while 10% of cats will need to take medication for the remainder of their life to control the stomatitis.
Most cats do well after surgery, though they may need to eat soft food from this point on. However, this treatment won’t work for every cat. About 10% of cats may not improve at all.
Medication
Dr. Fulton says a vet may also prescribe medical therapy along with the tooth extractions. Steroids and other immunosuppressive drugs can help reduce the inflammation.
For ulcers caused by viruses, vets may prescribe other supportive medications and treatments, Dr. Fulton explains. These may include:
- Pain medication
- Fluids
- Oral suspensions to help ulcers heal
- Antibiotic therapy for secondary bacterial infections
Finally, for uremic ulcers, treating the underlying kidney disease is an essential step to getting any secondary oral ulcers under control, Dr. Fulton says.
This condition can be very painful for cats. If no treatment works and your cat’s quality of life declines, your vet may recommend euthanasia as the only method of stopping their pain.
Can You Prevent Cat Mouth Sores?
As an autoimmune disease, stomatitis doesn’t have any known preventatives, Dr. Wingo explains.
“The most important thing you can do to prevent oral pain and tooth loss is to have your cat regularly examined by a board-certified veterinary dentist,” he says.
Important: Tooth brushing can help prevent mouth sores in healthy cats. But you don’t want to brush your cat’s teeth if they have any sores or oral conditions, since this could make their pain worse.
Always have your vet check your cat’s mouth at their annual exam and ask about the right way to brush their teeth.
Takeaway
Cat mouth sores, especially those caused by FCGS, can be tough to manage.
But you have many options to explore for treatment, and your vet will work to find the right approach and keep your cat comfortable.
The cost of veterinary care and dental care can add up quickly, but some pet insurance plans will cover dental care. Pet insurance will also cover stomatitis, unless it’s a pre-existing condition.
