How to Brush Your Cat's Teeth

Most cat owners know they should brush their cat's fur, but did you know that you should also brush your cat's teeth? Dental health care is very important to the overall health of your cat. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, seventy percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three. Many oral diseases and conditions can cause discomfort, pain, tooth decay and tooth loss. Some can lead to infections that affect your cat's organs and even cause death. Brushing your cat's teeth can prevent many of these problems. I will give you some tips on how to brush your cat's teeth to make it fun and easy for you and your cat.

What to Use. Make sure you only use dental care products for your cat that are actually meant for cats. Tooth pastes and gels meant for humans can make your cat sick.

Your veterinary may carry cat dental care supplies. You can also find cat dental care kits with brushes and tooth paste or gel at many local and online pet stores. You may want to compare prices and reviews before purchasing a cat dental product. Keep in mind that different cats have different taste buds and you may have to try more than one product to find one your cat likes.

Make it Enjoyable. Making cleaning sessions enjoyable for your cat will go a long way in getting them to like having their teeth brushed. You can start each session with something your cat likes, such as petting or grooming for a few minutes, before taking any steps toward brushing their teeth. Talking to your cat in a loving voice, praising your cat often by telling them what a good kitty they are, and keeping a calm attitude will also make it a good experience for your cat.

You should have a special treat for your cat that they will only get at the end of a cleaning session. Give it to them after every session so they know a yummy reward comes after cleaning. This is a good time for a plaque or tartar-fighting treat, just make sure it's something your cat loves and will look forward to, making your cat more likely to also look forward to and enjoy having their teeth brushed.

One Step at a Time. Don't try to plunge into actually brushing your cat's teeth right away. Taking small steps towards teeth brushing will give your cat time to get used to the whole process, making it much more likely that you will be met with little to no resistance.

Introducing the Toothpaste. Begin the first attempt at cleaning your cat's teeth by letting them taste the tooth paste or gel before you try to brush. Simply put a small amount of toothpaste or gel on your finger and let your cat lick it off. You can do this step for a couple of days to let your cat get used to the flavor. Make sure you give your cat the special treat after each session.

Get Your Cat Used to You Putting Something in Their Mouth. Once kitty is used to the taste of the toothpaste or gel, you can try to put your finger, with a little toothpaste or gel on it, in your cat's mouth and gently rub their gums and teeth for a few moments. If your cat resists, don't force the issue, just wait to try again the next day.

Once your cat will let you use your finger to rub their gums and teeth a few times, you can move on to introducing a toothbrush. Remember to give your cat the special treat after each session, even if they resist a step.

Finger Toothbrush. Many dental kits for cats come with a toothbrush that actually goes on the end of your finger. This should work great once your cat has gotten used to your finger being in their mouth and is often much easier to use than a regular toothbrush for cats. Before trying to brush your cat's teeth with the finger toothbrush, put some of the toothpaste or gel on it and let your cat lick it off, then give your cat the special treat. This allows your cat to get used to the feel and texture of the toothbrush. Repeat this step for a couple of sessions.

Brushing Kitty's Teeth. Once kitty seems used to the feel and texture of the finger toothbrush, you can move on to starting to brush your cat's teeth. Only try to brush one or two teeth during the first real brushing session, then give your cat the special treat as a reward for letting you brush their teeth.

For the first several weeks of brushing your cat's teeth, only brush a little bit each time, don't worry about getting the whole mouth at once. Also, brushing the front of the teeth is what's important in a cat's mouth, it's not necessary to get the back of the teeth. Brush a few more teeth as your cat gets used to it and allows you to. Try to brush your cat's teeth every day or at least every other day to prevent plaque buildup.

The Final and Most Important Tip. Never force your cat to let you brush their teeth and stop right away if your cat starts pulling away or fighting it. If you aggravate your cat by forcing them to get their teeth brushed, it is very likely that it will never go well from then on and it may even make it impossible for you to ever do it again.

Related Content:

National Pet Dental Health Month

Sources:

American Veterinary Dental Society

PetEducation.com