Sometimes when my friends enter my bathroom, they see three little toothbrushes lying on the countertop and get surprised because I actually don’t have kids, at least the humankind. The answer is yes, belong to my cats!
As cats owners, we usually care about a lot of things, for example, the kind of food, favorite treats, engaging toys and may some beautiful costume for Halloween, but cat dental care is something that not everybody is aware of and you should not miss at all.
Believe it or not, there are several conditions in the mouth of our kittens that lead to illness and you don’t even notice.
- Tartar
- Plaque build-up
- Foul breath
- Abscesses
- Gingivitis
Plaque is a film formed by saliva, bacteria, and food particles that, after a time becomes tartar, a hard yellowish deposit on your cat teeth can worsen and be derived in important infections.
Pet your cat but also brush his teeth!
Brushing cat teeth can be introduced when cats are kittens but it never is too late to do it. First of all, you need your cat’s mouth to be touched so you can start doing some massages over the gum with your fingers or a cotton swab. Then eventually, after 1 or 2 months, you will repeat the same process, but this time using a cat toothpaste daily or one day every other is a proper frequency.
Important! ALWAYS reward your cat after brushing; reinforcing positive behavior is the key to being able to do it repeatedly and comfortably.
Once your cat gets used to the cleaning, you will start to use a cat toothbrush gently, especially if gums are inflamed. You must brush the front and back tooth at least about 30 seconds.
Not all brushes are created equal!
You can choose which works better for your cats, I tested several ones, and I could say that it is different with every pet, and sometimes you need to try.
When gum is swollen, it is best to start with a soft brush; remember that it has not to hurt your cat, only clean his/her mouth. Brushes should be replaced after a certain time as well as we do with human ones.
Here you have the most common types:
Small Brushes
They are a perfect size, especially for small cats, and are very easy to use.
Finger Brushes
Work better in big cats and swollen gums because they are very soft.
360 Cat brushes
Very soft brush, the bristles covering 360-degree, helping to have more efficient cleaning. It is recommended for small cats and kittens.
Does my cat need toothpaste?
It is not completely necessary, but it helps; the most important thing is brushing frequently with or without toothpaste. NEVER use human toothpaste on animals; it could be toxic, abrasive, and irritating.
There are two types of products in the market, and your vet can recommend one or the other.
The most common is enzymatic toothpaste, which contains an enzyme called glucose oxidase that becomes antibacterial in the presence of glucose and oxygen, generating hydrogen peroxide, which works against tartar and plaque. You don’t have to rinse this product, and it is entirely safe for your pet.
This is the one I use with my cats, no complaints about the flavor at all.
The second one is a rinse that contains a potent bactericidal called chlorhexidine. Upon initial contact, it is quickly absorbed into the teeth’ pellicle, providing a longer-lasting bacteriostatic effect. The taste is not very nice, so not all cat tolerates them, but you don’t require to brush the tooth.
Additionally, your kitten can use chew toys and specially formulated dental treats. Find here a selection of the most recommended ones:
