Dental Hygiene for Cats 
© Garnar / stock.adobe.com
Regular teeth brushing for cats is sensible to prevent dental issues.
Many cats suffer from dental issues like inflamed gums. These aren’t just painful for your cat but can also lead to ascending infections and pus-filled jaw abscesses. So, discover our top tips for proper dental care for cats right here.
Table of contents
Why is Dental Hygiene Important for Cats?
A fully functioning jaw is essential for wildcats in the wild to survive. However, healthy teeth are also very important for the health of domesticated indoor cats.
Without adequate dental hygiene, painful inflammation and tooth loss can occur. It’s said that almost three-quarters of all cats suffer from often incurable dental problems (such as periodontitis, FORL).
The Consequences of Poor Dental Hygiene
If you as an owner do not provide sufficient dental care, your cat can suffer from it permanently. The most common dental issues in cats are:
Plaque and Tartar
If you can see white to yellowish deposits on your cat’s teeth, it’s probably plaque. When it becomes hard and brownish, tartar is already present. Soon after, due to the released sulphur compounds, bad breath occurs. If left untreated, tartar can lead to serious health problems.
Pain and Chewing
Problems When a bacterial infection and inflammation (e.g. gingivitis)) occur in your cat’s mouth due to inadequate dental hygiene, it is usually painful. Affected cats have inflamed gums and difficulty chewing. Sometimes, cats express their pain by frequently shaking their heads or using their paws to feel around their mouths.
Bacterial Inflammations and Further Complications
In severe cases, the penetrated bacteria can move into deeper areas. For instance, they might ascend to the jaw and cause pus-filled abscesses there.
From there, they can also reach other organs (e.g., heart valves or kidneys) via the bloodstream and cause further inflammations (e.g., inflammatory heart valve disease, kidney infection).
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Preventing Issues: Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth
Although it might seem unusual for many cat owners to take care of their cat’s teeth, regular dental hygiene is part of the proper care for cats.
Once dental problems have set in, it’s almost impossible to rid your cat of them. Therefore, the emphasis for good dental health lies in prevention – including regular tooth brushing.
By brushing your cat’s teeth, you can remove harmful plaque and reduce the risk of tartar formation. The earlier you start brushing your cat’s teeth, the better chance you have to avoid dental issues. However, it’s never too late to start.
How to Accustom Your Cat to Tooth Brushing
Ideally, you should get your cat used to tooth brushing while it is still a kitten. Here are some tips:
- Find a quiet place where your cat feels comfortable.
- Use petting sessions to gently practice touching your cat’s mouth. Praise your cat when it allows this.
- Once your cat is familiar with its mouth being touched, start using your finger as a toothbrush substitute. Dip it in warm water and gently stroke your cat’s teeth and gums. Continue to praise your cat for tolerating the process.
- As your cat gets used to your finger, try wrapping it with gauze or using special Finger-Pads. Gently circle these over your cat’s teeth.
- Next, move on to an appropriate cat toothbrush.
Remember: Always be patient with your furry friend and don’t pressure it! Feel free to use healthy cat snacks as a reward during this learning process.
How Do I Properly Brush My Cat’s Teeth?
Once your cat has become tolerant of tooth brushing, you can also use special toothpaste for cats. Apply a small amount on the toothbrush and gently move it in circular motions over the teeth.
Never apply too much pressure and be especially careful around the sensitive gum line. Just one minute of effective brushing is completely sufficient.
Note: Never use human toothpaste, as it’s unsuitable for your cat’s sensitive mouth.
Always end the tooth-brushing routine positively, with a play or cuddle session, for example.
How Often Should I Brush My Cat’s Teeth?
For the best effect, it’s advisable to brush your cat’s teeth daily.
When in Doubt, Consult a Specialist
Some cats do not like to be touched at all. Others enjoy their owner’s affection but can react unexpectedly if in pain.
To avoid injuring your cat during tooth brushing or being bitten, make sure your cat is cooperative during dental care. If you have any doubts about your own safety or the correct execution, it’s wise to seek advice and support from your veterinarian.
Other Tips for Cat Dental Care
In addition to a tooth-brushing routine, also consider the following points for a holistic approach to your cat’s dental care:
Veterinary Check-Ups and Dental Cleaning
Even the best dental care is no guarantee that your cat won’t develop dental problems over its lifetime. Therefore, it’s very important to have your cat’s mouth examined annually by a veterinarian, in addition to good dental care.
If the vet observes any changes, they can warn you in time. They can also intervene early and perform a professional dental clean if necessary.
Tooth Abrasion Through Food and Chew Snacks
Many reports suggest that the choice of food has an impact on your cat’s dental health. Dry food is said to create more tooth abrasion than wet food due to its firm texture.
In addition to mechanical wear, dry food also encourages your cat to chew, which, in turn, should aid tooth wear.
Also, special dental care snacks for in-between are recommended to support your cat’s dental care.
This article from zooplus Magazine is purely informative. If your pet is experiencing discomfort, contact your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
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At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene. Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future. Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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