It's best to start brushing your cat's teeth when he is still a kitten. Introducing a toothbrush to an older cat may take longer for him to get used to. “You can start brushing a kitten's teeth as soon as 8 to 10 weeks of age so they grow up with the process being a normal part of their lives,” Dr. Coates said.
Wait until your cat is six months old
Cats younger than six months are likely to still be teething, so will find teeth brushing painful.
Brushing your animal's teeth is an essential part of their oral hygiene, just like for humans! Although your pet's baby teeth will fall out soon, it is recommended to get your pet used to having their teeth brushed at an early age.
It's never too late to start brushing your cat's teeth though! Before you start the training, it's a good idea to get your cat checked by your vet to make sure nothing is wrong. If you start trying to clean your cat's teeth when they are in pain, your cat won't like it and the training won't work.
To stave off kitty gum disease, veterinary guidelines and professionals generally recommend that owners clean their cat's chompers daily, ideally for at least a minute, hitting every tooth. “That's the gold standard,” says Santiago Peralta, a veterinary dentist at Cornell University.
Most (73%) cat owners say they never brush their cat's teeth, while few say they do so more than once a day (1%), once a day (3%) or a few times a week (3%). Others brush their cat's teeth on a weekly basis (4%), monthly (2%) or rarely (14%).
Alternatives for tooth brushing include dental treats, dental diets, water additives, topical gels, and oral rinses. These items can be used to maximize a healthy oral cavity and can be used for multi-modal oral care.
In the wild, cats don't have anyone to brush their teeth or take them to the vet's office. They get enough oral care from their diet when they crunch and gnaw on bones from the live food they catch and eat.
It's never too early to start looking after your kitten's teeth. A regular brushing routine can help to prevent tooth decay and gum problems in the future.
Their daily fastidious grooming reduces the frequency that they'll need a bath. Cats do a good job of cleaning most debris from their coat, but their self-grooming won't get everything out, nor will it make them smell any nicer. The National Cat Groomers Institute of America recommends a bath once every 4-6 weeks.
A kitten's bad breath can be triggered by something as basic as a smelly fish meal, but it may also indicate underlying health conditions like diabetes, constipation, and gum disease.
Rule #1: make sure you choose a toothpaste formulated specifically for pets. Human toothpaste should never be used on cats, even in small amounts. Ingredients like fluoride can cause stomach upset. Xylitol, a natural sweetener that's safe for humans, can be toxic to cats.
Interrupt Inappropriate Kitten Biting
A very effective way to interrupt a young kitten from biting is to make a percussive “SSSST!” hissing sound that imitates the mother cat. Since a feline hiss means, “Back off, I'm warning you!” this works especially well with young kittens under about 4 months of age.
While some pet parents successfully clean their cat's teeth using a small piece of soft gauze, others find a finger brush works for their felines. Still another approach is to apply dental gel to their cat's teeth using a toothbrush or a finger, which allows the gel to do the work for them.
Dental cleanings are very important for kitty's health and comfort, and may be needed on a regular basis for cats who don't tolerate brushings at home. If you choose to begin brushing your cat's teeth, please note that cats require special toothpaste, as fluoride is toxic to dogs and cats.
This is called a “Flehmen response,” sometimes shortened to “flehming.” The term comes from a German word referring to curling of the lips. The cat opens their mouth to allow scent to reach the vomeronasal organ (called the Jacobsen Organ) in the roof of their mouth.
Dental Scaling and Polishing
However sometimes under all that plaque lurks some unhealthy teeth that may need treatment or extraction. The prices for a scale and polish (including the items mentioned above) are: Cat or small dog $1,300 – $1,600. Medium to large dog $1,400 – $1,800.
Cats are predators, so part of their natural diet consists of hard bones. Chewing bones knocks off tartar and helps keep their teeth and gums healthy. Since domesticated cats aren't eating mice and other animals for their daily meals, some veterinarians recommend giving them hard toys to chew on.
Again, this myth is false. The most effective way to help prevent or slow the advancement of periodontal (gum) disease — the most common dental disease in cats — is to brush your cat's teeth every day to remove plaque and reduce tartar buildup.
Not taking care of your cat's teeth can also result in tooth decay, infection, and inflammation in the mouth. All of which can be extremely painful for your cat. Sometimes, teeth need to be pulled, or else you risk putting your cat in life-threatening danger.
Food, treats, toys, chews, water additives, and oral sprays are all available to promote a healthy mouth. Greenies dental treats, WHISKAS® Dentabites Cat Treats, and Purina DentaLife® Cat Treats are all recommended by the Veterinary Oral Health Council.
Never use human dental products on a cat. Specific animal dental products are readily available – ask your vet. You will need: Toothbrush – a suitable toothbrush for cats, and a separate toothbrush for each cat as saliva can be a major route for cross-infection.