How often are you brushing your cat’s teeth?
If you are like many cat owners, the answer is probably “I’m supposed to brush their teeth? Ha! How?” But cat teeth cleaning is incredibly important to your kitty’s overall health.
Like humans, cats can get gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss and may even require surgery in advanced stages. Luckily, regular teeth cleaning can treat and prevent gum disease.
Of course, any cat owner knows that it can be hard to get your cat to do what you want, even if it is what’s best. Read on for cat teeth cleaning tips and tricks.
Everything You Need to Know About Cat Teeth Cleaning
Make brushing your cat’s teeth is a part of the regular grooming you already do with your cat. This guide will help get you started.
What to Use
Use a cat toothbrush to brush your cat’s teeth. These have soft bristles and are specially designed for cats’ mouths.
There are also pet toothbrushes that you can wear on your finger, and in a pinch, a soft child’s toothbrush will work.
Never use human toothpaste, salt, or baking soda for brushing your cat’s teeth. These are dangerous to their health.
Instead, use a pet-friendly paste. These are flavored with fish or chicken to make them more palatable for your pet.
How to Brush
You may have to start slowly over the course of a few days to get them comfortable with the process. Begin by letting your cat taste the toothpaste. See if she will let you rub a little into her gums and teeth.
Once you’re ready, follow these steps:
- Hold your cat on your lap in a comfortable spot. Spend a few minutes petting her.
- When she’s relaxed, lift her lips to expose her gums and teeth.
- Brush in a gentle downward motion, away from the gums. Clean the outside-facing portion of the teeth. Your cat likely won’t let you clean the inside.
- Continue until you’ve brushed all her teeth. Be sure to get the very back ones as plaque builds up there.
That’s it! There is no need to rinse as cat toothpaste is safe to ingest.
How Often Do I Brush?
Ideally, you’ll brush your cat’s teeth on a daily basis. However, if this isn’t possible, brush them as often as you can.
Brushing a few times a week will still be beneficial and help prevent gum disease. The more regularly you brush, the more accustom to it your cat will become, and the easier it will be.
What Do I Do if My Cat Resists?
Cats aren’t exactly known for being cooperative, especially when it comes to cat teeth cleaning. Don’t give up if your cat is resistant to brushing at first.
You can try wrapping your cat in a blanket or towel before brushing, which will make it harder for them to fight or escape. You might have to brush only a few teeth at a time.
For some cats, you may also need to take it very slow at first. As we mentioned above, let them taste the toothpaste. Spend some time petting them, and then gently try to lift their lips and expose their teeth.
Do this over the course of a few days or weeks until they are used to you touching their mouth. Make sure to give them lots of pets afterward to make it a positive experience!
Time to Call the Professionals
If you have a really resistant cat, or if you think your cat’s teeth need a deeper clean than you provide, calling in a professional cat groomer may be the solution. Lucky Dawg can brush your cat’s teeth for you, along with the usual bath and nail trim that comes with a professional grooming.
Does your cat hate the car? In addition to our salon, we also offer mobile grooming. That’s right! We come to you!
Contact us today to schedule an appointment or set up a time for mobile grooming.
