10 Dental Health Tips for Cats

1. START EARLY

As is true for most good habits, the earlier you start taking care of your cat’s teeth, the better off it will be. A lack of dental care can lead your cat to discomfort, severe pain, or debilitating and even life-threatening diseases. Don’t wait until a problem crops up. Implement good habits ASAP to give your cat the happiest and healthiest life possible. (PetMD)

2. GET FAMILIAR WITH COMMON FELINE DENTAL DISEASES

The first step to planning ahead and being prepared is to learn all you can about the problems that can afflict your cat’s teeth. This means learning to recognize common issues like plaque buildup, tartar and gingivitis, or less familiar problems like feline tooth resorption. Hopefully, you’ll never have to recognize these problems in your own cat’s mouth, but knowing about them ahead of time can only help with early detection. (Animal Planet)

3. KNOW THE SIGNS OF DENTAL DISCOMFORT

Aside from knowing how to recognize various dental problems in your cat’s teeth, it’s equally important to know the signs and symptoms that dental discomfort may cause in your cat. If you notice your cat excessively licking or drooling more than normal, or that it is pawing at its face, or if it appears to develop difficulty chewing, there may be something up with its teeth. If your cat is bleeding from the gums, there is definitely something wrong. Make an appointment with your vet as soon as you notice anything out of the ordinary. (Vetstreet)

4. SMELL YOUR CAT’S BREATH

The next time your cat wakes you up in the morning by climbing onto your chest and sticking its snout in your face and crying to be fed, take the opportunity to get a healthy whiff of its breath. Just get your nose in there and breathe deep. Now, if all is well, it probably still ain’t going to smell like roses. More likely it will smell vaguely of cat food. But if your cat’s breath smells seriously foul and disgusting, it may be a sign of dental or gum disease (or possibly a gastrointestinal issue). In any event, if Fluffy’s breath stinks way more than it should, it may be time to call the vet. (ASPCA)

5. BRUSH YOUR CAT’S TEETH

You knew we were getting to this; there’s really no way around it. To ensure optimum dental health for your cat, you’re going to have to get in there and brush. Ideally, you should brush your cat’s teeth every day, or at least a couple of times a week. We know you’re scoffing at the idea. What cat would ever put up with its owner brushing its teeth? That’s a big part of why it’s a good idea to start early. If you get your cat used to the process as a kitten, it will be much easier to get it to cooperate throughout its life. But you can still acclimate your adult cat to tooth brushing in steps. Start by gently massaging its gums with your fingers. Don’t be too aggressive; just get your cat used to this mild invasion of its mouth. After several days of this, add a bit of cat toothpaste to the mix to introduce the taste. Eventually, start using a toothbrush – one designed for cats. Some are designed to slip onto your finger and, with these, your routine can stay very similar to when you were merely massaging your cat’s gums. (ASPCA)

6. FEED YOUR CAT THE RIGHT DIET

Don’t neglect the importance of your cat’s diet and the role it plays in dental health. Ideally, your cat should be eating both wet and dry food. You can also introduce fresh meat into your little carnivore’s diet. Cat love fish, of course, but also try chicken, beef or rabbit. Besides the nutritional advantages, chewing a variety of foods with different textures helps keep your cat’s teeth healthy and strong. (PetMD)

7. SUPPLEMENT YOUR CAT’S BRUSHING ROUTINE

Maybe your cat fights you off every time you try to brush its teeth or maybe the brushing goes smoothly, but you want to do even more to ensure your cat’s choppers stay fresh and clean. Either way, there are ways other than brushing alone to scrub those pearly whites. There are many brands of cat treats formulated and designed to contribute to dental health, with textures that help remove plaque and freshen breath. Likewise, there is cat food available that provides a similar benefit. You may also find dental sprays and water additives useful for helping control plaque and tartar on your cat’s teeth. Consult your vet. (Animal Planet)

8. CHEW TOYS AREN’T JUST FOR DOGS

When it comes to cat toys, many of us tend to stick to the classics, like rattle mice and feathers on sticks or strings. Not as many of our cats get to enjoy chew toys as our dogs do, and that’s a shame, because there’s no reason cats can’t enjoy the benefits of chew toys. They can strengthen teeth, massage gums, and help curb nasty plaque and tartar. (ASPCA)

9. BONES AREN’T JUST FOR DOGS EITHER

Even more than chew toys, bones may be thought of in pet circles as the exclusive province of dogs. Nothing could be further from the truth. Remember, cats are natural carnivores and predators, which means they’re born bone chewers. Every once in a while, give your cat a bone for a treat to keep its teeth strong and clean. But just to be safe, avoid cooked bones or bones from chicken, pork or fish, because these can break or splinter and damage your cat’s guttyworks. (PetMD)