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Cat health isn’t just about feeding cats the right food and taking them to regular veterinary check-ups — dental care is also very important. It includes brushing your cat’s teeth and providing all preventive means, like selective diets.
When I spoke with my vet and did some research, I learned how much of an impact it has on preventing things like gingivitis and periodontal disease from brushing your cat’s teeth.
For my part, in this blog, I share with you my story about how often to brush cat teeth
and give practical advice. Whether you already have a cat or are thinking of getting one, this guide provides all the information you need to know to keep your feline friend’s mouth as healthy as possible throughout their life.
Why Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth is Crucial
Most people would be surprised to hear that dental hygiene is a necessity for cats. Cats have dental issues and if left untreated these can cause oral pain, dental disease, prevent eating, and contribute to diseases in the kidneys or liver. Regular dental care, like brushing your cats teeth can help reduce the chance of them finding themselves in this position.
So again, when I realized my cat was suffering from dental problems, I had no idea how to take care of its teeth. As I looked, I noticed such things from bad breath to swollen gums—all symptoms of dental illness
On further consultation with the vet, I got to know that all this can be avoided by adding regular cat teeth brushing to my routine. Brushing your cat’s teeth properly and routinely is the most important thing you can do to help maintain their oral health, though it may seem like a challenge at first.
Over time, that plaque and tartar will turn into painful infections if not brushed away. Cats, like people, have dental requirements in order to preserve the health of their teeth. Plus many people mistakenly believe that dry food scrapes bacteria off teeth but in reality that is not valid.
How Often Should You Brush Your Cat’s Teeth?
The interesting thing with cat teeth care is how often you should brush their teeth. According to veterinarians, it is best to brush the teeth of your cat daily in order to prevent plaque and tartar. This can be difficult for a lot of cat owners to manage on a daily basis, as many cats just are not trained to it.
In my experience, brushing my cat’s teeth at least 2-3 times a week was a practical goal, which still provided significant benefits.
If you’re wondering how often to brush a cat teeth, it is ideal for daily use; however, brushing a couple of times a week can help to reduce dental disease. Strive for regular brushing according to your schedule and Kitten’s temperament.
Bad breath, drooling, and difficulty chewing are further dental trouble alerts to watch for in your cat. If it is displaying any of these signs, this time could be more frequent or even for a professional dental cleaning.
How to Brush Your Cat’s Teeth
Learning how to brush a cat teeth, might take time and practice to master the tooth brushing process. At first, I was concerned about my cat’s response when I began brushing its teeth. My cat, like many, was not happy about it. With some persistence, however, I came up with a routine that suited both of us.
Here’s an easy-to-follow comprehensive guide on how to brush cat teeth:
Start Slowly
Use a toothbrush, either with your finger or a soft cloth. This makes them less anxious in the process.
Choose the Right Tools
Get a paste and a brush that is for cats only. You should not buy dental products designed for humans because they are harmful to cats instead I decided to get some a meat flavor that cats loved.
Positioning
Place your cat somewhere comfortable and hold it gently. If needed, you can wrap them in a towel to keep them calm.
Brushing Technique
Gently lift your cat’s lip and brush in small circles, focusing on the outer surfaces of the teeth. How to brush a cat’s teeth without causing stress is all about patience—start with a few teeth and gradually increase the time spent brushing.
Positive Reinforcement
Every time you do this training with your cat, reward them with a treat or some play afterward. This helps her associate the brushing with a positive and makes upcoming sessions easier.
Alternatives to Brushing
Sometimes, teeth brushing for a cat does not go without challenges, and that is an understood fact. While brushing teeth for the first time in a cat, most people can face many challenges, starting from resistance to other time issues.
However, with patience and the right method, I have found ways that suit both my cat and me. Some of the challenges faced by cat owners are discussed here, and some solutions have been offered:
Resistance from the Cat
Most cats, including my cat, do not like having their teeth brushed and will resist this act. Patience should be the key here. Trying to brush the cat’s teeth can be a gradual process. Use flavored toothpaste and reward with treats to ease the task. If the cat teeth brushing is still refused, brush a few teeth once then extend the effort in a few stages.
Older Cats or Cats Who Have Never Had Their Teeth Brushed
If you have a cat who has never had their teeth cleaned then starting this practice at a later age can be quite difficult. Since cats age, they are less willing to let you help them with their daily hygiene. However, it is possible to keep their mouth healthy by gradually introducing them to brushing.
Cost Concerns
Some people own cats, and the cost of buying any dental care product or hiring a doctor to clean the cat’s teeth may be an issue for them. Products like cat water additives or dental wipes are inexpensive alternatives that help with brushing.
Finding the Right Products
There are numerous products that claim to improve cats’ dental health and it sometimes becomes hard to know which one to choose. If you have never owned cats before, purchasing cat toothbrushes and toothpaste specifically made for this use is easier.
There are also flavours that the cat loves, and having them as part of the process can encourage the cat to cooperate during the tooth-brushing session.
Conclusion
As previously mentioned, caring for your cat’s teeth is an important factor in the overall health of the cat. Although it seems to be a bit of a hassle at first, you need to make it a habit to brush your feline’s teeth regularly to protect against severe dental issues in the future.
In my case, I have discovered that through determination and suitable technique, brushing the cats’ teeth gets easier, and the cat’s dental health suffers less.
If you brush your cat’s teeth every day or brush a few times a week, I am sure you will appreciate that regularity is very important. Whenever it is not possible to carry out this activity, some alternatives such as dental treats, water additives or even dental wipes can be used to keep your cat’s oral cavity healthy.
Do not forget that the veterinarian’s visit routine is also very important to prevent the majority of the problems with your cat’s teeth, especially in old cats.
In the end, mastering the skill of cats teeth brushing and doing the same on a daily basis will ensure that your cat is healthy as well as enable you to eliminate unnecessary expenses, considering all the vet fees that you would have incurred.
FAQ SECTION:
How often should I brush my cat’s teeth?
Every cat’s dental hygiene should be done on a day to day basis. In the absence if that, then brushing 2-3 times in a week should be quite helpful in averting dental problems.
Why should I even make the effort to brush my cat’s teeth?
Alternatives might include dental treats, water additives, or dental wipes; these alternatives aren’t ideal either, however. Rotating and using these options are most likely less effective in the prevention of dental disease than regular dental brushing.
How can you make your cat’s teeth clean at home naturally?
There is of course the possibility to use dental sticks, water and food additives or raw bones to achieve a most natural cat teeth cleaning option. However it is best when used along with regular brushing.
Is it safe for my cat to use human toothpaste?
No, no using human toothpaste for cats, as it is not recommended. Only use cat toothpaste whenever that is required
