Tips on Brushing Your Feline Friend’s Teeth
- Brushing a cat’s teeth is a challenging task to say the least, so starting earlier than later in their lives is advantageous to you both
- Cat’s generally don’t enjoy having their mouths touched so first get them accustomed to it by lifting their lips and exposing their teeth daily
- Ease your cat into their favourite resting place whilst you brush their teeth. This could be on a particular piece of furniture or even on your lap
- Use a specially designed cat toothbrush with soft bristles. A child’s toothbrush will also do. Alternatively, you could use a finger toothbrush or a cotton swab
- Never use human toothpaste, baking soda or salt to brush your cat’s teeth. Use toothpaste especially designed for cats. They come in feline-friendly flavours to make the experience more palatable for your feline friend
- Give your cat a tiny taste of the toothpaste a few days prior to the initial tooth-brushing session
- Raise your cat’s lip to reveal their gums and teeth
- Gently brush in movements like you would a child or your own teeth
- Most cats won’t permit you near their inside teeth so focus on brushing the outer surfaces of the gums and teeth
- The canines and back upper molars are prone to tartar accumulation so don’t overlook these in a brushing session
- Once your cat is familiar with the brushing process, aim to maintain a daily brushing routine
- Reward you cat for his patience and cooperation with a dental friendly, tartar-reducing treat after the brushing session
Written for inFURmation
by Taliah Williamson
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Disclaimer: The information produced by Infurmation is provided for general and educational purposes only and does not constitute any legal, medical or other professional advice on any subject matter. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Always seek the advice of your vet or other qualified health care provider prior to starting any new diet or treatment and with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you suspect that your pet has a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider.
