Solutions for Cats to Clean Teeth

It's not only humans who must worry about dental care -- cats can also suffer serious illnesses and conditions when their teeth deteriorate. As a responsible pet owner, it is your job to make sure that your cat's teeth and gums are well-looked-after. Not many cats enjoy having the inside of their mouths touched, so providing good dental care is easier said than done. However, feasible options do exist when it comes to protecting your feline's chompers.

Start Small

If you have a kitten, the time to get them used to dental care is now. If you acclimate them to the process when they're young, you'll have a much easier time protecting your cats' teeth when they're older. Start by putting a finger into the kitten's mouth when you're playing or petting it. Next, put some cat toothpaste on your finger, and insert it into the cat's mouth. Finally, try brushing a few teeth at a time until you can clean the cat's entire mouth without its struggling.

The Right Tools

Human toothbrushes and toothpastes are inappropriate for cats -- even a child's toothbrush is too big, and the toothpaste is not formulated for felines. Pet stores and veterinarians carry special toothbrushes and toothpaste designed for cats. If a hard, long-handled toothbrush is not to their liking, toothbrushes also come in soft plastic caps that fit over your finger. These have bristles on the end so that you can clean your cat's teeth with ease. If one flavor of toothpaste (such as tuna) is not to your cat's liking, try a different flavor to make toothbrushing more bearable for it.

Enlist Help

If your cat is especially difficult to handle when it comes to dental care, get a friend or family member to help you provide it. One of you can wrap the cat in a towel (to prevent scratching and struggling), while the other person cleans the teeth. It may help calm the cat if it sees this person on a regular basis -- otherwise, it will begin to associate her only with unpleasant teeth cleanings, which will make the process more difficult.

Talk to Professionals

If your cat will not tolerate having its teeth cleaned at all, consult a veterinarian, who may be able to perform a cleaning while the animal is under general anesthesia. If your cat has no other medical complications, such a cleaning would ideally be provided every year.