Cat Dental
Cats have 30 teeth once they reach adulthood, and taking care of all those teeth on their own isn't easy. Unlike us, cats can’t brush their teeth. Their way of keeping their teeth clean when they’re out in the wild is by munching on grass or bones.
Dental hygiene is important for cats. You can prevent your cat from oral hygiene issues in the future by taking some precautionary measures. There are a couple of ways that you can do this which we have listed below. Combining methods will achieve the best result for you and your cat. All methods are aiming to prevent or control periodontal disease by minimising plaque accumulation. Cats can be reluctant to accept home oral hygiene, and could require a patient approach to achieve success.
Regular Dental Exam
If you cannot get your cat to try either of the above you can visit us periodically and we can descale your cats teeth and help them keep in tip top shape. First, make sure your cat gets her regular dental exam with her veterinarian and secondly schedule an appointment to have her teeth cleaned and scaled so you have a clean slate.
Brushing Their Teeth
Brushing your cat’s teeth is the most effective means to maintain dental health. Most cats will allow their teeth to be brushed if you take a gentle approach.
Start by letting your cat lick the dentifrice from your finger
Then off the small feline toothbrush
Then gradually place the brush in your cat’s mouth and add the brushing motions
Introduction of this process may require daily activity over 1-2 months. Avoid human toothpastes as they often contain abrasives and high-foaming detergents that should not be swallowed or inhaled. Small cat-specific toothbrushes are available from our practice.
Dental Toys and Treats
We can recommend towards toys that have enzymes to reduce plaque.
Dental Specific Diets
Specific diets have been shown to be of benefit in slowing down the build up of plaque. Some may be in the form of kibble. Ask your veterinary nurse for guidance what food would work best for this.