Dental hygiene is often an overlooked aspect in cat care. Pet parents give attention to their kitty’s skin & coat, paws, ears and eyes but leave aside her teeth. Fleas and mites attack cat’s skin and ears and thus draw attention quite easily. But, teeth remain out of notice as routine symptoms like bad breath or lethargy do not raise an alarm in us.
Teeth and dental care is important as when neglected it actually results in painful chronic diseases. The finest way to keep your pet’s teeth healthy is to brush them regularly. Next big thing is the food you give to your kitty. Make sure you give food that does not damage her teeth or gums. A dirty mouth is a cause of several diseases in cats.
If you have yet not started brushing your feline friend’s teeth then start it as soon as possible. Talk to your vet about the kind of food that will help in maintaining the cat’s dental hygiene. You must also get suggestions from your vet about the kind of toothbrush and tooth paste you need for your pet. Once you are done with collecting all the information and details, you can go ahead with teeth care.
Want to know the method of brushing your cat’s teeth – here’s how!
Well, first let us be very clear that your kitty might not readily accept the teeth cleaning exercise. She may choose to protest by not allowing you to touch her mouth. Therefore, forming a habit will require lot of patience from your side. You can go at a slow pace by making your pet accustomed to dental hygiene.
- In the beginning, you can put your finger in her mouth and see the reaction. Next thing would be to dip your finger in a treat and then put it in the cat’s mouth. The kitty will certainly lick the flavored treat on your finger. Follow this routine for a couple of days until the cat habituates to licking your finger.
- You can then move forward to rubbing your cat’s teeth. Using a broth-soaked gauze will also help to make an initial practice. You can then put a treat on a cat toothbrush and let your cat to lick it. Make sure your kitty is comfortable with this process and you appreciate her for her good response.
- After this habit-forming exercise, you can introduce her to toothpaste. You will find many flavored cat toothpastes, which will be easily liked by your kitty. Ask your vet about the best flavor that will suit the sensitivity of your pet and check if your kitty likes it or not.
- While brushing, you need to brush her teeth front and back just as you do for your own. Make it a point to clean her back teeth, as they need proper attention. You can make a daily habit or choose to brush your feline’s teeth thrice a week or make it a weekend task.
Like every new habit, teeth cleaning will also take time and you need not give up during this long habit forming process. Once your cat is trained, she will get used to this routine. You never know what seems so tough might be loved by your kitty. So, just relax and start your kitty’s teeth cleaning practices at the earliest. All the best!