Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth

 

If you have a kitten, it is relatively easy to get it accustomed to such procedure. But if you have an adult cat, and you need to brush its teeth – it will require a lot of effort, endurance and perseverance on your part.

Put the cat on its side, stroke it gently, until the cat is completely relaxed. Grasp the cat’s head so that the thumbs of both hands could open the mouth. Hold the bared teeth with one hand and gently apply toothpaste on the space between the gum and the teeth with your other hand.

First, clean the back teeth, they are less painful, and then move to the front ones. With gentle circular motions clean the teeth, from the roots of the teeth towards the tip.

Do NOT press too hard on the toothbrush, to avoid damaging the gums.

Use only special tooth paste when brushing your cat’s teeth. (Can be purchased in veterinarian clinic or a pet store). Do NOT use ordinary tooth paste, that you use on daily basis, it is not suited for animals.

If you doubt that you can brush your cat’s teeth without causing pain, it is possible to clean them without a toothbrush. Simply wrap your finger with a piece of gauze or a bandage (sterile) and dip it in a toothpaste and the rest of the procedure is same as described above.

Gradually accustom your cat to this procedure, so as not to frighten the animal and avoid causing stress. Initially, it is enough to brush your cat’s teeth once a fortnight. And when your cat gets used to the procedure, it is advised to clean its teeth once or twice a week.