cleaning a cat’s teeth is an essential part of taking care of a feline. Even if your cat never visits the dentist, you can help it maintain its beautiful, sharp teeth through home dental care.
Many times, cleaning a cat’s teeth is as simple as getting them at around six to eight weeks of age, giving them a quick examination, and starting on appropriate chew foods and brushing ones every day.
At around eight to twelve months, the vet can get the teeth professionally cleaned. This is usually done once a year for safety reasons, or once a year for wellness reasons.
This article will talk about how to do home dental care for cats at around six to eight weeks of age.
Contents:
Use pet toothpaste
You can make your own pet toothpaste at home. There are many varieties of commercial toothpastes that contain natural plant constituents such as Pacific Yew or Salmon Oil to help improve your pet’s oral health.
Knowing how to make your own pet toothpaste is a great way to learn some new things about cleaning pets. For example, how to choose the right ingredients for the right length of time for your pet.
Some ingredients that people may not know about for their dog-specific toothpaste are: cedar, lemons, rosemary, lavender and cumin. Many people use one of these but no one really explains how to use it.
Cedar seems counterintuitively “carpet cleaner”-like but is actually good for dogs because it helps prevent hair from sticking to equipment such as computers and phones.
Use human toothpaste
If you have a special cat that needs very little cleaning, try using human toothpaste instead. It may seem strange to use a different type of toothpaste for cleaning your cat’s teeth, but it may help reduce the amount of bacterial growth on his teeth.
Without the bacteria that probablty thrive in your dog’s mouth, human toothpaste has a lower amount of colour and taste which makes it easier for your kitty to consume it. Also, because it is child-sized paste, your kitty will have a harder time swallowing it than if it were an adult size.
However, this policy of using human toothpaste doesn’t apply to my dog.
Use a pet brush
A pet brush is a valuable tool for keeping your cat healthy and cleaning its teeth at the same time. A brush is also an opportunity to learn a little bit more about your cat’s mouth!
Cats have very short solidified feline milk teeth that occur later in life. As this period of life is not typical of what brings you together as a cat, it can be difficult to determine if this tool is right for your kitty.
Some cats do not like the taste of toothpaste, which is why he does not use toothpaste on his own. Using a pet brush allows him to get his teeth clean and enjoy the taste.
A common problem owners experience with their cats is that they are unable to get enough energy to eat or sleep. The short length of solidified feline milk teeth occurs later in life and tends to wear down health, energy, and sleep habits.
Use a human brush
For very young cats, a soft, plush toy or small litter box training pad can be used to clean their cat’s teeth.
This is not ideal for more mature cats that have developed their own way of eating and cleaning their mouth. The human brush can get dirty too.
For this reason, it is important to use a sharpened human brush instead of one with hair on it. The human brush will be able to get rid of the food and/or liquid left behind by the cat as it eats, so there are no complications such as bacteria growth or decay.
Another reason why it is important to use a human brush is because some cats may have trouble with the wrong kind of hair getting trapped in the mouth and coming out the other side.
Give your cat chewing toys
If you’re running out of time or your cat has a lot of hair to clean, buying hard plastic chew toys and playing with them is an excellent way to spend your time while cleaning your cat’s teeth.
Using a dental brush to brush your cat’s teeth is important, as it provides extra benefits such as removing old blood and leftover foods. By taking care of this way, you are also supporting the vet care team at the same time.
Many retail stores carry these products, and they are often sold as “pet Christmas gifts.” If you have a close friend or family member who has a kitten or small animal in need of care, you could send them this gift.
Others suggest taking their cats to the vet for checkups and dental cleaning every six months, so giving them plenty of toys and games at home is helpful in keeping their teeth and gums healthy.
Try pet food designed to reduce tartar build-up
If you have a high traffic cat, consider looking into design-breed-for-retreats solutions. If your cat enjoys playing with other cats, such as in playgroups or with other groups, consider a cat home package.
If your cat doesn’t like dogs, consider a forever home with a special needs dog. If you can keep the outsider perspective on your pet in place, this can go well.
If your pet is allergic to something, try trying that outside of the home before you look at boarding. There are many ways to take care of animals outside of the hospital, such as at animal shelters or private homes.
Consider alternatives to couching your pet when it’s sick or exhausted. Try going for a long walk or play some games together and make it a habit.
Try human products designed to reduce tartar build-up
Your cat may be keeping her teeth clean by not eating her food or drinking enough water ABV, or by not handling her food and beverage ABV, as recommended. Or she may be using a toothpaste that contains baking soda or a mouthwash that contains saltine crackers.
Baking soda is a very common ingredient in many products, including commercial toothpastes. It reduces the pH level of your cat’s mouthaly so it can be cleaned easier. A little bit of saltine cracker paste will not hurt either as it is slightly acidified.
If your cat has very sensitive teeth or if you are trying to save money by using cheaper alternatives, pay attention to any signs of tartar build-up. You can try removing it with a q-tip if it does not seem to want to come off.
Take your cat to the vet for a cleaning
Even the greatest homes do not always have the expertise to clean cat teeth at home. This can be tricky, as some methods are harder to learn than others.
A good way to learn how to take care of a cat is by watching videos or taking classes at a local vet school or veterinary assisting school. There are many different ways to teach a cat, so you can have fun cleaning its teeth!
There are many ways to take care of a cat. Some people only use food and water alone, while others use only bedtime rituals and/or morning routines. It is up to the individual to find what works for them!
There are many ways to teach a cat if needs need taking care of.