Cats - essential oils and food for dental problems!

ClaireLR

I was wondering if anyone can offer me some advice on a couple of things. I want to start using essential oils in the house and I just wanted to check that there aren't any that will make my cats ill beforehand. Sometimes I use lavender on my pillow and one of my cats wont come near me, the other cat doesnt seem to mind tho

Also, my vet has suggested that due to gum problems I start feeding my cats the Royal canin food for dental health but it's £23 for 3.5kg bag. Is there any cheaper dental food I can buy? I've searched the net for cheaper Royal Canin but when the P&P is added on there isn't anywhere that works out much cheaper than what I'm paying.

Thanks

sandy2_2

Sorry can't help re food, but would puss tolerate his teeth being brushed a bit using a small headed brush

ClaireLR

I already us the logic hygiene gel and put that on their paws to lick off as recommended by the vet. Im not sure if they ll let me brush them but I'll give it a go! Stupid question, can you use a normal toothbrush or does it have to be a special "cat" one???

Anyone know about the essential oils please??

wuno

I don't know about the essential oils. But well done for thinking about it beforehand. Many people assume these things are "natural" so they must be safe, though clearly most of them haven't been tested for safety in people, nevermind animals.

You can use cat "toothpaste" on the tip of your index finger. Sit the cat on your lap facing away from you and rub the gel onto the outside face of the teeth/gums going in from each side behind the canines - the back teeth are more important to get than the front, though your vet will tell you where the gum recession is worst - sometimes it can be the canines that go first. You can buy little brushes that fit on your finger to help with abrasion, but they are tricky to use and I've never had much sucess getting my cats to let me use one. It's the presence of the chemicals that is more important than the abrasion.

Try not to get bitten as cat bites can be nasty. This is generally something that cats will accept provided you don't force the issue too much.

Take advice from your vet about doing this alongside what you already use, since you don't want to overdose on anything (though I doubt this will be a problem).

Dental food does help, but it's not a cure all. If cost is a real issue, why not just mix it with a less expensive food since anything is better than nothing. I would say that if you currently don't use real top quality food, you might find 3.5 kg of Royal Canin lasts longer than what you are currently using.

rita-rabbit

Stop feeding wet food if at all possible. Special dental food isn't really that useful - all dry food is better for their teeth than wet.

I apply Logic by putting some on a cotton wool bud & running it along either side of their mouths - alot less messy that putting it on their paws. They don't like it but I make a big fuss of them with cuddles beforehand. The vet says their teeth are fantastic for their age & it will delay/prevent any dental work being necessary.

MrsE_2

I use Royal Canin Persian - always have done, my boy is 6 & the vet always says "great teeth".

sandy2_2

Toothbrush, I use one of my old (sonic) ones with a small head, but brush by hand not using electric ...just in case anyone was wondering. I'm afraid I can't do puss's back teeth tho'

Bagpuss741

Just found these regarding aromatherapy and cats

http://cats.about.com/od/housekeeping/a/aromatherapy.htm

http://www.thelavendercat.com/

ClaireLR

Bagpuss741 wrote: »

Just found these regarding aromatherapy and cats

http://cats.about.com/od/housekeeping/a/aromatherapy.htm

http://www.thelavendercat.com/

Thank you for that, very interesting and has certainly put me off using them.

ClaireLR

MrsE wrote: »

I use Royal Canin Persian - always have done, my boy is 6 & the vet always says "great teeth".

I'm using the Royal Canin dental - both my cats are going in for a descale in the next few weeks. I'm just wondering if there is a cheaper alternative to this as it costs so much and I have 2 cats to feed. Would just any dry food be ok as rita-rabbit said???

MrsE_2

ClaireLR wrote: »

I'm using the Royal Canin dental - both my cats are going in for a descale in the next few weeks. I'm just wondering if there is a cheaper alternative to this as it costs so much and I have 2 cats to feed. Would just any dry food be ok as rita-rabbit said???

Firstly offers

Pets at home, even local stores.

Secondly I think Hill do a dental one.

IF you can't afford these pet shop brands (& there are one or two others, but prices are not much less).

Then Iams is IMHO the ONLY decent cat food sold in the supermarket.

You often get offers on that too.

I think any good dried food, will be good for teeth.
It will cost you less than the Vets:mad:

My boy does just over a bag a month, but if you divide that out daily its not much more (or indeed anymore) than Whiskers.
Do yours do a bag each a month?