Brushing a cat's teeth - help!

sashybo

I just need a bit of help with how to brush my youngest cat's teeth. He absolutely hates it and bites whenever I try to put my finger in his mouth.

I've been using Logic gel and rubbing it into his teeth but it's getting quite painful with the biting! Most of the gel ends up on his face rather than in his mouth and he gets quite stressed.

I have noticed some redness on his gums and am worried about his teeth going bad. He eats both wet and dry food. He is only just a year old and has never liked getting his teeth brushed.

We also have two older cats (7 and 9), who we adopted a year and a half ago. Both of these girls have had most of their teeth removed - the older before we got her and the 7 year old about 6 months after we got her. Her breath was really bad which was why we took her to the vet. They are all oriental cats - two Siamese ( 9 and 1) and one foreign white (7).

Our youngest cat now has quite bad breath despite my attempts to brush his teeth and I'm just wondering if there is an easier way to do it. He is due booster vaccinations soon so will ask the vet to look at his teeth then but I just want to try and keep his teeth healthy without getting nipped.

I've recently tried a rubber finger brush but it seems too big for his mouth and made his gums bleed a bit so I'm scared to use it again.

Any advice would be great!

rita-rabbit

You don't really HAVE to brush. Logic can be applied to a paw & let him lick it off. I put some on cotton bud & merely lift up their lips @ the sides & run some along.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I have never brushed my cat's teeth, and so far she hasn't any major issues considering she has reached the age of 16. I don't think there is any real need to brush the teeth & if you think your cat has gum issues, then a visit to the vet is a better option.

BitterAndTwisted

Only a suicidal lunatic would consider brushing a pusscat's teeth. There are preparations which you can add to their drinking water to help keep the teeth clean. Feeding raw meat occasionally, especially something good and chewy like heart should help too.

PaggleHam

If you can bear it, feeding a BARF (bone and raw food) diet is a good way to give good dental health for cats. The bones keep teeth nice and clean and most cats love it. Not as quick and easy as packet food though.

pamelab21

I have started to use Logic gel on my dogs teeth and although I can brush it onto her teeth (with some growling and pulling i might add!) it does say that for cats etc you can apply some to their paws and let them lick it off, does the same job.
I am also using Plaqueoff, one scoop in her food once a day, and it along with the gel is def helping her teeth, I bought it from Vets uk, think it was about 7.50 (compared to 13.00 the vet charged a collegue!).
Worth a try?

bank_of_slate

...Linda xx

McKneff

Why would you need to put your finger in a cats mouth to clean its teeth.

My cat got a gum infection and a build up of plaque I was told to brush her teeth every night for a fortnight.

Put her on a towel on a table, give her two little biscuits.

Put your left hand over her forehead and lift her head back. Open her jaws with the thumb and middle finger keeping her head back. Brush her teeth with the brush from the vets.

When youve finished give her another two little biscuits.
She will soon learn to associate teeth brushing with treats.
Towards the end of the second week the cat saw the towel on the table and jumped up on to the table herself. lol

Dont give her wet food for her last feed as this clings to the teeth

sashybo

I've been using my finger rather than a brush as I started when he was quite small - trying to get him used to having his teeth cleaned - obviously it didn't work! The brushes I looked at were all quite big.

I was just trying to keep his teeth healthy as don't want him losing most of his teeth like the older cats we adopted. Of course I am going to ask the vet about it as I said I will next month when he gets his boosters.

Bribery is probably a good idea as he loves his food! Thanks for the step-by-step guide McKneff.

Plaqueoff sounds like a good idea - will have a look, thanks Pamela.

We have just started looking into the bone and raw food diet as one of OH's colleagues recommended it. Thanks for the suggestion PaggleHam and BitterandTwisted.

I have tried applying the Logic gel to his paws but he doesn't like cleaning it off and gets one of the girls to do it for him. :rolleyes: I might try a cotton bud along the sides of the mouth as Rita-rabbit suggested.

Thanks for everyone's replies and suggestions.

McKneff

I have tried applying the Logic gel to his paws but he doesn't like cleaning it off and gets one of the girls to do it for him. :rolleyes:

Brilliant :rotfl::rotfl::T

Bet the 'girls' have loverly clean teeth

bank_of_slate

McKneff wrote: »

I have tried applying the Logic gel to his paws but he doesn't like cleaning it off and gets one of the girls to do it for him. :rolleyes:

Brilliant :rotfl::rotfl::T

Bet the 'girls' have loverly clean teeth

See this is why cats rule!
They are the most fantastic, sarcastic creatures.
...Linda xx