Happy National Pet Dental Health Month
February is National Pet Dental Health Month but instead of keeping those pups in the spotlight, I thought it would be fun to highlight our other top pick animal favorite- the feline! Let’s talk about how to clean your cat’s teeth.
Brushing your cat’s teeth may seem like an invitation to get your face scratched to bits, but let’s be real…..it can be just as risky with a cranky 2 year old human. In the wild, cats eat all sorts of things like animals, bugs and even bark that keep their teeth scraped clean. Most domesticated cats don’t eat bones, rawhide or get gifts of chew toys like dogs do so they are gonna need your help. Just like teaching babies that cleaning our mouths is an important daily routine, the kitten in your life will be more more tolerant if you start this early in life. According to PetMed, the best technique for holding your cat is to cradle your cat from behind, cup his chin, and lift up his lip to clean his teeth.
Appeal to Their Senses
They make special toothpaste just for kids and dogs… so why not conjure up something nice and tasty for your cat. Start with a wash cloth or finger brush dipped in tuna fish oil. Of course they are going to want to eat your finger at first, but it trains them that having you literally in their mouth isn’t so bad. Make gentle circular or back and forth motions over all tooth and gum surfaces as best you can. Try to keep this process under a minute or so at first and work your way up in time.
How To You Know When Something is Wrong
Now I know I just suggested using tuna fish for this brushing process so let’s talk about cat breath overall. A tiny of fish breath from your kitty is totally normal but anything that seems really foul could be a sign of a dental infection. Also, if you cat is drooling or rubbing their face on you, the floor or furniture more than usual or scratching their face like they are uncomfortable, that’s also a tell tale sign to investigate.
Even though you brush your cat’s teeth, the annual cat inspection should definitely include taking a peek at their teeth. We know with every species of animals, there is a strong connection between the mouth and the rest of the body. Dental infections can send harmful bacteria right into the gut and bloodstream causing problems elsewhere. In case you are wondering about the cost of getting their teeth professionally cleaned, “The average price of a veterinary teeth cleaning is $400, with a range from $55 to $830. The price depends on whether blood work is done, whether teeth are pulled and whether the cat is anesthetized. The price also depends on the location and availability of veterinarians.”
Cat Teeth Facts:
- Kittens have 26 teeth and they are VERY sharp
- They have 30 adult teeth – 6 months old is considered an adult! (humans have 32)
- Contrary to some folk’s rumors, cat teeth do not grow back
- A cat bite can cause a serious infection. Pasteurella multocida is a bacteria known to cause us a lot of trouble when Whiskers goes on a rampage.
TRUST ME… my mom just got bit by her cat a couple months ago. Three ER visits, a few rounds of antibiotics, a ton of pain and the inability to walk for a long time came from her cat’s random temper tantrum.
want to learn more about taking care of your own human teeth? Click here!