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If you choose to feed
your cat a diet that consists of mostly dry cat’s nuts, and a little bit of wet
cat food, then your cat shouldn't have many dental issues. Those cat
owners that decide to feed their cat mostly wet cat food will at some point
have to bring their cat to the veterinarian for dental issues like a build-up
of plaque, tartar or worst case scenario gingivitis.
To avoid dental issues, it is vital that you feed your cat a higher percentage of cat nuts compared to wet cat food. Giving your cat nuts also increases the amount of water they will drink as it makes them thirsty which reduces the chance of them becoming dehydrated.
The reason that wet cat
food isn’t so good for your cat is that is it soft, it sticks to their teeth
and it’s easy to chew. On the other hand cat nuts are harder, they require the
cat to actually use their teeth to break the nut so they can chew it and then
eat it.
Using a Cat Toothbrush
There are lots of different brands of cat toothpaste and toothbrushes on the market for cats. Most of them are tiny like a thimble used for sewing. The idea is that you put them on your index finger and spread some of the cat toothpaste onto it and then you move it around inside their mouth to clean their teeth.
Can Any Cat Owner Use a Cat Toothbrush?
The answer is no. The only way you might be able to clean your adult cat's teeth is if you have been doing it since your cat was a kitten. Cats get very cranky and they hate when you try to do stuff like this so if you have issues with giving them their worm pill, just imagine how hard it will be to use a toothbrush.
Alternatives to Toothbrushes
There are some cat toys out on the market that are designed to help keep your cats teeth clean. The thing about these is you always need to be careful with them. Any plastic toy that has parts in it can eventually break if your cat likes to be rough with their toys.
There is a product on the market called Dental Playing Rope. It’s made of twine and it is strong enough to withstand some chewing. They were initially designed for dogs but then someone created ones for cats. What happens is that your cat's gums are massaged as they chew the rope toy. Again they aren’t going to magically stop the problem but they can be an aide in preventing regular dental issues.
Are Dental Treats Any Good
Just like any treat,
dental treats are good in moderation. They are not however a magic pill that
will stop your cat from having issues with tartar or plaque later on in their
life. Just like cat nuts, they are hard which means that your cat has to break
the nut up to chew it.
Conclusion
If your cat suddenly stops eating their food or starts dribbling when eating their food then you need to get this issue looked into. Cats will not tell you if they have teeth problems.
Bad breath is usually an indicator of an underlying issue. But if you feed your cat foods that have a strong smell, then this gauge won’t work. It’s probably no harm to get your veterinarian to check your cat’s teeth and gums at their yearly exam.
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