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Brushing Your Cat's Teeth - TheCatSite.com Community

 

Brushing your cat's teeth should be an important part of the grooming routine. A survey held on this site showed that only twelve percent of cat owners brush their cat's teeth on a daily basis. Most cat owners prefer to hold an oral hygiene session only once or twice a week. More than twenty percent never brush their cat's teeth.

Brushing the teeth of an adult cat that is not used to the process can be difficult. Yet, any veterinary dentist will tell you that brushing regularly once a day can make a major difference to your cat's dental health.

Why Brush

Good quality dry or canned food may provide a cat with all the required nutrients, but it doesn't fight the accumulation of plaque and tartar on teeth as well as a natural diet would. In the wild, tearing through skin and bone, removes these deposits much better than any dry food kibbles. Feeding raw could help in that respect, but even then, there are no studies to show the long-term effect of feeding homemade or commercial raw on dental health.

 

Without brushing, the cat's teeth get covered in a thin film of plaque. Plaque is simply a mix off food residue, saliva proteins, and bacteria. Plaque is soft so brushing can effectively remove this unwholesome layer. Left to its own devices, the layer of plaque solidifies into tartar, a hard calcified layer that sticks to the teeth. Once formed, tartar can only be removed during professional scaling and polishing of the teeth.

 

Brushing your cat's teeth on a daily basis helps fight off plaque and bacteria. This significantly decreases the frequency of professional teeth cleaning by the vet and keeps your cat's teeth and gums clean and healthy.

The Brush And The Paste

You should never use a toothbrush or toothpaste designed for people. The brush would be too tough for the cat's delicate gums and the paste can be toxic for cats. There are several toothpastes designed especially for pets available on the market. They also taste much better (at least if you're a cat).

 

You may want to try a finger brush that fits onto your finger and gives you better control of your movements. Many cat owners simply use a piece of clean gauze wrapped around their finger. It provides just enough friction to remove plaque, without being too hard on the teeth and gums.

Before Attempting Brushing Your Cat's Teeth

Please don't try to brush your cat's teeth until you get the all-clear from the vet. A full veterinary dental check-up can reveal Gingivitis or other dental issues.

 

Their teeth may look all right to you, but trying to brush them will cause pain and perhaps even bleeding. This in itself may be enough to turn your cat off dental care for good, so it's best to consult a vet first. Once the vet gives the all clear, you can train our cat to have her teeth brushed or cleaned.

 

Even kittens can suffer from Gingivitis, Stomatitis or just loose teeth. Don't skip the veterinary dental check-up. It's a vital step before  establishing a home-care dental routine. Click to read more about feline Gingivitis and Stomatitis in cats.

Let's Brush...

 

It's best to start with a regular brushing routine when the cat is young. Kittens usually adjust best to having their teeth brushed. Make brushing time fun for the cat and never lose your temper, even if kitty is reluctant to have her teeth handled. After all, this is not a natural thing for a cat to endure.

Start by gently massaging the cat's gums and teeth with your fingers. Repeat this for several short sessions for several days. Try to pick out times when your cat is calm and praise her every time and even give her treats. Your aim is to create a positive association with the procedure of having her gums and teeth touched.

When your cat accepts these sessions with ease, try to introduce the brush. Remember to use only a toothbrush designed for cats or something as gentle as gauze. Again, make sessions short and enjoyable and stop just before your cat becomes uncomfortable. At this stage, you can also introduce the paste. Make sure that it's a flavor that Kitty likes.

 

You can train older cats in the same way. Be very patient, as this is likely to take much longer when dealing with adult cats.

Grooming Your Cat's Coat - TheCatSite.com Community

The cat's coat is often one of the most striking features of its appearance. The basis for a good-looking coat is quality nutrition and a loving low-stress environment.

Basically, cats grow two different kinds of hairs in their coat:

• Guard hair - the longer type of hair, which constitutes the topcoat.
• Secondary hair - the dense layer of hairs that make up the undercoat. Secondary hair can be woolly or awn type, and often is a combination of both.

The variety of coat texture, found in cat breeds, comes from different combinations of hair types or from mutations in a specific hair type. With today's multitude of breeds, new and different types of coats are becoming less rare. Some need a different method of grooming than others. It is important to understand the build of the coat, and to groom it properly.

Most domestic shorthairs need relatively little grooming. Regular brushing, at least once a week helps to keep the coat looking good, by removing dead hair. Getting rid of dead hair also prevents it from scattering around your home. It is advised to often brush cats that shed a lot. Usually it is not necessary to bathe a shorthair cat, unless it gets its coat very dirty. You should also bathe the cat if it is covered with a substance that you don't want him to lick off.

Many domestic Longhairs need to be brushed daily, or at least three times a week, depending on fur length and density. This is necessary to prevent tangles and matting of the fur. Bathing regularly is also recommended, because the cat may have difficulties keeping its long coat clean.

You should also comb your cat for ticks, fleas and flea eggs if you live in an area where infestations of these pests are particularly hard to control. This is especially necessary for cats living in rural areas, where they are allowed to be outside a great deal.

If you own a purebred cat, it is best to consult with the breeder about the special care its coat needs. Books devoted to the care of specific breeds are also available. Note that preparing a cat for showing involves a complex grooming procedure, starting weeks before the show. This procedure is not covered in this article and it is best to ask an experienced breeder for advice and even a demonstration.

Here are a few common cat breeds with different coat types and recommended guidelines for grooming them:

	Persian	Bathe every few weeks and brush daily.
	British shorthair	Brush once a week to remove dead hair. Bathe as necessary.
	Ragdoll	Brush regularly at least once a week. Bathe as necessary.
	Siamese	Brush once a week. Bathe as necessary.
	Sphynx	Sponge-bathe regularly to remove excess body oils.