Brushing your cat's teeth

[rms128]

The vet told us we need to start brushing Elmo's teeth. He provided few details, other than the fact we could buy what we needed at the pet store. We bought toothpaste and a brush (well, 2 brushes, one finger one and one real brush) for Elmo.

 

ANy tips? The box says we should try using our fingers on his gums first. We let him smell the toothpaste first.... he seems very uninterested. my hubby tried rubbing his gums and Elmo pushes his finger out with his toungue.

[d24]

Not surprised - and good luck with that. lol

Cats are extremely stubborn and even if he liked it, chances are he'd never let you

 

Let him sniff the past then go for it with the brush I say!

[Catdancer]

Instead of brushing my cats teeth, I use a food that is awesome that cleaning their teeth. It is pricey, but well worth not having to brush their teeth. Some suggestions, Hills Science Diet Dental formula or Nutro Max (in the pink bag). The trick is that the dry pieces are bigger so they have to really bite into them and chew them well. The big pieces scrapes the sides of their teeth and cleans them. I've personally used both Science Diet and Nutro Maxx and they both were wonderful at cleaning my cat's teeth. at the time I was doing cat rescue and fostering kittens, so I had 21 cats. I would have spent all day trying to brush the teeth of 21 cats. lol

[Godless_Heathen]

Cats vary. At one time I had two cats, and was brushing both of them. Cat 1 thought the toothpaste was really tasty, and was happy to sit still while I brushed. Cat 2 thought I was trying to kill her.

[Shortpants]

hehe Trying to brush a cat's teeth reminded me of an old email forward joke I got years ago:

 

HOW TO GIVE YOUR CAT A PILL IN TWENTY EASY STEPS:

 

Sit on sofa. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your elbow as though you were going to give a bottle to a baby. Talk softly to it.

 

 

With right hand, position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. (be patient) As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow. Let go of cat, noticing the direction it runs.

 

 

Pick the pill up off the floor and go get the cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process. Sit on floor in kitchen, wrap arm around cat as before, drop pill in mouth. Let go of cat, note the direction it runs again.

 

 

Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away. Bring cat back into the kitchen. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

 

Pry claws from back legs out of your arm. Again, note direction the cat runs in. Bandage wounds and relocate cat.

 

Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of closet. Call spouse from backyard. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

 

 

Retrieve cat from curtain rod, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered Doulton figures from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

 

 

Get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

 

 

Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

 

 

Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with rubber band.

 

 

Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Throw T-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

 

 

Call fire department to retrieve cat from tree accross the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take another pill from foil wrap.

 

 

Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed, force cat's mouth open with small spanner. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour one cup of water down throat to wash pill down.

 

 

Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call at furniture shop on way home to order new table.

 

 

Get last pill from bottle. Go into bathroom and get a fluffy towel. Stay in the bathroom with the cat, and close the door.

 

Sit on bathroom floor, wrap towel around kitty, leaving only his head exposed. Cradle kitty in the crook of your arm, and pick up pill off of counter.

 

 

Retrieve cat from top of shower door (you didn't know that cats can jump 5 feet straight up in the air, did you?), and wrap towel around it a little tighter, making sure its paws can't come out this time. With fingers at either side of its jaw, pry it open and pop pill into mouth. Quickly close mouth (his, not yours).

 

 

Sit on floor with cat in your lap, stroking it under the chin and talking gently to it for at least a half hour, while the pill dissolves.

 

 

Unwrap towel, open bathroom door. Wash off scratches in warm soapy water, comb your hair, and go find something to occupy your time for 7-1/2 hours.

 

 

Arrange for SPCA to get cat and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.

 

hahaha! Soooo old, but it still cracks me up!! It is all too true with trying to get a cat to do something he/she does NOT want to do.

 

With brushing, I would say persistance is key. Keep trying, your cat may get used to the process after a while and let you do it without a fight. I had a cat that hated his claws trimmed, but with persistance and soothing, I was able to do it without a fuss after a while. Or try the "brushing" food or treats that Cat mentioned. I have heard very good things about the performace of the treats and food.

 

Good luck!

[BellaDonna]

I've had my cat for 7 years and I never once succeeded with brushing her teeth.

 

I just got her teeth professionally cleaned by the vet today. After 7 years we've been lucky because she she only started to get some mild Level I buildup on her molars but I wanted to nip it now.

 

If you cat is tolerant you will probably have more success using the finger brush than the regular brush. Attempt it when she is calm/sleepy. Reward her with a tartar control treat when you are done.

 

If she is not tolerant and is more like my cat, I don't know what you could try. All I know is that the vets always makes it look easy when they give instructions, but your cat is scared and probably is more compliant with a stranger, and will tend to behave better at the vet. At home it is a different story....

 

Brushing my cat's teeth has proven to be impossible for me. My toddler is 2nd-most-difficult in that department but at least I can negotiate with him.

[Sky-Cherries]

Give your cat a raw chicken wing twice a day for a week. They'll come out shining.

They're naturally meant to chew on bones to clean their teeth but modern cats eat cold minced fish from a can so they often get build-ups on their teeth that they can't get rid of by themselves.

[rms128]

well... we are doing it. I have to hold Elmo down, and pet him, and calm him down.....my husband uses the finger brusher and he also gives Elmo positive comments. It sort of works.... he doesn't struggle too much...I swear his teeth look whiter, and it gets done.

[rms128]

I will ask though about the meat thing tomorrow when I take Elmo to the vet for his shots