How do you brush a cat's teeth?

[ISaySteadyOn]

You're supposed to, but how do you do it and do you need a special toothpaste?

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

I value my limbs too much to try this with Harry! I did think about trying it on the teeth he's got left and even got as far as buying the toothpaste but I've never been brave enough to try. DH just laughted at me when I bought it!

[coriliavijvaad]

Feed them a few whiskas dentabits every day.

[Lillagroda]

Never done it - I guess they'd have to be trained from kittens. Mine both let us trim their claws, and one walks on a lead, but they were trained for both things from kittens.
I've had cats all my life and have never brushed their teeth. They get checked once a year at their annual check-up, if a dental is deemed to be needed then they get booked for a dental. I've literally just come home from dropping one of them off for just that today.

[GeillisTheWitch]

According to my vet the tortie feistiness is a definite thing. I'm pretty sure mine is untrainable, she doesn't do anything unless it suits her at that particular moment.

[GeillisTheWitch]

I wanted to ask her if this was Day 1 of Professional Vettery, and whether she had ever actually met a cat before

[Ketzele]

I asked my vet this, after being told I should be brushing my cat's teeth. She said, "You have to train your cat".

I wanted to ask her if this was Day 1 of Professional Vettery, and whether she had ever actually met a cat before, but wimped out. Cat loves eating the liver-flavoured toothpaste but taking it any further is absolutely off the cards.

[YesItsMeIDontCare]

I wipe Leroy's toothpaste on his paw. As he licks it off it gets slooshed around in his furry chops and gets at the plaque. It's not perfect, but it's a start.

[SplodgeBear1988]

We have a special clear toothpaste that doesn't have to be brushed, the cats licking action works. I just put it on my finger and they lick it off, similar to the fur ball paste.

[ilovechocolates]

Kinda reminds me of this:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC372253/

[Toddlerteaplease]

Tube*

[Toddlerteaplease]

Got given a cat toothbrush and toothpaste once as a free sample and I did used to clean our late cat's teeth. He was a teenager at the time. He was very good about it and tolerated it no problem. I stopped then the one was empty. Don't think I'd dare try it with my two even though they are very gentle.

[Allergictoironing]

Taken me all this time to just be able to clip claws without hysteria & sulking for days after. My two are incredibly gentle and haven't (so far) ever scratched me with intent, but I'm not going to let them realise that fingers can be chomped on anyway.

[tinytemper66]

Gellis we have a tortoiseshell cat who is not particularly loving shall we say! Is it a characteristic of them or just one of those things?

[Want2beme]

You don't! A vet I used to go to suggested I do this - I laughed in her face.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I blobbed the paste on my cat's nose so he has to lick it off. It's liver flavored so he likes it. Then progressed from there.

[Vinorosso74]

You don't or you get a bet to do it under anaesthetic!
Vinocat is coming up 15 and last had her teeth cleaned nearly 9 years ago (just before we adopted her) and any new vet she sees remark on what good teeth she has (shame other things aren't in such good working order).

[Fluffycloudland77]

You can get enzyme toothpaste and let them lick it off a paw.

Mine thinks I'm trying to murder him if I move suddenly so I can't see teeth cleaning being popular.

Flea controls bad enough, he's convinced I'm about to do something awful to him.

[HotelEuphoria]

Get whoever cleans their teeth in the wild to do it.

In other words, don't bother, let them hunt and feed mainly a dry diet, get the vet to check them every year when they have their boosters.

[bonzo77]

You don't. I had one cat that frankly was odd and let me do stuff like this, and cutting and painting his claws, and occasionally bathing him. But generally only on dead or anaesthetised ones.

[SnowiestMountain]

😂😂

[ShatnersBassoon]

I once had to bath a cat. Five sharp ends to monitor, all working independently of each other.

Trying to control the sharp bits with one hand while putting something unwanted in the bitey sharp bit... No thanks.

[mirren3]

I was coming on to say carefully, very very carefully but the suit of armour probably sums it up nicely 🐺🚫

[AnneElliott]

I tried to but failed. Cats did not like it at all. And I only tried with the more tolerant one

Sometimes I think bets don't have cats themselves. Like the time my one gave tolerant cat a nebuliser and inhaler. Told me I had to hold it over her mouth for about 10-15 breaths.

Cat thought I was trying to murder her. We just accept she's got asthma and don't try to medicate her.

[PaperdollCartoon]

I've never done it. Give them big kibble and the biting helps clean their teeth, or you can get chewy treats that do it.

[Ollivander84]

Give money to the vet to do it. Or ask someone who you don't like