Dental Cleaning for Cats

If you avoid cuddling with kitty because his breath is less than pleasant, you could have a cat in need of dental attention. Feline halitosis is a classic symptom of tooth or gum problems.


Establishing an oral care plan for your cat before her breath gets sour is ideal. If she already has dental issues, have your vet treat them. Then prevent their return with an at-home program of dental cleaning.

  1. Brushing Your Cat's Teeth

    • Half the oral hygiene battle lies in getting your cat to accept having his teeth brushed. Get a cat-sized toothbrush and cat toothpaste from your local pet store. One toothbrush designed for cats is a bristled rubber sleeve small enough to slide over your finger.

      Human toothpaste has foaming agents that can harm kitty, so use cat toothpastes, which come in cat-pleasing flavors like chicken or fish and contain plaque-dissolving enzymes.

      Practice patience when introducing your adult cat to brushing. Begin by offering your cat a treat while you have a small amount of toothpaste on the tip of one finger.

      If she licks or eats the toothpaste, reward her with the treat; if not, smear some the toothpaste on the treat. Try this daily until she has accepted the toothpaste.

      Introduce your cat to the toothbrush as a chew toy. Flavor it with chicken or fish broth and put it with the rest of his toys, letting him track its scent. Then pick it up and invite him to play so he associates it with fun.

      Once she's comfortable with the toothbrush, smear it with toothpaste. As she's licking the toothpaste, gently swipe the brush along her gums so she gets used to the sensation. Do this daily until she relaxes with the process.

      Daily brushing is best but brushing three times weekly is acceptable. Even a monthly brushing will help.

      These techniques will also work for kittens, and you'll probably face less resistance. Be sure to practice patience and gentleness.

    Dental Rinses

    • If kitty remains adamant about avoiding the toothbrush, ask your vet about a dental rinse. Adding one of these rinses to your cat's water will kill the bacteria that cause plaque and tartar.

      Other rinses are available that you can squirt into your cat's mouth to kill germs and soften plaque.

    Food

    • Some special dry foods are formulated to scrape tartar from your cat's teeth as she chews. Two better-known ones are Prescription Feline T/D Diet and Science Diet Oral Care.

      If you do switch your cat's diet, do it gradually, replacing a successively greater amount of his old food with the new each day for a week until he's eating nothing but the tooth-protective diet. If your vet doesn't sell one of these foods, get them online at Petco.com.