brushing your cat's teeth

Skunks · 02-10-2009, 03:50 PM

I took my cat to the vet for the first time today. She was adopted a few weeks ago (about 4 years old), and apparently you should take cats to the vet.

It wasn't a bad experience, per se, but I definitely got the impression that that vet was interested in a strong hierarchy and emphasized control. This probably makes sense and is a healthy thing when dealing with a pet, but I lived for too long on the west coast.

He said, and I'm paraphrasing a little but the gist is the same, that he "was going to ask me to do something starting today and then every day until death do you part, and that is to brush her teeth."

Really?

I've never heard of this before. She is missing some teeth. But really?

Aliantha · 02-10-2009, 03:54 PM

I've never brushed out cats teeth. Can't imagine trying to do it actually. lol Well, I can imagine it...and the image is not pretty!

Did the vet tell you why you should brush the cats teeth?

Skunks · 02-10-2009, 03:58 PM

Plaque buildup and tartar.

(The listerine recommendation has already been made and moved on from.)

glatt · 02-10-2009, 03:59 PM

When we had a cat, I think my wife mentioned brushing its teeth one or twice, and we might have even had a special brush, but are you freaking kidding me? How are you going to brush a cat's teeth?

sweetwater · 02-10-2009, 04:09 PM

There are kitty treats made to help keep a cat's teeth cleaner but my cats did not care for them. They'd be my first choice. Both of my dogs were adopted as older animals and one has already had to have several teeth pulled, and I had the rest cleaned then. The new kid's breath is bad and I know he's in for the job, too. Once done professionally, clean teeth should be easier to keep that way, for both of you. Not to mention the bucks it'll save!

classicman · 02-10-2009, 04:46 PM

I would have to tie them down and wear welders gloves. Even then I don't know what I'd do.

Listerine - HA!

02-10-2009, 04:50 PM

Um.

Maybe if you start with a kitten, but your vet wants you to acclimate a 4-year-old adopted cat to having its teeth brushed? Will he supply you with full-body armor as well?

HungLikeJesus · 02-10-2009, 06:13 PM

I'd try an electric toothbrush - one of those ultrasonic ones.

Make sure someone is ready with the camera.

Shawnee123 · 02-10-2009, 06:16 PM

Sure. I also give them a bath and blow dry them after, once a week.

Not!

Beestie · 02-10-2009, 06:16 PM

Brushing a cat's teeth? Just when I thought I'd heard everything.

02-10-2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

I'd try an electric toothbrush - one of those ultrasonic ones.

Make sure someone is ready with the camera.

Priceless!

HungLikeJesus · 02-10-2009, 06:21 PM

We used to bathe and blow-dry our ferrets. They enjoyed it.

Aliantha · 02-10-2009, 06:23 PM

We used to bath and blow dry mum's cat. I don't anymore though. She didn't like it much, and the bathing was mainly to control fleas which we don't have anymore thanks to 'revolution'.

Clodfobble · 02-10-2009, 06:54 PM

When I was growing up, we had to brush one of our cat's teeth for about a week, because she had some special mouth disease. It was NOT fun.

I say let the rest of the teeth fall out. She can still eat canned cat food.

Juniper · 02-10-2009, 09:15 PM

If they eat dry food, they have fewer dental issues.

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02-10-2009, 03:50 PM	#1
Skunks I thought I changed this. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: western nowhere, ny Posts: 412	brushing your cat's teeth I took my cat to the vet for the first time today. She was adopted a few weeks ago (about 4 years old), and apparently you should take cats to the vet. It wasn't a bad experience, per se, but I definitely got the impression that that vet was interested in a strong hierarchy and emphasized control. This probably makes sense and is a healthy thing when dealing with a pet, but I lived for too long on the west coast. He said, and I'm paraphrasing a little but the gist is the same, that he "was going to ask me to do something starting today and then every day until death do you part, and that is to brush her teeth." Really? I've never heard of this before. She is missing some teeth. But really?

02-10-2009, 03:54 PM	#2
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	I've never brushed out cats teeth. Can't imagine trying to do it actually. lol Well, I can imagine it...and the image is not pretty! Did the vet tell you why you should brush the cats teeth? __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

02-10-2009, 04:09 PM	#5
sweetwater lives inside a Mobius strip Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,120	There are kitty treats made to help keep a cat's teeth cleaner but my cats did not care for them. They'd be my first choice. Both of my dogs were adopted as older animals and one has already had to have several teeth pulled, and I had the rest cleaned then. The new kid's breath is bad and I know he's in for the job, too. Once done professionally, clean teeth should be easier to keep that way, for both of you. Not to mention the bucks it'll save! __________________ I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque! - Bugs Bunny

02-10-2009, 04:46 PM	#6
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	I would have to tie them down and wear welders gloves. Even then I don't know what I'd do. Listerine - HA! __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

02-10-2009, 03:58 PM	#3
Skunks I thought I changed this. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: western nowhere, ny Posts: 412	Plaque buildup and tartar. (The listerine recommendation has already been made and moved on from.)

02-10-2009, 03:59 PM	#4
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	When we had a cat, I think my wife mentioned brushing its teeth one or twice, and we might have even had a special brush, but are you freaking kidding me? How are you going to brush a cat's teeth?

02-10-2009, 04:50 PM	#7
Tiki Guest Posts: n/a	Um. Maybe if you start with a kitten, but your vet wants you to acclimate a 4-year-old adopted cat to having its teeth brushed? Will he supply you with full-body armor as well?

02-10-2009, 06:13 PM	#8
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	I'd try an electric toothbrush - one of those ultrasonic ones. Make sure someone is ready with the camera. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

02-10-2009, 06:16 PM	#9
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Sure. I also give them a bath and blow dry them after, once a week. Not! __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

02-10-2009, 06:16 PM	#10
Beestie -◊\|≡·∙■·∙≡\|◊- Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Parts unknown. Posts: 4,081	Brushing a cat's teeth? Just when I thought I'd heard everything. __________________ ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦

02-10-2009, 06:21 PM	#12
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	We used to bathe and blow-dry our ferrets. They enjoyed it. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

02-10-2009, 06:23 PM	#13
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	We used to bath and blow dry mum's cat. I don't anymore though. She didn't like it much, and the bathing was mainly to control fleas which we don't have anymore thanks to 'revolution'. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

02-10-2009, 06:54 PM	#14
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	When I was growing up, we had to brush one of our cat's teeth for about a week, because she had some special mouth disease. It was NOT fun. I say let the rest of the teeth fall out. She can still eat canned cat food. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

02-10-2009, 09:15 PM	#15
Juniper I know, right? Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,539	If they eat dry food, they have fewer dental issues.

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