As of: February 20, 2024, 11:00 a.m
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It may come as a surprise, but cats also need regular dental care.
We'll show you what you should pay attention to and how to get your pet used to brushing their teeth.
Expensive check-ups at the vet, vaccinations and a lot of consideration when furnishing your home – most cat owners would do anything to protect their beloved furry friend from suffering and pain.
Unfortunately, they often let dental care slide.
Most of them know from their own experience how unpleasant jaw or tooth pain can be.
The problem: Especially when there is a toothache, the animals often suffer in silence.
Some withdraw, sleep more or barely eat.
That's why you should recognize the symptoms in your velvet paw early - and above all prevent them with regular dental care.
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Why is regular dental care so important for cats?
In the wild, cats use their teeth to grab prey.
And the intensive biting automatically cleans their teeth.
Above all, gnawing the bones rubs off the plaque.
However, things are completely different for house tigers: Instead of feeding on prey, they usually gulp down ready-made food from a can that they hardly have to chew.
Cats also need regular dental hygiene.
© Emmanuelle BONZAMI / Imago
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Dental hygiene through better cat food
When feeding, you can do a lot for your cat's dental health by regularly adding hard food to the bowl.
The animal has to chew this for longer, which cleans the teeth a little.
But dry food is still no substitute for regular dental care.
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In general, make sure to buy high-quality cat food.
The cat's diet also has a major influence on dental health.
If you provide your pet with all the vitamins and nutrients optimally, you will also create the best conditions for healthy teeth for life.
How to get your cat used to brushing his teeth
Getting adult cats used to regular dental care is quite difficult.
It is therefore best to start early to familiarize your pet with brushing their teeth.
It's best to do this in small steps over days or even weeks.
And always wait until the animal gets used to one step before taking the next one:
While cuddling, gently touch your cat's lips.
Gently pull the animal's lips upwards.
Dip your finger in warm water and gently massage the gums.
Rub the entire set of teeth with a special toothpaste for cats.
Under no circumstances should you use human toothpaste.
Now you can use a cat toothbrush that resembles a thimble instead of your bare finger.
Once your pet has gotten used to brushing their teeth, make it a daily routine of about 30 seconds.
After cleaning, it is best to use an antiseptic dental spray that you spray into the cat's throat.
Does your cat suffer from FORL?
FORL stands for “Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesion” and is a very painful dental disease that is common in cats.
Approximately one in two animals over the age of five is affected.
FORL has more in common with an autoimmune disease than with conventional tooth decay.
FORL in cats is caused by the body's own cells, which are actually supposed to break down milk teeth when teeth change.
But for unknown reasons, these tooth eaters recur in many older cats.
They gradually penetrate the tooth roots until the teeth have to be extracted.
There is currently no cure for FORL, but good dental hygiene and regular check-ups at the vet can often prevent the worst.