Cat Dental Care at Home: A Practical Guide

Dental disease is one of the most common health problems in cats — most cats show some signs by the age of three — and it is largely preventable. It is also under-treated, because cats are very good at hiding mouth pain.

Signs of dental problems

• Bad breath that persists
• Red, swollen or bleeding gums
• Yellow or brown tartar build-up along the gumline
• Dropping food, or chewing on one side
• Pawing at the mouth, or head shyness
• Drooling, sometimes blood-tinged
• Reluctance to eat, or preferring soft food
• Withdrawing from being handled around the head

If you notice any of these, book a vet check. Untreated dental disease is painful and bacteria from the mouth can affect the heart, kidneys and liver.

Brushing: the gold standard

Brushing is the single most effective thing you can do. Daily is ideal; several times a week still helps enormously.

Introduce it slowly over a couple of weeks:

1. Let them lick a little cat toothpaste from your finger
2. Rub your finger gently along the outside of their teeth and gums
3. Move to a finger brush or a soft cat toothbrush
4. Brush in small circles along the gumline, where plaque collects
5. Finish quickly and reward them generously

Only ever use toothpaste made for cats. Human toothpaste contains ingredients cats should not swallow, and never use salt or baking soda.

What else helps

• Dental diets and treats formulated to reduce plaque — useful, but secondary to brushing
• Water additives, which some cats tolerate better than brushing
• Dental chews and toys designed for mechanical cleaning
• Regular vet checks, and professional cleaning under anaesthetic when your vet recommends it

Be sceptical of products claiming to replace brushing entirely. Anaesthesia-free “dental scaling” offered by non-veterinary providers only cleans what is visible above the gumline and does not treat disease beneath it, where the real damage occurs.

Start with kittens

Kittens introduced to tooth brushing early often accept it for life. It is well worth a few minutes a week. Handle their mouth, paws and ears gently and regularly as part of the socialisation described in our socialisation guide.

Dental disease is also covered in our Russian Blue health guide.