Two minutes twice a day. Sounds familiar?
Sure, that's a lot of people's regimen when it comes to brushing their teeth. We know all too well how important it is to keep our teeth clean. In contrast, our cats' razor-sharp teeth rarely see a toothbrush. While good teeth are just as important to them as they are to us.
Read on to learn 7 steps to brushing your cat's teeth
What do you need?
Before you start, it is good to get the right things. Using your own toothbrush and toothpaste on your cat is a bad idea. Human toothpaste is even toxic to cats.
Put the following things on your shopping list (or put them in your virtual shopping cart):
- Gauze pads or a finger toothbrush
- Cat toothbrush
- Cat toothpaste with chicken or fish flavor
- Treats or fun toys as a reward
- Lots of time and patience
Step 1: Massage the cheeks
Most cats can still appreciate this first step. Get your cat used to being upside down. Rub the cheeks, tickle the chin and pat the forehead. Make this a positive and short ritual. This way your cat gets used to being busy around its mouth.
The best position to hold your cat while brushing is with its back towards you. Place the palm of your hand around the top of the cup and place your thumb and middle finger on both cheeks. Gently hold the head slightly upwards, so that you can easily reach the teeth.
Step 3: brush with gauze around your finger
Once your cat learns the ritual, you can try putting your finger in the mouth. Gently pull the lip up by the cheeks and run your finger over the teeth. A few seconds is enough. As soon as this works, grab the finger toothbrush. Take the time to let your cat get used to it. This makes the following steps easier.
Is your house tiger used to the finger toothbrush? Then introduce him to the toothpaste. Put a little on your finger and let him smell it. Preferably choose toothpaste with a taste that your cat likes. Optionally, you can mix the toothpaste yourself with some tuna juice or wet food. Put a little toothpaste on the finger toothbrush and repeat step 3 until it goes without saying.
Step 5: Introduce the cat toothbrush
Time to introduce the cat toothbrush! Toothbrushes for cats are small and have soft bristles, so they won't damage teeth and gums. Gently rub the teeth with the toothbrush. Again, keep it short and reward your cat when it goes well.
Step 6: brush it!
Once your cat is used to the toothbrush and toothpaste, you can start brushing. A few times back and forth over the outside of all teeth is sufficient. Rub off the gums to loosen stuck plaque. You do not need to brush the inside of the teeth.
Step 7: Repeat every few days
It is best to brush your cat's teeth every day. After all the practice, is it still not your fluffy friend's favorite hobby? Then try brushing a few teeth every day to make it shorter, or brushing once every two days. This is enough to prevent plaque mineralization.
Take your time and be patient
The key to toothbrushing success is time and patience. Are you still busy going through the steps or are you really unable to persuade your cat? In this blog, we give tips to keep your cat's teeth as clean as possible.
Of course, good food is important in maintaining healthy teeth. The Fokker Nutri-Fit and Steri-Fit (for sterilized cats) contain high-quality ingredients for good dental care. Especially for big cats we have the Maxi-Bite, which regulates the chewing behavior.
Two minutes twice a day. Sounds familiar?
Sure, that's a lot of people's regimen when it comes to brushing their teeth. We know all too well how important it is to keep our teeth clean. In contrast, our cats' razor-sharp teeth rarely see a toothbrush. While good teeth are just as important to them as they are to us.
Read on to learn 7 steps to brushing your cat's teeth
What do you need?
Before you start, it is good to get the right things. Using your own toothbrush and toothpaste on your cat is a bad idea. Human toothpaste is even toxic to cats.
Put the following things on your shopping list (or put them in your virtual shopping cart):
- Gauze pads or a finger toothbrush
- Cat toothbrush
- Cat toothpaste with chicken or fish flavor
- Treats or fun toys as a reward
- Lots of time and patience
Step 1: Massage the cheeks
Most cats can still appreciate this first step. Get your cat used to being upside down. Rub the cheeks, tickle the chin and pat the forehead. Make this a positive and short ritual. This way your cat gets used to being busy around its mouth.
The best position to hold your cat while brushing is with its back towards you. Place the palm of your hand around the top of the cup and place your thumb and middle finger on both cheeks. Gently hold the head slightly upwards, so that you can easily reach the teeth.
Step 3: brush with gauze around your finger
Once your cat learns the ritual, you can try putting your finger in the mouth. Gently pull the lip up by the cheeks and run your finger over the teeth. A few seconds is enough. As soon as this works, grab the finger toothbrush. Take the time to let your cat get used to it. This makes the following steps easier.
Is your house tiger used to the finger toothbrush? Then introduce him to the toothpaste. Put a little on your finger and let him smell it. Preferably choose toothpaste with a taste that your cat likes. Optionally, you can mix the toothpaste yourself with some tuna juice or wet food. Put a little toothpaste on the finger toothbrush and repeat step 3 until it goes without saying.
Step 5: Introduce the cat toothbrush
Time to introduce the cat toothbrush! Toothbrushes for cats are small and have soft bristles, so they won't damage teeth and gums. Gently rub the teeth with the toothbrush. Again, keep it short and reward your cat when it goes well.
Step 6: brush it!
Once your cat is used to the toothbrush and toothpaste, you can start brushing. A few times back and forth over the outside of all teeth is sufficient. Rub off the gums to loosen stuck plaque. You do not need to brush the inside of the teeth.
Step 7: Repeat every few days
It is best to brush your cat's teeth every day. After all the practice, is it still not your fluffy friend's favorite hobby? Then try brushing a few teeth every day to make it shorter, or brushing once every two days. This is enough to prevent plaque mineralization.
Take your time and be patient
The key to toothbrushing success is time and patience. Are you still busy going through the steps or are you really unable to persuade your cat? In this blog, we give tips to keep your cat's teeth as clean as possible.
Of course, good food is important in maintaining healthy teeth. The Fokker Nutri-Fit and Steri-Fit (for sterilized cats) contain high-quality ingredients for good dental care. Especially for big cats we have the Maxi-Bite, which regulates the chewing behavior.
