October 26, 2022 Back Home

Should You Brush Your Cat’s Teeth?

If you’re like most loving pet parents, the question of whether you should brush your cat’s teeth has probably come up before — most likely because of some stinky cat breath.

But do you really need to brush your cat’s teeth?

The short answer: It depends.

In a perfect world, every cat would get its teeth brushed at least every other day. But tooth brushing is more important for some cats than for others.

And we get it, brushing your cat’s teeth can be a major chore.

To help, we’ve come up with some tips on how to figure out if it’s really necessary.

How to Know if You Really Need to Brush Your Cat’s Teeth:

1. Schedule a visit with your veterinarian or a veterinary dentist. A qualified professional is the best choice in helping you determine whether your cat is at increased risk for dental problems.

Do you check your cat's teeth and mouth regularly? Do you brush your cat's teeth? Brushing on a regular basis allows you to check for issues. If you can't brush your cat's teeth, at least do a visual check to hopefully catch potential problems, and don't skip veterinary exams! pic.twitter.com/b41leDt2mc
— Pam Johnson-Bennett (@ThinkLikeaCat) August 4, 2022

2. Give it the “sniff test.” Your cat’s breath probably doesn’t smell like roses—but if you detect more than a mild fishy odor, you might have a problem, and daily brushing could be the solution.

3. Watch out for drool. Producing a lot of saliva can be a sign of feline gum disease or tooth decay. If your cat drools a lot, consider instituting a regular brushing routine.

4. Consider your cat’s age. The older your cat is, the more likely she is to have dental problems. Once your cat hits “senior citizen” status (somewhere around 7 or 8 years), it’s a very good idea to start brushing regularly. To help figure out if your cat qualifies as a senior, learn how to detect signs of feline aging.

On the other hand, starting a brushing routine early in your cat’s life can make things a lot easier down the road, so consider getting into the habit now with your kitten.

5. Evaluate your cat’s diet. Contrary to popular belief, dry food by itself doesn’t do much for your cat’s oral health—although there are foods that are nutritionally designed to support healthy teeth and gums. If your cat refuses to eat anything but soft, wet food, it may be a sign that her teeth are bothering her.