how to brush the cat teeth???

Hello all,

I have a 3 year old cat, who used to eat only dry food... I have never brushed her teeth, since it is supposed that dry food keeps the teeth clean.. I occasionally feed her some treats that is supposed to provide tartar control also..... Anyway, her vet said that she has good teeth.

Recently, she has been experiencing constipation, so I am trying to add some wet food to her diet.... Since it is easier for wet food to stick on the teeth, I bought her a fingerbrush and a toothpaste... She is very sweet, and let me brush her teeth from outside.... but there was no way she would keep her mouth open, so I could brush her teeth from inside..... what can I do to keep her mouth open??? or is it enough to brush just from outside????

Tartar build-up usually happens on the outer part of the teeth. So, if you can't get to the inside of the teeth, it's not a huge deal. There's some products on the market for cats that you can add to the water to help break down tartar and plaque.

Go to www.meowhoo.com and look up Oxyfresh. Gwyn has an ad under Basic Pet Supplies. You will see she carries a whole line of dental hygiene products for cats. Drop her an email and ask her questions, she is a really sweet lady and would be happy to help you.

We just started brushing our cats' teeth, and it is a two person job!!! We've found the best luck with the finger-brushes (slides over your finger). Out of our 13, only one was a real problem, everyone else was ok with it.

Well.. my cat took it better than what I thought.. maybe because I usually touch and scratch her neck and face a lot

Oh, one more thing... how often should I brush her teeth???

I would try for once or twice a week, unless you see a buildup then increase the brushings.