Enzyme Toothpaste but can't brush their teeth

ollieoxenfree

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Nov 7, 2011
Messages
140
Purraise
17
I bought enzyme toothpaste for the cats because I know how important it is. Oliver loves to lick it off my finger but will not let me brush his teeth but I bet I could if I tried. Sansa is the problem. Since we got her she is the spawn of Satan when it comes to grooming. When we found her she had knots in her fur and it took a long time to shave them out and I know it caused her a great deal of pain. But she has never been a "put her in your lap" kind of kitty for grooming. I pick her up as often as I can for positive reinforcement, often cooing and giving her treats or something to sniff but she has some deep ingrained problem with being touched. So I tried scruffing her, I tried getting on top of her, I tried having my partner hold her burrito style but she finds a way to let rip the devil's roar and kicks off in a wild crocodile death spin and she's virtually impossible. So I gave up for a few days with the toothpaste. 

Then the other day she ran into the corner when she saw me take it down and give some to Oliver. So I put the open tube on the ground for her to sniff while I left the room (spied from the other room). She licked it! So now she licks it off the floor but not off my finger, she wants nothing to do with me. 

These enzyme pastes, can they just be given as a treat? I give them Greenies everyday too. But if I can't brush their teeth is the toothpaste enough? 
 

LTS3

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Aug 29, 2014
Messages
19,209
Purraise
19,695
Location
USA
You really need to get the toothpaste onto the teeth. A smear on the teeth is enough. Are you using the CET toothpaste? Many cats love the poultry flavored one.

Just be patient and offering your cat small amounts of toothpaste, off the toothbrush or figner brush if you can. If your cat will only lick off your finger, wrap a piece of gauze around your finger and put toothpaste on that. Gauze can be used to wipe a cat's teeth.

Have you seen these videos on how to brush a cat's teeth?

http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/pet-owners/cat-teeth

http://s1255.photobucket.com/user/kelly8-69/media/VID_20150718_224856090_zpscs92np6e.mp4.html (by TCS member Angels Mommy)

Greenies don't do a thing for dental health, IMO. A better option are the CET dental chews.
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,390
Purraise
7,127
Location
Arizona
I let them lick it off my fingers rather than brush.  I figure if they do that, then they tick around their mouths, they are "kind of" spreading it around in there.  It's GOT to be better than nothing.  Truly.  (that's my story and I'm sticking to it
)  The toothpaste alone may not be enough to ever prevent them from needing dentals, but it certainly can't hurt.  And I DO think it helps. 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

ollieoxenfree

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Nov 7, 2011
Messages
140
Purraise
17
Thanks I'll look into the CET chews. I'll try to ease them onto licking it off my finger or the brush thing that came with it. They don't like the chicken one, I tried it with Oliver before and Sansa is even pickier and wary. 

Thanks Mrs GreenJeans, I just saw your post :)
 
Last edited:

lisahe

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Messages
6,150
Purraise
4,969
Location
Maine
I let them lick it off my fingers rather than brush.  I figure if they do that, then they tick around their mouths, they are "kind of" spreading it around in there.  It's GOT to be better than nothing.  Truly.  (that's my story and I'm sticking to it :) )  The toothpaste alone may not be enough to ever prevent them from needing dentals, but it certainly can't hurt.  And I DO think it helps. 
I have to agree with mrsgreenjeens about something being better than nothing when it comes to the tooth paste. Our cats love the CET seafood flavor and started by just licking it off a finger, then the tooth brush... we eventually worked up to actual brushing. The video that LTS3 linked to is very helpful. Good luck!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

ollieoxenfree

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Nov 7, 2011
Messages
140
Purraise
17
No it's Sentry toothpaste. Malt flavor. Oliver is a strange cat, he doesn't like people food meat but he loves peanut butter and has eaten my tofu before. Sansa is just as odd, we can leave raw or cooked food out on the counter unsupervised and not worry about either cat getting at it, they're not interested. 

It didn't come with a brush like the one pictured, it has a finger brush but they don't like it touching them. I can smear toothpaste in Oliver's mouth but Sansa does the death roll thing and I have gotten the sticky toothpaste on her belly, neck and chin but not in her mouth (on 3 or 4 attempts). And since she has such a thick plush coat which she hates getting brushed, I gave up. 

I read somewhere that I should keep letting them eat it the way they are but separately touching the glands on their cheeks until they're comfortable enough to let me stick my fingers in their mouths without toothpaste. Then work up from there. I will watch that video now, I bet it's informative for cats unlike my Sansy- I swear I never seen anything like her before. 

*ETA* nevermind, that wouldn't work on either of my cats. Not now anyway, that could be months of gentle positive training away. Yikes. I wish. 
 
Last edited:

LTS3

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Aug 29, 2014
Messages
19,209
Purraise
19,695
Location
USA
You can get CET toothpaste online if you want to give it a try
Amazon is one place.

If you sit Sansa facing away from you, can you wrap one arm around her body to hold her in place? I do this with my DMH. She's not aggressive but won't let me brush her teeth any other way
My Aby just stands on the bathroom counter and pops open his mouth for me
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,390
Purraise
7,127
Location
Arizona
Try a different flavor tor Sansa.  Mine love the CET poultry flavor (all THREE of my cats love it, and TWO of them are extremely picky eaters).  It also comes in seafood flavor).  I wouldn't give up on Sansa yet.  It's just a matter of finding a flavor she likes, I'm thinking.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

ollieoxenfree

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Nov 7, 2011
Messages
140
Purraise
17
I think she might like a different flavor, this malt one she associates with me tackling and forcing it on her. Can I order CET online? 
 

lisahe

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Messages
6,150
Purraise
4,969
Location
Maine
 
I think she might like a different flavor, this malt one she associates with me tackling and forcing it on her. Can I order CET online? 
Yes, pet sites have it, Amazon has it. It's all over. And yes, definitely look for a new flavor that she'll like: in my (admittedly meager) experience, the key to the whole thing is to get the cat interested in the toothpaste *before* starting to even lift a toothbrush.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

ollieoxenfree

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Nov 7, 2011
Messages
140
Purraise
17
I agree, the problem with Sansa is she does not go bananas for anything. She enjoys her wet food and lord knows she has a built in timer for that but treats or toys she doesn't care about if she thinks I'm going to bribe her. We actually had to brush out/ loosen a hidden knot last night and after she was let go I offered her treats but she sulked and gave me The Look while Oliver ate her treats. Later I offered her more and she ate them but it was not associated with the brushing. She is just so abnormal and aloof at times!! 

Thanks, I will order some CET and give that a go.
 
Top