How do I brush a cats teeth who doesn't want them brushed?

I've looked through all the threads on here about dental care. I've searched on the web for how to do it. I've talked to the vet. All of the advice sounds very simple, but the Dude is just not cooperating. He is strong and determined that I am not getting anywhere near his mouth, be it with my finger loaded with tuna oil or anything else.

Anyone have any suggestions for getting a reluctant cat to cooperate?

I just cleaned my cats teeth the other day for the first time!
I am going to take her in in August before I move for a checkup and her first dental (she'll be one year then) but I figured I'd better start now! I used a qtip. I just rubbed it on her lips while I was petting her, and she opened her mouth a little and I rubbed it along her gums for a second. Then I gave her treats. She didn't tolerate it very well, but let me do it.
I think the most important thing I read was that the second the cat starts to object, stop. The process between starting to get the cat used to it and actually being able to do it right could take months, according to vets site.

Maybe you could try petting his cheeks, and then slowly moving in towards the mouth. And then once he's used to that rub his lips, and then try touching his teeth after a while...

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice, I never thought about trying with a Q-tip. I'm sure he would think it's a game, and he loves to chew on everything. Kinda concerned he would swallow the cotton off the end? I think I worry too much I think I"ll try it tonight tho.

I do stop when he starts objecting, but I've tried various different things, and he objects to all of them! Normally, he's a very easy going cat, but he does not like to have anything done to him.

I'm just concerned to get the process going faster than several months, since the vet found some gingivitis already.

VERY CAREFULLY. That is how I would attempt to do it. I have had lots of cats, but never tried. My Speedboat would bite somebody's finger off.

I scruff my cat, which causes them to open their mouth a bit and use my finger brush and brush his teeth. He doesn't like it, but he doesn't have a choice.

Instead of a q-tip, look in the dental section of your drugstore where they have dental floss and stuff. They have these little tiny dental floss brushes that you attach to a stick or something, and are small enough to be used as floss to clean the spaces up near the gums between the teeth.

That might be small enough to use instead of a q-tip without the cotton problem, and just a bit rough enough to clean the teeth better.

Check them out next time you're in the store.

My cats don't like their teeth brushed either but that's too bad because they get them done all the time.

I went to petco and got this kitty paste and little finger brush and it works great. The toothpaste tastes like frosting (okay don't laugh but I tasted it because it smelled good ) and the little finger brush fits on my finger like a thimble so it protects me and make it VERY easy to brush their teeth while they are trying to fight me.

It usually takes two of us, my husband will hold one down and I'll open their mouth with one hand and brush with the other. They like the taste they just don't like being submissive.

(now I'm going to be known as the one on the forum who eats kitty toothpaste...)

Originally Posted by Charmed654321

Instead of a q-tip, look in the dental section of your drugstore where they have dental floss and stuff. They have these little tiny dental floss brushes that you attach to a stick or something, and are small enough to be used as floss to clean the spaces up near the gums between the teeth.

That might be small enough to use instead of a q-tip without the cotton problem, and just a bit rough enough to clean the teeth better.

Check them out next time you're in the store.

Click to expand...

Thanks, I will look for that this weekend.

Originally Posted by TigerAmy

My cats don't like their teeth brushed either but that's too bad because they get them done all the time.

I went to petco and got this kitty paste and little finger brush and it works great. The toothpaste tastes like frosting (okay don't laugh but I tasted it because it smelled good

) and the little finger brush fits on my finger like a thimble so it protects me and make it VERY easy to brush their teeth while they are trying to fight me.

It usually takes two of us, my husband will hold one down and I'll open their mouth with one hand and brush with the other. They like the taste they just don't like being submissive.

(now I'm going to be known as the one on the forum who eats kitty toothpaste...)

Click to expand...

It's not really so much that he doesn't like it, but he's impossible to hold onto him. Even my husband can't hold him. He wiggles, and you just can't hang onto him. Short of putting him in a straight jacket, I don't know how on earth I'm going to accomplish this. Heaven help me if I ever have to medicate him