brushing your cat's teeth
 

I took my cat to the vet for the first time today. She was adopted a few weeks ago (about 4 years old), and apparently you should take cats to the vet.

It wasn't a bad experience, per se, but I definitely got the impression that that vet was interested in a strong hierarchy and emphasized control. This probably makes sense and is a healthy thing when dealing with a pet, but I lived for too long on the west coast.

He said, and I'm paraphrasing a little but the gist is the same, that he "was going to ask me to do something starting today and then every day until death do you part, and that is to brush her teeth."

Really?

I've never heard of this before. She is missing some teeth. But really?

I've never brushed out cats teeth. Can't imagine trying to do it actually. lol Well, I can imagine it...and the image is not pretty!

Did the vet tell you why you should brush the cats teeth?

Plaque buildup and tartar.

(The listerine recommendation has already been made and moved on from.)

When we had a cat, I think my wife mentioned brushing its teeth one or twice, and we might have even had a special brush, but are you freaking kidding me? How are you going to brush a cat's teeth?

There are kitty treats made to help keep a cat's teeth cleaner but my cats did not care for them. They'd be my first choice. Both of my dogs were adopted as older animals and one has already had to have several teeth pulled, and I had the rest cleaned then. The new kid's breath is bad and I know he's in for the job, too. Once done professionally, clean teeth should be easier to keep that way, for both of you. Not to mention the bucks it'll save!

I would have to tie them down and wear welders gloves. Even then I don't know what I'd do.

Listerine - HA!

Um.

Maybe if you start with a kitten, but your vet wants you to acclimate a 4-year-old adopted cat to having its teeth brushed? Will he supply you with full-body armor as well?

I'd try an electric toothbrush - one of those ultrasonic ones.

Make sure someone is ready with the camera.

Sure. I also give them a bath and blow dry them after, once a week.

Not!

Brushing a cat's teeth? Just when I thought I'd heard everything.

Priceless!

We used to bathe and blow-dry our ferrets. They enjoyed it.

We used to bath and blow dry mum's cat. I don't anymore though. She didn't like it much, and the bathing was mainly to control fleas which we don't have anymore thanks to 'revolution'.

When I was growing up, we had to brush one of our cat's teeth for about a week, because she had some special mouth disease. It was NOT fun.

I say let the rest of the teeth fall out. She can still eat canned cat food.

If they eat dry food, they have fewer dental issues.