While tooth brushing remains the gold standard for cat dental care, additional home care options including dental diets, water additives, and dental chews can contribute to oral health.
Feline dental disease causes chronic, often unrecognised pain that substantially reduces quality of life. The difficulty of tooth brushing in cats - which tolerate oral manipulation less readily than dogs - means that alternative home care strategies are important welfare tools. Dental diets formulated to require more chewing and contain plaque-inhibiting ingredients provide a low-effort welfare benefit when fed as the primary diet. The combination of home care and professional dental assessment provides the best welfare outcomes. Owners who understand that dental disease causes genuine pain are more motivated to invest in prevention.